Writing
Related: About this forumLittle did I know how fun this would be (and how busy it would make me!).
I got the first copy of my book on Dec 4 - it was a surreal experience holding it in my hands. My publicist set upon charting activities for promotion. The book came out on December 30.
And here I am on April 26 - between Storey and those identified by me locally, it ended up being nearly 50 events between January and the end of this year. It was front-loaded - I am now through 34 of them, with a few biggies (Seed Savers Exchange in Iowa, Monticello in Charlottesville VA) coming in a few months. It has been so....much....fun! The parts I was most anxious about - the talks, the book signings, the (gasp!) reviews - have all gone smoothly. And I just heard that it is going to a second printing....
As all of you who write books know, it isn't really about the money (I will end up getting around 1.00 per book sold, and the advance - not a large one - has to get paid back before I see a penny). But I am learning lots, meeting great people, getting around - and book 2 comes out in December. And I have so many ideas for book 3.
So a major career shift - chemist/corporate pharma dude to writer - can happen. And I feel like it will carry me happily through the rest of my life.
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)Doing something you actually love is amazing. It's also great if you can make money at it.
If you already have many ideas for book 3, I bet books 4 and 5 won't be far behind. And that as people discover you've written more than one, will happily buy them all.
I really love it when I find an author I like, especially if I discover that author somewhat early in his career, and can read new books as they come out. I am actually discouraged by the vastly prolific ones, because I can't keep up with them and everything else I want to read.
classof56
(5,376 posts)As a writer still working on my first novel, I cheer your success. You do us proud!
Thespian2
(2,741 posts)from a retired Wake County teacher...
Trueblue Texan
(2,932 posts)NRaleighLiberal
(60,513 posts)DavidDvorkin
(19,897 posts)And still selling well, judging by the sales rank. Congratulations!
NRaleighLiberal
(60,513 posts)CrispyQ
(38,299 posts)One of the women in my writing critique group has published two fiction novels and one nonfiction and is working on her third fiction. The fiction novels are a series. Prior to this she was a professional and thinking about retiring. Now she spends time writing and promoting her books. And yes, her advance was tiny and she hardly makes anything.
Just curious if you belong to a critique group?
NRaleighLiberal
(60,513 posts)I am not a joiner at all.
Thanks for your post!
Jim Riggins
(23 posts)...on the book. It takes considerable determination to write them. Good luck in the future.