Thanksgiving is when we reflect on the things we are grateful for: our families, friends, jobs, the roof over our heads, food on the table, etc. I’m grateful for all those things. I’m also sitting in gratitude for the journey I took in rewriting and self-publishing Desert Ice.
My late father was a part of that journey. He was so proud of me for being an author and for republishing Desert Ice. I would call and talk to him about every step along the way of the process. Our last conversation was about the book and how close I was to getting it re-released. Then he died unexpectedly. Suddenly the book wasn’t just about my writing journey anymore but became part of my grieving process. I know he would not have wanted me to stop or delay, so I pushed through completing tasks even as I wrote his eulogy. However, I won’t lie. Once Desert Ice was published, I found it difficult to write. My heart just hurt. My father was a good man, probably the best person I’ve ever known. He was also a natural storyteller, and if I have the ability to tell a tale, it’s largely because of what he taught me. I’m blessed he was in my life, and I had the opportunity to learn from him. There is so much about my father for which I’m deeply grateful, yet the breadth of that gratitude correlates with the depth of my grief. The loss is as keen as the love. As I gather with loved ones for this first Thanksgiving without him, I will mourn even as I count my blessings. I will also honor him and continue to write. He would not want me to stop. Desert Ice is just the first destination, but not the last. Thank you all for being part of my writing journey. I wish you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving. Rose
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Now that Desert Ice has been re-released, I can only watch to see if people are reading and, more importantly, if they are reviewing and/or rating it. Feedback can be a catch twenty-two. It's a great feeling to know that someone likes what you wrote. I often feel a giddy sense of excitement that makes me want to write more. But, on the other hand, it can be crushing when someone doesn't like your work. It's easy to obsess and wonder over what you did "wrong."
Then there are the advantages. You can learn a lot from what your readers have to say. I'd be a fool not to listen to constructive criticism. It's how one grows and gets better, and I'm not so narcissistic as to believe I have nothing to learn. It's also important to marketing and sales. Yes, that's the business side of ratings and reviews. They help spread the word about the book, which in theory, promotes sales. Sales, like praise, are also motivation to keep writing. So I watch them with a combination of excitation and dread. I smile if they are good while resisting the urge to drown my sorrows in ice cream if they are bad. Thank you if you have taken the time to rate and/or review the book. It means a lot. If you have read Desert Ice and liked it, I hope you will take a moment to leave some form of "thumbs up." In the meantime, I'll keep writing. RM |
Rose MaefairAuthor, geek, gamer, and avid coffee drinker. Archives
November 2022
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