Special Delivery

Posted on by

If there’s a book you really want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it. ~Toni Morrison, Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist

So I did!

I’ve always been an avid reader, everything from cereal boxes to encyclopedias, and I had a library card from a very young age.

But it wasn’t until I started reading a Danielle Steele novel that I got serious about writing one of my own.

Let’s blame an editing oversight, but one early page of Steele’s novel described the heroine’s eyes as blue. A few pages later, they’d mysteriously become green.

In fury, I tossed the book aside, certain I could do better!

Little did I realize how hard that would be.

First off, I’m a Cradle Catholic and was discouraged from telling tall tales, even if they made for a good story.

Second, I was trained as a journalist. Someone who quoted sources, dug out facts, and prided herself on being fair and accurate.

But the lure of a blank screen and an idea that wouldn’t die kept me plodding forward. Despite false starts, dead ends, frustration with characters who wanted to go their own way, and even computer crashes, eventually I was able to tie up the loose strings and type The End.

I could have left it as it was, unpublished. The novelty of seeing my name in print had dimmed, and I didn’t need to prove to anybody but me that I could write an entire novel.

Yet friends and family encouraged me to send it out into the world. To let others read it, and I hope, enjoy it.

Recently, the postman arrived with several heavy boxes in tow.

“You taking up publishing?” he asked with a grin.

“Oh my golly, those are my books!” I hollered.

Trust me, there’s not a better feeling in the world than holding in your hands the published copy of a book you’ve labored over, knowing it’s a story only you could tell.

So have I found any editing errors in the printed version? You bet, but I’m not saying where they are!

P.S. Shameless begging begins now. My novel, Unplayable Lie, won’t come out until Oct. 15, but it’s available for pre-order here.

43 thoughts on “Special Delivery”

  2. How wonderful! I remember you telling me way, way back when that the background of your blog page was related to the novel, but that I’d have to wait to see what the relationship is. Now, I see! Congrats — it must be a wonderful feeling. Who cares about an editing error here or there — better to have the book with one or two errors than not to have the book at all!

    • I’d forgotten about the background, Linda — thanks for reminding me. You know, I’m black and blue from pinching myself! As soon as these copies arrived, I snagged one and read it cover to cover. I probably ought to hold a contest to see who can find the most editing errors, but nope, not going there. It’s finished and now I’ve got to come up with Book Two. Which, I hope, won’t take as long to write as this first one did!

  3. That is so exciting! But you’re a tease… you show is the book and then tell us we have to wait 3 months?! Patience is not something I’ve been blessed with (God is still working on me 🙂 ) I see you’ve chosen a pen name but managed to stay Irish. That’s so cool. It’s also listed as a series – even better! Congrats, again 🙂

    • Aw, gee, I’m sorry. I’m not exactly the most patient of persons either, so I can fully appreciate your frustration. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could get what we want when we want it? (Or maybe not!)

  4. its the most amazing feeling in the world to open an entire box of your own book!!! MANY MANY MANY Congratulations and the best success to you 🙂 (Are you on facebook? Are you promoting it? If so please look me up and I’ll follow your page and share your promotions 😉 )

    • Thanks for the congrats, Morgan — I know you know the wonderful feeling of finding an entire box full of your books, your words! Sorry, I don’t do Facebook. I’m on Goodreads, Twitter, etc., but I just can’t do everything. I’m *supposed* to be promoting — mostly, I’m just kind of finding my way in the dark. Lots of trial and error. It’s a process, isn’t it?

  5. I ordered and I can’t wait! I’m so excited for you! The plot is right up my alley. And since I devour books at a couple a week, I am always looking for another good book to read and share. Currently,working my way through the Agatha Raisin’s books…I’m desperate. You did it!! Isn’t that something!!

    • Already?? Oh, my, I’m humbled … and oh so grateful. Thank you, Katybeth, for being such a good and supportive friend!! Now how are you progressing on the one you’ve been meaning to write???

  6. OMG Debbie, you must have gone bonkers when you opened that box and saw your book IN PRINT!!!!

    *clapping and cheering*

    I am soooooooooooooooo happy for you, my friend. I bet it feels great to see all your dedication and hard work come to fruition in the birth of this book!

    I have a blogging friend who published a book several years ago and he too found editing errors after it went to print.

    Again, CONGRATULATIONS to you, Debbie!

    And ooooo…October is the perfect launch month for your book because it’s right in time for being a Christmas gift this year!

    Cheers and Love!

    • Bless you, Ron! Yes, I admit to a few tears of joy when I actually held a copy in my hands. It’s waaay different than looking at a computer screen — and that’s probably why the editing errors slipped in. My editor and I had been going back and forth for so long trying to get it perfect that it’s no wonder a few gremlins sneaked in!

      Thanks for your take on the October publication date — I really hadn’t even thought of Christmas. Well, who can blame me, when it’s 90 degrees outside?!?

      So grateful for your support and encouragement, my friend. Have a SUPER week! xx

    • Thanks so much, FF. My emotions are all over the place — excited, nervous, terrified. I hope at least a few people will read — and enjoy — my story, and that they’ll be eager for the next installment. I truly appreciate your support, my friend!

    • Thanks, Cindy. You’ve called it perfectly — a new baby — one I want to protect the same way I want to protect Domer. Oddly enough, both must fly by themselves (though they can always count on me!)

  12. A published author! How amazingly wonderful! Kudos to you for pursuing your dream.

    “Trust me, there’s not a better feeling in the world than holding in your hands the published copy of a book you’ve labored over, knowing it’s a story only you could tell.”

    I can only imagine how you must feel. And to think I knew you when, lol. Here’s to great success for you, my dear, and to many more published books! What joy!

    • Monica, thank you so much! Is there a journalist in the world who hasn’t thought about writing a book? Perhaps we never tire of seeing our names in print, of knowing our words have touched/encouraged/provoked others. I’ve read the stories of many debut authors — all are different, but the common thread is persistence and belief in their story. I so appreciate your sharing in my joy!!

  13. Congratulations, Debbie, on this HUGE ACHIEVEMENT!! woot, woot! You may have written as a journalist, but writing a novel is a whole different ballgame. Challenging! Louise Penny (I am a huge fan) was also a journalist — and it took her FIVE YEARS to write her first Armand Gamache mystery. (Her 13th comes out next month.) Wishing you joy as you continue to bless us (& hopefully LOTS of others) with your creative gifts. — Virginia

    • What a nice thing to say, Virginia — thank you for saying it! Yes, most people don’t realize how much different it is to write as a journalist, then to switch to fiction. Perhaps it would’ve been easier to write a fact-based story first, ha!

    • Charlotte, how kind of you to stop by and offer your congratulations — I so appreciate it. As another creative person, I know you know how much dedication something like this takes. Best wishes for your own success — follow your dreams!!

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.