When the FedEx truck comes and goes and comes and goes
Yesterday afternoon the FedEx truck parked in my driveway. Pulled up the long, winding drive. Sat there, while the kids waited by the door, ready to pounce on whatever he brought. The FedEx guy climbed around in his truck for a while. And then he drove away.
Ten minutes later, he came back. "Fell down next to the door I guess," he said and handed me an envelope.
What do you think it was? My beautiful-wonderful-contract-and-first-half-advance for Violet and the Woof!
I have to celebrate these small moments, because doctors call with test results, toddlers refuse to poo for five days, teens raid the refrigerator right before dinner, baby says his first word, "Da!" when Daddy walks in. Real life takes over. So for a moment, in the midst of life, I'll stop and savor.
My next release, Violet and the Woof, coming October 9th, 2018, has an official cover! And here it is:
I first "met" Karlin when she asked to do an author interview on the release of my first book, Halloween Good Night. Of course I had to follow suit (i.e., steal her excellent idea!) to celebrate the release of her second book, An Extraordinary Ordinary Moth.
It's 2018, the end of January when most New Year's Resolutions are fading into oblivion (it's amazing how busy the gym is in January, and by November it's a wasteland). Why not add a little something new?
What's that?
How *I* promoted my first book, which may not be how you (or anyone else) would promote anything, but just in case you're an author with a book releases looming and you're thinking, "What the heck do I do?" you can glean inspiration from me.
Saturday marked another release event for my first book, Halloween Good Night, and once again, we had amazing fun. Schuler Books in Grand Rapids set up everything from tables with crafts to treat bags to a cup of water for the visiting author (what, for me?!?).
Way back in July I was arranging events to welcome Halloween Good Night into the world, but it didn't occur to me then that all the great plans I made meant I'd actually have to do things and go places. At 32 weeks pregnant, as a homeschooling mama of five already, this doing and going get complicated.
My first book release included another first: the first piece of fan art I've received! After the reading and food and crafts, one sweet girl came to get her book signed, and to show me the ADORABLE picture she'd colored and decorated (one of the coloring pages available here). She agreed to allow me to share it (her mom, too), so here it is!
I did a lot of googling, considering, wondering before I decided to make postcards to go along with my first book's release. I needed to think about time it would take to design, expense to print, ultimate usefulness. Ultimately I decided in favor of postcards, and I'm glad I did. Below discover why!
The release party for my first book happened just over a week ago now, and it was crazy! Crazy busy, crazy fun, crazy full of awesome people. A week (and a bit) later, I'm still glowing.