Yesterday was the big day - the release of Destiny By Design. I should have been excited, on top of the world, basking in my own brilliance ;) but instead, I was strangely nauseous, nervous and beside myself with worry. Why? Good question...- because my baby was sent out into the world alone, to be ogled, admired, snarked or enjoyed, by strangers!
- because if my friends don't like it, they'll be polite and say they did to spare my feelings
- because *mean girl blogs* might say harsh things that will make my writerly-thick skin feel all thin and prickly and I'll want to stick my head in a hole
- because what if only you six people reading this buy it and no-one else
- because a piece of my soul is on display
- because everytime I re-read an excerpt, paragraph or sentence, I think - this is crap! Why didn't you write it 'this way' or 'that way'!!
- because now I have to write another...
...and seriously, I could go on. But I'll save it for my therapist :)
Today, I'm back to my old self - feeling confident and inspired, excited about the release, happy with 'level of talent' (which will only improve, I promise!) and ready to face any and all comments. Welcome them in fact.
Much of my back-to-healthy attitude is thanks to wonderful FRIENDS. Your support is,... gosh, I hate to sound gushy, but ... truly truly awesomely appreciated. How on Earth do authors without blog buddies get through this?
TL, Rhian, Amy, Christine, Candy, Red (who know exactly what I'm feeling :), Rebecca, Daisy, Vicky, and other TRW'ers, EC'ers who sent me congrats messages, etc... and my BFF Tracey who sent me flowers!! and promised to read DBD even though she's "not much of a reader" (GASP! - I know, I know, but I'm trying to convert her) --
YOU ALL ROCK!!!
Okay, this is beginning to sound award-show speechish and the music is starting to play,...
In other news,... after being some-what paralized with anxiety, I'm able to read again. I started my critique partner's revamped and revised book entitled Mirror Blue. I've only got through chapters 1-5, (she feeds it to me slowly knowing I'd stay up all night if I had the whole thing!) and so far I'm blown away. TL writes such interesting, complicated, real people, with quirks and unconventional tastes. I look forward to diving into the rest.
I downloaded Red's Spin Devil, knowing I couldn't possibly get to it because I'm behind with the TRW newsletter. Despite my intention of 'only reading the first sentence' before bed, I stayed up until 1am reading it from start to finish. WOW people. WOW. It's from Ellora's Cave's new EXOTICA line, which should have tipped me off to the level of hotness, but I say again, WOWIE, WOW, WOW, OUCH! (the ouch was for the burn marks on my fingers)
This morning, again, with the intentions of continuing the TRW newsletter, I stupidly opened up Robin Rotham's Alien Overnight (another EC) and read the first chapter before reluctantly tending to my attention-deprived kids. Oh my, Miss Rotham - to say this book opens with a bang wouldn't be an exaggeration! So far, so good. I'm loving it!
And while I was at EC yesterday, I also got another Daisy Dexter Dobbs and a Shiloh Walker. And I still have to get to Rebecca James' Night Swimming (which is getting amazing reviews - WTG, girl!!) If only, IF ONLY, I had an extra 12 hours/day so I could read, read, read!
If I'm absent in blogland for the next while, you know why ;D
18 comments:
I'm not being polite. I am loving Destiny by Design, and I know a couple of my co workers will be wanting to discuss it over lunch next week since I pimped your book at work.
I read Spin Devil first in one 40 minute sitting, ya that new Exotika line is hot.
Congrats again! Much love, and NO I'm not lying!!! And I totally get where you are coming from about the soul thing!
Just bought it--can't wait to read!! =)
I ADORED Destiny by Design, Wylie! Read it in ONE SINGLE SITTING! Ellis was just . . . perfect, and Simon, oh yum, I'd paint his bathroom and anything he'd let me anytime. LOL!
I'm glad you're back because I missed you!
And you're right, there are some AWESOME friends out there!!! Making it all much less traumatic, HA!
