Next Wednesday, September 10th, my novella “30
Seconds” is coming out for the masses to read. Or at least a handful of people. And I am nervous! I'm worried that readers won't like this story as much as they liked Hurricane Crimes. I'm worried that I'll get bad reviews/low ratings. And I'm worried that I won't get any new readers.
Worry much?
Worry much?
*sighs* Apparently, I do.
Despite this insecurity, and the
setbacks I mentioned in a previous post, I love 30 Seconds and I adore the characters. If any of you read it, I hope you enjoy it. :)
BIG NEWS: I finished writing the sequel to Hurricane Crimes!!!! The final word count is 70,045, which is 5,045 words past my goal. WOOT! WOOT!
MORE NEWS: With over 900 total votes, Hurricane Crimes made third place in the cover contest on Lolly Tova with 18% of the overall votes. I know I owe it all to you, so thank you!! Beth and Donovan thank you, too!
BLOGGING NEWS: It's no secret that I write my blog posts ahead of schedule, and a few days ago I reached my blog posts for June of next year. Now I am going to focus on my A to Z posts where I am currently at the letter "G". I hope to have them done by Feburary. :)
Before I end this post, I want to give another special THANK YOU to everyone who signed up for my 30 Seconds blog tour. I am blessed to have so many awesome people willing to help me spread the word about my latest work. Thank you!!!! *hugs*
MORE NEWS: With over 900 total votes, Hurricane Crimes made third place in the cover contest on Lolly Tova with 18% of the overall votes. I know I owe it all to you, so thank you!! Beth and Donovan thank you, too!
BLOGGING NEWS: It's no secret that I write my blog posts ahead of schedule, and a few days ago I reached my blog posts for June of next year. Now I am going to focus on my A to Z posts where I am currently at the letter "G". I hope to have them done by Feburary. :)
Before I end this post, I want to give another special THANK YOU to everyone who signed up for my 30 Seconds blog tour. I am blessed to have so many awesome people willing to help me spread the word about my latest work. Thank you!!!! *hugs*
100 Happy Days Challenge:
On Day 99 my brother got married! <3
Here are a couple more from the wedding:
Me with a new hair cut.
Here are a couple more from the wedding:
Me and my mom
QUESTIONS: What do you do when you're anxious about a new book release?
Good morning Chrys!! Love the haircut. You're lovely! And you have your blog posts written through June of next year??? Wowzers. I am very envious :)
ReplyDeleteGood morning, Keith! Thank you for the lovely compliments. Haha. Yes, I like to get a head start. :)
DeleteCongratulations Chrys! I had no idea your next work was coming out so soon...I guess I need to get reading. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Melanie! Oh, there's really no rush. Take your time! :)
DeleteThat big thud you heard was the sound of my head hitting the desk at your mention of having so many posts already written AND being partway through your A-Z posts. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteAnd if you love your story and your characters, your readers will, too. :)
Madeline @ The Shellshank Redemption
Ouch! I was too slow to put that pillow under your forehead. I just like to be extra prepared. It helps me from getting too stressed, which is always a good thing.
DeleteThank you, Madeline! That's just what I needed to hear. :)
Way to go with finishing your sequel! I'm sure that's a load off. Love the new haircut. Nice!
ReplyDeleteIt is a load off. But now I have other projects fighting to be in the front. We don't ever get a break, do we?
DeleteThank you! :)
I like to think of that nervousness before a book release as a pleasant thing. Like your new hair and I'm amazed all over again at how far ahead you do your posts. Except for A to Z, I seldom have any done more than a week ahead.
ReplyDeleteI guess the nervousness can be a good thing. It means your invested. :) Thank you! And I don't know how you do it! If I did my posts a week before, they wouldn't make any sense. haha
DeleteWow your blogging schedule rocks! Love the hair cut too. Well done on finishing the sequel and I wish you all the best for the release :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Suzanne! :D
DeleteChrys, we have the same brain today! I also wrote about my book anxiety. Man, I don't think it ever goes away! I'm sure that your release and tour will be just fine. And congrats on exceeding your writing goal for the sequel to Hurricane Crimes. (And love that new haircut, btw:)
ReplyDeleteI tell you all the time that great minds think alike. We must have twin brains. ;) I think you're right that it doesn't go away. I wish I could ask Nora Roberts if she still experiences it.
DeleteThank you!!!
Don't panic! People will read your book (I know I will!). I'm almost always writing my blog posts the day they need to be posted. What is your secret????
