It's Her Pub Month!

That’s right — I couldn’t even get this post together in time to say “Pub Week,” which speaks loudly to what it means to have a Pub Day. The fine ladies of She Writes suggested I jot down how I was feeling, on the eve of my very first book arriving in the world, and I felt embarrassed to reply that my overwhelming sentiment was: exhausted. Zonked. Pooped. Mentally, physically and emotionally wrung out.

Because the amazingness of having a book published — even after tinkering with it for four years, and spending (err, borrowing) a terrifying amount of money for an MFA, which created still more pressure to write a book and justify the expense — unfortunately doesn’t mean that work let me stop working, or the laundry stopped piling up, or the refrigerator failed to empty out, or that the people in my life stopped having busy and stressful things happen to them. All of that just happened on top of my sending out emails to everyone I’ve ever met, begging them to please buy my book, and to beg all the people they’ve ever met to buy the book. On top of preparing for the book launch party — organizing, promoting, more begging — and practicing for the little interviews the publishing house arranged (WLVJ, the Christian Voice of South Florida and the Bahamas, stood me up after 45 minutes of waiting beside the phone). And, because I was crazy enough to have made my first book a memoir, it happened on top of assuaging, explaining myself, and half-apologizing to proud-but-offended family members.

(“That part added nothing nice to the book,” my father called to insist too loudly. “I don’t know why you included it — I’d totally forgotten that happened!” “Yes, but I didn’t,” I told him, amazed that he could miss this point.)

But then, but then…

I walked to the dry cleaners one day, my shoulders bunched around my ears with stress, and while waiting for my clothes to be found, I noticed the corner of a flyer for the Brooklyn Book Festival and, seeing the name of one of my graduate school professors on the list of included authors, felt a little jump of excitement in that recognition. A beat. And then, two lines above his, I saw it, my name! And finally it struck me: Holy crap, I’m an author, too!!!!!! A little uncontrolled yelp squeaked out of me.

Soon afterward came the amazing phone calls and letters and emails, from friends near and far, old and new, saying how proud they are of me, or how much they enjoyed feeling that they were in New York or better knowing what our lives are like. My mother-in-law, who I only see a few times a year, wrote to say how grateful she was that I’d “left the door ajar” on our lives, in writing the book, and how much it pleased her to read that her son had grown into such a “romantic and gentle young man.” Another friend said I’d inspired her to rearrange her schedule and begin sitting down with her sons to “real family dinners,” like she had known as a girl. Which, truly, made all the work of the book feel entirely worth it — and worthy.

Today I’m flying home from a mini “West Coast Tour,” where in San Francisco and Los Angeles I’ve felt the love of good friends and acquaintances, who rearranged schedules, wrangled babysitters and sat in traffic to show up at book signings and support me. Reading from behind real and makeshift podiums, I looked up to see them watching me with suddenly new eyes — which was startling, and touching.

The experience has been a wonder, a whirlwind, a dream. And I expect there are still more emotions, and realizations, to come.

Tags: #marketing, #publishing, event planning

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Comment by Kat Ward on September 22, 2011 at 9:48am: The wonders of it all—exhaustion to elation. I will definitely buy your book—my mother will adore the cover and title while my father will be appalled by the image and pretend he doesn't notice. I'm happy you had that "Wow!" moment looking at the flyer and in the following months could enjoy the reactions and support from the people around you. I look forward to reading more of your posts.

Kat, http://keepingsane.com/

Comment by Eugenia Kim on October 10, 2009 at 8:54am: Congrats on your book! I saw your cover through a tweet about excellent book covers, and had to agree. Your cover designer did you great justice! Just landed on this page through circuitous means and seeing that perfect book cover, had to say hello. And I suspect that the interior is equally perfect. You've just sold a unit by being on SheWrites!

Comment by Angela Austin on October 5, 2009 at 12:56pm: Your post was so unguarded. Thanks for sharing, and congratulations on the new book.

Comment by Cathy on October 3, 2009 at 2:46pm: I so enjoyed reading your post. I am a total "newbie" to writing and blogging, so reading your post was both inspirational and helpful. Thank you for sharing your life!

Comment by Monica Holloway on October 2, 2009 at 9:32am: Dear Michelle,
Congratulations! I just ordered a copy on Amazon.
I loved reading your Post today. My first book came out in 2007, and I remember feeling the exact same way. I thought life would surely stop for just a second when the book actually arrived, but life barreled on - and I had to keep doing laundry, too. And then there's the gorgeous things - the unexpected - the life-changing moments - that bring everything, not only full circle, but remind you of who you are, who you're about to be, and why you poured your heart and soul into the book in the first place.
So happy for you. I love the cover.

Comment by Catherine Dowman on October 2, 2009 at 9:06am: Congratulations Michelle, I'll be ordering a copy to indulge in.

Comment by Sherelle Wallace on October 2, 2009 at 7:00am: Hello Michelle,

Really enjoyed your post. As a Bahamian writer, I was really intrigued by your promotions, or lack thereof, in regards to the Bahamas. Please tell me more about that experience, negative or positive. Thanks, and congrats on the published work!

Comment by Lea Beresford on September 30, 2009 at 8:44am: Michelle, congratulations on a beautiful post about an absolute stunner of a book!

Comment by Sarah Saffian on September 30, 2009 at 8:07am: Brava, huzzah, and mazeltov! Just received my copy from amazon, and can't wait to read it! xox

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Susie Klein replied to the discussion 'When you DO get around to writing, what other stuff gets put back on the shelf and forgotten?' in the group Procrastinators Write Eventually

"Everything gets forgotten. I look up when I hear the Hubs digging around in the kitchen cupboards for food. Oops, did it again! Susie"

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Procrastinators Write Eventually

"When duty calls me, I'm preparedAs though our goals were aimed and shared.I draw my breath in, shoulders straight,And quietly procrastinate. (Alison W. Birch)See More

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