I’ve now seen the full circle of this book: from conception, to re-imagining, to editing, publication, and now launching and reviews. One of many things that has surprised me on this journey: keeping this blog up eats away at my morning writing time. But a week can easily pass without an entry so this morning it is priority. Then I can work on the short story I am preparing to read as the start of my presentation at the Festival of Eagles. I have reduced my day-job commitments dramatically in order to focus the next few months on the book as I found I was starting to drop balls all over the place. Time to give the book its due - after fourteen years of work, it is only right that I devote a few months to promote and enjoy this time.
I started this blog to try and capture the rough and tumble of this experience, not just as an honest guide to emerging writers, but also for myself - to remember what it was like. I am really happy I have this now, because, as usual, the reality is proving far more vivid than imagination.
It has been almost a week since my book launch and I am finding my internal reaction and thoughts to be curious. I really did imagine that so many components of this book writing and publishing endeavor would be easy after the effort of the actual writing…but the truth is that so much of it is really intensive work. The launch itself was not really that much to organize, but because it was so personal and I wanted it perfect, it felt like an enormous thing that blocked out the sun.
In fact, almost everything has been more difficult and more of an emotional roller-coaster than I ever thought. I struggled to settle on a scene to read (though that exercise will help down the road as I now have a short-list of scenes for different occasions). I find the blog takes up crucial writing time and consideration. I found the intensity of the launch made me look at my writing very differently - as if I understand finally the complete course that the story must take - and I think I will write with a greater understanding of how the story will be read. That is satisfying.
There have been great moments: attending a wedding this weekend with some old friends, my wife suggested I bring some books in case one of them wanted one. I ended up selling all nine. People seemed really interested in the story and my explanation, and I was so energized explaining to them that I can see another side to the writing - that of the idea as inspiration (some would call it a sales pitch, but I just like telling the story).
But I have also found that I hardly slept in the days before the launch - so nervous was I. And I also get addicted to news and reviews - after the launch and the news of the Boardman Tasker shortlist - I find myself wondering about other interviews and promotional opportunities. Almost as if I expect that level of intense feedback all the time. In this respect I can see, even as a very private person (despite this blog), how politician and celebrities can get so hooked on the limelight. I suppose that it is human nature: when things are good we want them better, when they are bad, we imagine they could be worse.
I didn’t win the Alberta Views short story contest and surprised myself at being disappointed (why should I be, I submitted a strong story, but I think it was the craving for feedback). I start to wonder what my publisher has been doing, as I’ve not heard much lately. Then I have to remind myself that the book has been officially launched only six days ago.
So much work, and so easy to get caught up in it. I do need to prepare some advertising for the end of November, and organize for the festival season, but I think some hiking and camping time may be in order - just to get away and let the expectations settle down to a reasonable level. Some perspective.
