Toodles 2023
Looking Back or Facing Forward
Do We Want to Look Back or Face Forward?
It’s awesome to look back and remember good times, especially if they’ve propelled you forward- there’s nothing wrong about reminiscing about the things you will miss, worrying or embracing changes to come, unless they hold you back. What if we face forward, take a huge deep breath and take that first step?
That’s sort of how I approached 2023. Taking opportunities as they came to me, seeing how far the ride went. The result? Some falters, teetering and toddling, but mostly, steps forward. Amongst other good things this year, I signed a contract with She Writes Press, and my journey to become a published author became real.
I for one face an incredible year ahead, but the trepidation—holy crap. Apparently, I need to get out there and sell myself.
Rephrase: I need to sell myself as an author and promote my book. I have spent months trying to prepare, emotionally and logistically, for what goes into a launch.
A launch? I need to do what? When? How? Huh? How will a somewhat introverted, loves to be behind-the-scenes person beg to be on podcasts and interviews and sit in front of groups of gracious reading people who might want to know about my book?
What to do? I signed up for every “learn how to market and launch” webinar I could. A very useful yet repetitive endeavor. I have a ton of notes I can’t read, and one day, if the recordings haven’t expired, I will rewatch them all (with my finger on the fast-forward key). I’d learned the basic outline, but the nitty gritty of how to begin and apply was still vague.
It was only by chance that I happened upon a post of an author I follow, describing a desire to create a program for us fledglings who were launching books but were gobsmacked by the enormity of the task. “Yes, please,” I responded (or something to that effect). And then this fall, I became a member of Lainey Cameron’s inaugural “12 Weeks to Book Launch Success” group. I say group, not class, not webinar, not workshop, because Lainey brought us all together and created an experience, and we gained much more than she promised.
Pssst…Lainey is running a new Book Launch Mastermind For Authors session starting January 2024 with an opportunity for scholarship. Tell her Zelly sent you. And if it’s filled, make sure you get on her waitlist for the next one!
Writers: What do you know now that you wish you knew before your book launch?
Recap of 2023 Books:
I read a genre-medley of books this year. Sure, I’m so more than a year behind on my TBR list it’s pathetic. But I’ve been busy birthing a book, so DON’T JUDGE!
Many of the books I read were in search of comps for Not Yours to Keep and my current suspense in progress. I also focused on reading debuts from authors I’ve become acquainted with along my journey. And the rest, well, those just sounded good.
There were other books too, but you can only fit so many covers in one graphic!
A “few” of the authors on my 2023 roundup above include
I also just finished the heartfelt and imaginative, Neena Lee Is Seeing Things, by the marvelous
. Now I’m immersed in Bonfire Night, a fabulous historical novel debut by I’m hoping to squeeze in one or two more books before the year ends, but I’ll have to save the too many must-read-nows on my list to kickoff 2024!True Confession: I’ve been wishing 2023 away since I received my pub date. All I can think about right now is this time next time next year people will be unwrapping my book!
And Now For Something Completely Serious…
I know I left you with a cliffhanger, but it’s the ice skating, snowman making, sledding, snowball throwing time of the year. (Clearly I don’t live in a warm climate.) Many of us are celebrating some holiday or another. We’re all bidding farewell to 2023 and, at least in my Author Publishing Fall 2024 Cohort Group, we are chomping at the bit for 2024 to get here.
The saga of the bomb in my head will keep quietly ticking until January, 2024, when Sometimes Snarkastic returns.
Stay tuned….
Last Licks
Strudel and I wish you all a Wonderful, Happy, Healthy, Snarky, and PEACEFUL, New Year 🎉🥳
Thank you for reading The Friendship Breakup!
Thanks for the mention :) Also I’m a big fan of Lainey. So glad you found her!