Are We There Yet?

Hey friends!! Hard to believe (for me, anyway) it was May when I last posted an update about my book, but I promise, it's been time well-spent.

I finished my much-dreaded work on the edits over the summer. (Which turned out to not be as dreadful as I'd allowed my overwrought imagination to dictate.) My publisher and I are now in the final stages of design and layout, and one of my favorite artists anywhere, my very longtime friend, John Hall, is working on the cover art.

As we finalize the design, I have some baseline work to do for marketing, so the actual timing is still t.b.d, but it shouldn't be long. As in, by the holidays.

It's getting real

As I spoke this morning with my publisher and she was walking me through some of the marketing activities they'll be performing, a familiar fear began squirming in my gut. I've never really liked being in the limelight, and the idea of some of the things I might have to do for publicity sort of terrify me.

I walk a fine line with myself - downplaying any potential upside to keep myself calm ("no one is really going to be that interested in this,") while reminding myself that I can't go so far with that sentiment as to sabotage any shot at success. (Like failing to do the things I need to do to properly promote the book, because I've convinced myself that no one is really going to be interested. See how that works?)

The last mile is the hardest

I think it's true of most large undertakings that just when you're the most tired and most worn-down, you have to keep your foot on the accelerator. In that way, I suppose, the process of writing, publishing, and releasing this book are a microcosm of the renovation project that it's about. Let up at the end, and you'll never get there.

So it's pedal to the metal for me. Even if this goes off a cliff, at least it'll be Thelma & Louise-style. But if anyone knows a good website designer, please send them my way!!