They say that having a book published is like having a baby. They are right. Wildflowers is two weeks from my due date November 17th. I thought she’d be coming late, but I was told yesterday that it seems that everything is progressing as it should, and she will be here on time. I received the Proof last week, as many of you know, and put up my reaction on Youtube. If you haven’t seen it, I had no voice. I was whispering throughout the video. I was in awe of it.
I put out the Preview Chapter 1 and have been hearing from people about it. One said it was “a page turner”, and one commented about the gender power dynamic between two characters. Yet another told me she was sending it on to a friend. It felt wonderful to hear the different comments and qualities that different people highlighted. It’s like people saying my baby had such beautiful curly hair, or such intelligent eyes. Others have said I don’t want to read Chapter 1 until I have the whole book. It’s like the relative or friend who can’t wait to hold your baby in their own hands. I am loving all of the preparations for her arrival and all of your comments and reactions.
For those of you joining me on this journey now for the first time,Wildflowers is my debut novel. This coming of age story about the power and perils of friendship follows three women—Camille, Jewel, and Saundra—across several decades as they confront issues of family, love, betrayal, ambition, and race. You can read more about Wildflowers and about me by using the pull down menu above.
Update: Last week I got my first book club. They are adopting Wildflowers and want me to meet with them when they finish reading. Then this week I heard from two other people who want to have Wildflowers as a book club choice. One is also in the New York City area, and they will want me to visit them in the spring. One is an online book club and I don’t yet know how I might interact with them, but I have heard of authors doing a virtual discussion via Skype. I am researching that to see how it works. If you want to include Wildflowers in your book calendar, I would love to hear from you.
I am one that also really wants to have the entire novel in my hands prior to reading.
This process is so exciting & is similar to awaiting a new arrival.
I noticed immediately that you referred to your upcoming arrival as a “she”.That’s interesting.Freudian, perhaps?
I don’t know if it’s Freudian but my son calls my metaphor in this post likening publishing a novel to having a baby,awkward.