My first novel, No Place Strange, is finally out in the world. My launch was last week, and in my unbiased opinion it was a great party. But now, the aftermath. Hard to know which is more of a rollercoaster ride, writing a novel, or promoting it. At least in the thick of writing you can lose yourself, though there are times when you might also lie down on the floor and curse the damn thing.
The ups and downs of promotion are something else: entirely beyond one’s control. I feel like a short-cycling manic-depressive. Nice profile – up, bad review down, good review, up up up, sleepless night down….. you get the picture. I had a lovely review in the Globe and Mail, which had me soaring for a day, at least. And it’s hard not to be thrilled by an invitation to read at the IFOA, but it’s also hard to work when you’re worrying about how your book is going to be received. And I’d rather be working than worrying!
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