Do keep writing, and do it fast because I can't wait to read another WK!! And thanks for reading SPIN DEVIL, all of your support means so much to me. ;)
Erica - thanks!! (It's not like I'm keeping track, but um,... that's 6 sales that I know of *hee*)
Amy & Red - :) :) :)
I just don't know what else to say and I don't have dancing emoticons :) :) :)
I'm glad you're feeling better, Wylie! I can imagine the butterflies! But you're a talented writer and DbD rocks, and I have a very good feeling about its reception out in the wide, wide world. :)
Thanks so much for your kind words about Mirror Blue! I expect to have all my tweaking completed by tomorrow -- yay for me, except then I'll have to start thinking about *gulp* querying...!
Congratulations, Wylie! I'm waiting for payday before I can purchase DBD, but it's on my list because I definitely want to read it, especially after seeing a glimpse of your writing style at the critique session - you're so good, it made me want to crawl in a hole and whimper.
I've signed up for a course about writing Erotica taught by the lady who writes as Cricket Starr - I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully one of these days I'll join you in those stomach flipflops as I wait for my first book to come out.
In the meantime, enjoy it!
I felt strangely flat the day my book was released too - it's like you expect the world to STOP and take notice...but it doesn't. I was thrilled with my mrs giggles review, of course, (I'm not that ungrateful) - but there is no way of knowing how many people are reading or buying it, liking or hating it...if any? The best thing is probably just to get enthused about a new book - (in between googling your own name like a desperado every five seconds, of course!!)
Your book is number three on my TBR pile - so I should be able to post a really mean review on my blog soon....... ;)
Oh I'm glad I wrote my review before I read this! I LOVED it Wylie! I too read your story in one sitting. I was up very late between your story and Red's. My husband was a very happy camper indeed! TMI I know. :)
Job well done hon! :)
I just finished it Ms. Kinson, and reviewed it on my blog!
I loved it, LOVED IT, write faster!
TL - something Leah said about wanting to crawl in a hole, that's what YOUR writing makes me want to do.
Leah - you make me howl with irony. When I read YOUR 5 pages, I wanted to crawl in a hole and whimper!! We always seem much harder on ourselves than needed, eh? But I can see any change in our futures :)
Christine - If I seriously had anything to do with Mr. Christine getting lucky, my job is done ;D
Thanks so much for the kind wonderful comments. Y'all keep my head spinning with gratefulness.
Amy - *teehee* Big bear hug coming your way at the June meeting :D Betcha can't wait!!
no Wylie-wench - YOU ROCK!!!
just had to get that off my chest. As you were.
I'm a little late but I had to run over and say congratulations! I just learned that my first novel debuts Sept 25th. Right now I'm excited. Really psyched. Then I read your post and thought that will be me on Sept 25th, freaking out for exactly the same reasons.
I think I'll just copy and paste that post and stick it up on my blog. You said it all so well. LOL.
Glad to see you're feeling better now.
I love this post on so many levels - you express what all of us feel - Emily Dickinson said it best: "I'd rather go naked than share my poems with the world."
And yet you did. I just finished SPIN DEVIL - your book is next. Hope you're enjoy the Victoria Day long weekend - it FINALLY stopped raining over here.
e-talk soon, XINE
I bought it last night and read it in one sitting - what a wonderful story, Wylie, well done!
And your book is now on my 'Books I've read in 2007' list - how cool is that - I actually know a couple of the authors on that list now!
Gabriella - WOOT!! CONGRATS on your book release date! I look forward to reading it!!
Christine - Emily summed it up perfectly. PERFECTLY!
Leah - thanks!! I appreciate that, especially knowing how well YOU write. ;)
Christine/Xine's comment about Emily Dickinson preferring to go naked rather than share her poems definitely says it all. And just think - you did it, anyway.
Aw, Wylie, that was definitely exactly how I felt! Still do at the occasional odd moment.
I've got DBD, but haven't had a chance to read it yet. :P (Stupid vacation bible school!) It will be my reward this weekend for being a fine, upstanding mommy. I'm counting the hours! :D
Julia - yeah,... thanks again for reminding me. Excuse me while I search desperately for my clothes!!
Robin - Thanks, and I should mention, while you were commenting on my blog, I was deep into Alien Overnight. SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!
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