On Monday, I sat peering over a birthday cake, surrounded by my son, daughter, and husband. A handful of flickering candles marked my 38th birthday. My three greatest wishes had already come true, but they were waiting, and the ice cream was getting soft; what to wish for? I thought of one dream that hadn’t come true. I closed my eyes and blew out the candles.
On Tuesday, the email arrived. My book will be published in 2014 by a lovely small press called WiDo Publishing. The novel is no longer called The Fourth Wall, giving it a sense of mystery even to its author. Who knows what it will look like in a year? All I know is it will look like something other than a manuscript sitting in my computer. It will be printed and bound and on bookshelves.
Blogging is not a natural medium for me. With fiction, you never submit a first draft (or a second for that matter), and I’m a little terrified of putting words out there that haven’t been scrutinized and set aside for a few weeks to make sure they’re worthy of your time (and error-free).
Obviously, this has to change. I owe it to the people at this small press—who believe in my book and are taking a chance on me—to do my part. This includes blogging, tweeting, and pinning. I might blog infrequently (several times per month vs. several times per week), but I will do it faithfully, and hope you’ll come along.
Give me some time to find what works—I’ll probably mix in writing about writing, writing about publishing news (blog tour! book signings!), and writing about topics in my novel, like lucid dreaming. If one or more of these don’t suit you, well, stick with me anyway. And then let me know what you’re thinking—in the comments or in a private email. I want to write what you want to hear, but I may need guidance. I’m a terrible mind reader.
See that subscribe button on your screen? Just type in your email address and click the button. This is going to be fun!
Congratulations! I am so happy for you and I can’t wait to read it!
You did it! Congratulations! I also can’t wait to read it and I’m coming to your book signing!! It’ll be worth big money soon.
Congratulations Elizabeth! Awesome news!Very happy for you. Wishing you great success!
Big congrats to you… Yay. I’m sure the blogging will come. You’re an awesome writer.
I can’t say how happy I am for you!
Such wonderful news, Elizabeth! Writing is such a solitary activity that it is so hard to suddenly turn it public through social media! I will read your posts and am always interested in your writing!
Thanks, everyone! I appreciate it 🙂
You never disappoint! The “guidance” you feel you need, is all on you. The hesitation is just plain silly because you are amazing and we all know it. Thanks for the invite to follow along on your amazing journey of written accomplishments. Keep it coming!
Congratulations, I am so proud to say that you are my niece. Love
So excited I couldn’t spell my own name!!!!!!!!
Haha, that’s okay Betty! I got so excited replying last night I forgot my name gets capitalized 😉
Thanks for the love