A true author will tell you that their book being published is the easy part. Well, not necessarily easy when I think back on the decade of writing, two years of editing, and then nail biting anxiety as Chasing Butterflies was released. A looming question floated in the air around me, how will people respond to it? As my memoir approaches it’s eighth month in the world, I continue on the long road of marketing.
Any writer will tell you, having a book is like having a baby. In my case, pushing out my two children was actually easier than writing Chasing Butterflies. So it’s natural that just like I’d do anything for my kids, I’d also do anything for that book. After all, it’s my third baby. Just as I strive for my kids to be happy and exposed to everything so they have every opportunity to succeed, the same goes for a published book. I continue to endure the marathon of marketing. If it was legal, I’d cartwheel naked around the streets with Chasing Butterflies written all over my body. Do you think that would increase sales and visibility? I need to do a lot more Pilates before that’s a serious consideration.
So for you serious authors out there, or for anyone with a passion - it doesn’t end once you’ve crossed the finish line. If you’re like me, that ribbon at the end of the race continues to get farther away as I think I see it around the bend. My daily life other than being a glamorous version of an Uber driver and horrible chef for my children is thinking of ways to grow Chasing Butterflies. I’ve found that everything now is about Social Media. For a 37 year old, suburban mom, it’s too much to handle. There’s Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat and who knows what else (being invented as I speak just to overwhelm me even more).
I do giveaways and collaborations to keep readers interested. That aside, I spend my time attempting to send my book to celebrities, influencers, and passionate readers. I live at the post office, mailing out copies, giving them a kiss before bidding them farewell and hoping the memoir actually reaches the intended person and isn’t thrown in a fan mail junk pile. Speaking of which, it is IMPOSSIBLE to get this book in Jenna Bush Hagers hands. Please pray for me, this must happen. My dad being killed on 9/11 and the fact that her dad was President on 9/11, there’s an undeniable connection between us.
When that’s said and done I’m back at my laptop (which is currently broken so I need a new one). Good thing my birthday is in February, by the way, should I get a Mac or PC? Anyway, staying relevant and continuing the sequel to Chasing Butterflies along with a 9/11 Childrens Book is keeping me very busy. There’s a lot going on in the kitchen. Metaphorically, as I’m never actually cooking in my kitchen.
So to sum up this weeks blog, the book isn’t finished just because it’s published. It’s an ongoing push to get it seen and heard in the world. I’ll continue doing so to keep the memory of 9/11 alive and to give back to Tuesday’s Children Organization. Follow me on Insta for daily updates.
PS- I wrote this blog in the parking lot of my sons school before pick up. #momlife #momwritelife
PPS - Is it cool anymore to even do the hashtags?