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sarah! :)
DeleteMy secret is that I know what I want to blog about, so I create a list of topics and then organize them for the next year. After I have the current year finished, I begin writing on the topics for the next year. It's all in planning. :)
Congratulations on both your one year anniversary, and you cover doing so well!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sherry!!
DeleteYou look so pretty with your mother. Congrats on one week left to release.
ReplyDeleteThank you, L. Diane! :D
DeleteDamn, you really have me beat month wise lol still on February at my sea. Just have to let things fall where they will, nervousness does nothing but kill a few nerve endings haha
ReplyDeleteWell, I think you do more blog posts than I do. So you still have me beat with the amount of content. :)
DeleteEat! I have to stop myself from eating too much when I get nervous. Lovely photos and congratulations on everything!!!
ReplyDeleteWhen Hurricane Crimes came out I was so stressed that I stopped eating. Not good!
DeleteThank you, Lisa! :)
Congrats! And here I thought I liked writing my blog posts in advance. LOL!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cherie! LOL!
DeleteCongratulations on your release! You write more blog posts in advance than I thought I did. I still have a lot of posts sitting in my drafts folder gathering dust, put together when the hiatused Sweet Saturday Samples was still going strong. It's been on hiatus since last August, and I really hope our admin comes back to it like she said she wanted to.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I would've been so nervous about my release dates had I known I'd hear crickets chirping and have such poor sales. I'd naïvely thought all the people who'd said they wanted to read those books would buy them on release day.
Thank you, Carrie-Anne! :)
DeleteI think you write more blog posts than I do, though.
I know just how you feel. A lot of people told me the same thing. I even expected my close friends and family to buy my eBook, and yet I was surprised to learn none of them did. It is disappointing.
You're so pretty!
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm anxious, I smile. Jaw aching, cheek straining, ear-to-ear smiling. My husband can usually tell how nervous I am by the size of my smile. I guess that doesn't bode well as an indicator for how happy I am...
Thank you, Loni. :)
DeleteI think that's a cute nervous habit. I have full blown anxiety attacks. LOL!
Love the haircut, and I TOTALLY am going through the same thing with you. Book 2 releases in just over a month, and so far readers have liked it more than book 1, but the only people who've read it are those who are close to me...so you know, bias and all... Truth though? I'm going to ignore the feedback. Instead I'm going to focus on other things--like the next story.
ReplyDelete(You seriously have almost a year of blog posts ready to go? That's epic!)
Thank you! I am actually planning on doing the same thing. When Hurricane Crimes came out I stalked Amazon and Goodreads, but I don't want to go through that again. So I am planning on not paying attention to the reviews or sales until at least the New Year. Instead I am going to focus on other projects, like you said.
DeleteDon't worry be glad that it is almost here! I can't believe you almost lapped yourself time wise on writing your post! Good on ya! (I feel Aussie today)
ReplyDeleteWow! I did almost lap myself. I didn't even realize that until now.
DeleteG'day mate! ;)
Hey, happy anniversary to you and to the IWSG!! It's a good day!! And MAJOR CONGRATS on your release! That's so exciting. And terrifying, yes, but also exciting :)
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU, Liz!!! It is exciting. :)
DeleteYou're that far ahead on blog posts? I don't even know what I'm doing next week...
ReplyDeleteAwesome you're doing so well on the sequel.
lol What can I say? I like to be prepared. ;)
DeleteThanks!
You'll do fine. Nervousness is only a desire to do well, so we all have that. Here's to an amazing launch.
ReplyDeleteNice new hairstyle.
Thank you, C Lee! Deep down I know everything will be okay. :)
DeleteCongratulations on finishing your sequel, that's great news!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Laura!
DeleteLove the new haircut, Chrys! And congratulations on the upcoming release of 30 SECONDS. It's only natural you'd be nervous. I'd be worried if you weren't. :)
ReplyDeleteCan't believe you're that far ahead with your blog posts. My next post consists of a three word Post-it reminder. And I consider that working in advance.
Happy anniversary IWSG!
