Craving

Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one was not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand. ~ George Orwell, "Why I Write”

I do not agree with George Orwell. Writing the book is the easy part—marketing the book is an entirely different matter. I seem to be permanently plugged to the computer, obsessed with social media, blog tours, and building my author platform. Here is the problem– when I am immersed in technology, I am not immersed in writing. It feels like I am ignoring a basic need, like someone who craves vegetables but eats junk food all day.

Of course, no one is driving me to do this—it is a privilege, actually. I get to do this because I have a book. Promoting Free from Hepatitis C is a choice, not an obligation. I believe I will get into a rhythm, and I’ll be back to writing in 2012. And yes, probably complaining about that too…

I am traveling the rest of this year, so this is my last blog post for 2011. Hope 2012 brings joy, peace, and lots of creativity.

Procrastination

Procrastination is the thief of time. ~ Edward Young, Night Thoughts

Note: this line also appears in Charles Dickens' David Copperfield

Quite frankly, I like writing way more than marketing. Writing is smooth sailing compared to the world of widgets, mailing lists, book promotions, etc. My “to do” list has more words on it than my average magazine article.

On the other hand, the book got off to a good start – keeps selling out of Amazon. Reviews and remarks have been incredibly kind, but really what I want most is to get back to writing the next book.

The Library

Whatever an author puts between the two covers of his book is public property; whatever of himself he does not put there is his private property, as much as if he had never written a word.  ~ Gail Hamilton

When I wrote Free from Hepatitis C, I imagined it in retail and web-based bookstores, but I did not think about it in that most venerable institution—the library. A librarian at the Iowa City Public Library ordered a copy and sent me the card catalog link. This small act sealed my belief that I am an author.

Click here to go to a link for the Iowa City Public Library card catalog.

Surviving a Misprint

A poet can survive everything but a misprint.~ Oscar Wilde

Waiting to see my book, to hold it, had aspects much like the anticipation I experienced during pregnancy. When the book arrived (Free from Hepatitis C: Your Complete Guide to Healing Hepatitis C), I sat down, began reading, and found a mistake. I misspelled someone’s name in the acknowledgements. There it was in black and white and all the joy flew out of me.

I will spare you the conversation that went on in my head—it was not pretty. It was poetic if you think that saying the same four-letter word repeatedly counts as rhyming. After a few minutes of ranting, I pulled myself together and decided to talk to someone about it in the morning.

The next morning I knew I would survive this. Mistakes happen and no one would die over this. I have made errors as a nurse, and those are tough to deal with; fortunately, those errors were minor ones. As for the misprint, I would apologize to the affected party and I would continue to write, despite the risk of exposing myself, as I really am—a human being.

The book is on Amazon if you want to see what she looks like. I will not point out the mistake.  

Torture

No author dislikes to be edited as much as he dislikes not to be published. ~ Russell Lynes

Here is what torture looks like: My book has been published. Amazon has already sold out of its pre-ordered copies. Other people have seen and held my book – everyone who got an advance copy or who pre-ordered on Amazon. My agent got hers. And here I am, wondering what this book will feel like in my hands, what it will smell like, and if I will love it. It’s like giving birth but not getting to hold the baby yet. 

 Here is what the book looks like: Free from Hepatitis C