Release Week is Kicking My Patootie

Current Project: Promo for STOLEN HEAT
Status: Exhausted

Unless you live under a rock you know that my second book, STOLEN HEAT, released this week. I know Alice has a Saturday Update coming tomorrow, but I'll post mine now. What have I done this week? Promo'd my tushie off. I've been all over the blogosphere blogging, giving away books, answering questions and talking up the story. I'm also hosting giveaways on my blog every day for thirty days, so I'm there as well, monitoring comments, uploading guests, doling out prizes and contacting winners. And if that weren't enough, I have a booksigning in Springfield tomorrow, one in Portland next week, and a book club meeting at Powell's after that. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled STOLEN HEAT has released and that buzz is building and people are excited about the book but I'm exhausted already!

This is the life of a single title author. I don't think I knew what it would be like before I sold. And I'm not complaining, I'm just stating a simple fact here for those of you working on your books, targeting agents and editors and waiting for "the call". There's so much more that goes into a book than simply writing. There are revisions and copy edits and ads to place, promo materials to mail out to workshops and conferences, release announcements to send to booksellers and librarians. There are interviews - online, in person and on the phone - there are blog tours, photo ops and conferences you really should attend to keep your name and face in front of editors, agents and readers. And amid all that, your agent wants to talk about your option material, your editor's sending you revision notes on the next book, production needs a list of ideas for the new cover, and the editorial assistant wants your acknowledgements and dedication, like, yesterday because you spaced it off. And the WIP? You know, that one you're already contracted for and is due soon? Yeah. You still need to find time to work on that as well.

Can you handle all of that? Do you have a day job, kids, a spouse, commitments that will keep you from getting all of this done well and on time?

As I sit here in the middle of promo week, crazy as it is, I have to admit that I love it. Sure, I'm exhausted. Sure, I have a thousand things going on, some I know I've let slide and others I need to get on top of. But this is the profession I've chosen. I think back to all the years I struggled and waited for my turn, and I know I wouldn't change any of this if I could. Ann Aguirre, a good friend and writer pal of mine, said yesterday that she gives 150% to her writing because she knows if she doesn't, someone else will. That's so true. She loves what she does as much as I do - even the stuff that wears us out like the promo - so to her, it's all worth it.

Each of us is different. Each of us has different limitations on time and abilities. For those of you who are unpublished - or even for those of you trying to break into a new field - what you need to ask yourself is, what do you really want? What are you willing to do when you get there, and will it really be enough? We live in an era where there are a wide variety of publishing options. Not everyone has to choose the same path. I'm a firm believer in not sacrificing your goals and taking the easy route - if you know what you want, go after it and don't let anyone sway your determination. But be realistic about what it is you're after. Talk to authors who are already there and find out what their reality is. You may be surprised.

Then again, you may realize that's exactly what you want to do. And, like me, you may realize all of it is worth it in the end.

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I'm giving away Stolen books today at Much Cheaper Than Therapy and Naughty & Spice. Stop by and leave me a comment to enter!

And don't forget to enter my big STOLEN HEAT release contest!