VR Barkowski
Thank you, VR! And I guess you're right that it's good that I am nervous. I'm invested in my story, and it's success. :)
DeleteHappy Anniversary! Love the new cut, and WOW! posts almost a year in advance - you my dear are one organized lady! Thanks for your comment on my grammar post this morning - I do ask for help from others, but I worry that I'm taking advantage - I hate that feeling. Plus, I've found that some folks who call themselves grammar experts, really aren't, and I've gone and trusted the wrong person. I have a wonderful editor for my books, but it's the daily work, the blog, and short stories that I worry the most over. Thanks again, and don't worry, you're going to do fine! BTW Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Yolanda!!!!! Never feel like you're taking advantage. You can post on your blog, asking for anyone who is interested and willing to help you to email you. And asking those you trust and offering to do the same in return is also a good idea. They'll jump to help you so you can help them. ;) Whenever you need one of your short stories read, don't hesitate to ask me. I'd love to help you!
DeleteWhat wonderful photos! Your hair is so pretty.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm excited for you with your upcoming release, yay!! I know it will rock!
Thank you so much, Julie!!! :D
DeleteLove your hair. Thanks for sharing these photos!
ReplyDeleteThank you! And you're welcome! :)
DeleteI love your new haircut. Very pretty.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the blog tour.
Thank you, Kelly! :)
DeleteCongratulations on your novella!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cathrina! :)
DeleteWhen I have anxiety I run and do yoga. I also drink. ;) Congrats!
ReplyDeletelol Running and yoga are healthy alternatives. I like to take walks and do kickboxing. :)
DeleteI wish I knew how I felt if I had a book release--first I have to finish a book.
ReplyDeleteYou've got a lot going, you ambitious writer! I should think you'd be too busy to think about insecurity. And you're looking good too--nice haircut.
Lee
Tossing It Out
I've never release a print book though. My first was a short story ebook and this one is also an ebook.
DeleteI do have a lot going on, which is why I think the insecurity kicks in. Thanks, Arlee!
I love your pictures and your hair looks beautiful, Chrys.
ReplyDeleteDon't be nervous about the release of 30 Seconds! It's funny because Quanie also blogged about how fearful she is about her 2nd book which will be due for publication. You both have nothing to worry about.
30 Seconds is going to be fantastic. I know because I already read it and I can tell you this much, you are growing as an author. Your writing is getting stronger and the characters are infectious.
You already have been approved for a sequel to Hurricane Crimes so this must tell you something, my friend. Keep writing those thrilling stories and your readers will keep flocking to them=)
Thank you so much, Gina! I'm happy that you like 30 Seconds and can see that I'm growing as a writer. That's what I hope all my writers will be able to see as they read each new publication.
DeleteMy editor gave me the go ahead to write the sequel but once it's all editor it's still going to be her decision on whether it gets published or not. Eek! :P
Thanks for your kind words, Gina!
Gorgeous photos Chrys. Looking forward to reading your new book.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Denise!
DeleteI love your new haircut Chrys!! Good for you getting so much accomplished! and for your cover win!
ReplyDeleteSince I literally JUST had a release I can totally relate to your insecurities. But it's also easier this time around cuz I've already been conditioned. It's always hard with a sequel too cuz you never know if readers will connect with it the same way.
I think I missed your blog tour sign up but feel free to send me whatever you'd like me to post for your big day. :)
Thank you, PK!!!
DeleteAnd I can't wait to read Induction Day. I'll be starting it very soon! :D Yes, I'm worried about the sequel to Hurricane Crimes. I hope readers like it as much as the first, especially since the first was just a short story and the sequel is a full novel.
Thank you so much, PK! I have been considering extending my tour into later months, so you'll get an email from me for sure! Thanks for offering!! :)
Congrats on your upcoming release and finishing the sequel! those are big milestones!
ReplyDeleteAs for how I calm the pre release jitters... well, I haven't released anything yet, but my turn is coming.
Congrats again (and you write ahead 9 months??? holy smokes!)
Thank you, Rena! Every writer's experiences are different, so when you publish, I'd love to find out what it was like for you. My fingers are crossed for you! :)
DeleteGreat job on the sequel, Chrys! And I'll echo Gina here, you have nothing to worry about for your 30 Seconds release. You adore your characters. You've written and revised it to your best extent. You're doing what you can for your release to make sure readers know about it. There is nothing else to it. (Your blogging preparations are amazing!)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Claudine! Your comment made me feel so much better. My confidence is returning. :)
DeleteCongratulations on your novella!
ReplyDeleteI haven't released a book yet, but if I ever do, I imagine I'd have butterflies rocking my belly.
Thank you, Cynthia!
DeleteOne day you will release a book. And I'd love to hear all about it.
BTW I love the pictures of the pumpkins you're using for your blogging avatar. :)