Happy Friday!

There are only two more months until the official debut of Providence ! I am treading in unknown waters and sometimes feel like I’m drowning, but mostly feel like I’m being carried along on the waves. I am so fortunate to know so many authors who are swimming the sea alongside me or who have made the trek before me. (And have survived to tell the tale!)

For those of you just starting the trek from manuscript to book or just contemplating taking the plunge, here is Part I of 10 Things I’ve Learned Since I Signed the Contract-

1. Even if you hate getting your picture taken, having an author’s photo done does not have to suck the very life out of you. I hate having my picture taken. I have always hated having my picture taken. I avoid it as much as possible. (This is a character trait that annoys my children to no end.) I first tried a mall photographer. This was a horrible, horrible, horrible idea for someone who hates the camera. I then went to a photographer with a quiet studio and he made what for me was painful into a pleasant experience.
2. Author friends are always happy to share advice. However, no two people are the same and no two publishing journeys are identical. It’s best to take the advice helpful to me and leave the rest on the table.
3. Non-publishing friends might have a very different perspective on my adventure than I do. My perspective: “I hope people notice my book in the mountain of choices they have. I hope some readers connect with my characters and the story.” Others’ perspective: “You’re going to be rich! You’re going to be famous! They are going to make a movie out of your book! Can I be in the movie?”
4. Seeing the completed book jacket is an amazing, fabulous, beyond description experience. It makes it all so real.
5. Swag can have strange effects on an author. I asked Stacy Kleber Designs to design bookmarks for me. She had done my webpage, so I already had confidence in her skills and talent. I thought bookmarks were a practical choice for swag. What I didn’t realize was how I would react. I didn’t know I would carry them everywhere and show them off like they were pictures of a newborn or hand them out as if I was a new daddy with a stash of chocolate cigars. That, however, is exactly what happened.