Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Highs and Lows

Okay, so man, does this business of publishing have some really high highs, and some really low lows. I don't think I'm a stranger to this at all, and I've lived through it before, but I'm on the roller coaster again.


I'm not querying or anything, but I'm constantly refreshing my email to see if "the one" has come. My adult fantasy, ECHOES OF SILENCE, was selected by Kindle Scout, and I've completed and submitted the final edits. So what am I doing? Hanging on by my white knuckles, checking that email every five freaking seconds to see if I've gotten the email to let me know when my book will be released.

Yeah, it's a sickness.

In addition to that, I'm less than 30 days away from the release of my debut contemporary romance, UNTIL SUMMER ENDS. I'm ridiculously excited about this book, and not just because it takes place on the beach--one of my favorite places on the planet.

This is my first published contemporary romance, but it's my fifth attempt, and I really love the book. I want it to get a good send-off into the world, and I'm nervous about it. Talk about a low! I feel like I've gone back in time 5 years, and I'm anticipating the release of Possession all over again! (BTW, you can pre-order the book if you want! I would love you forever.)

Back then, I randomly started crying at lyrics to songs, and wouldn't you know it, I'm doing the same thing again! The cycles in this business are crazy!

In addition to that, I had another book deal on the table, and it fell through. It was a hard week while that was all going down, and I'm not gonna lie, I'm disappointed. I don't quite know what to do with the book now, and it's just sitting. I think it's a good book, but my confidence in it has been shaken.

Another valley. Another reason to just sit on the couch and watch Food Network. But am I doing that?

Nope!

I have another Three Rivers Ranch Romance novel to write. After all, I put it up for pre-order and it's not quite finished yet... But my self-published western romances have seen success like I've never experienced before. It's a high I don't quite know how to ride. I find myself falling off all the time, and trying to get a grip on things, and trying to keep up with the insane production schedule I put myself on for the series.

It's definitely been a wild ride these past few months! What's your ride looking like lately? Highs? Lows? Some of both? 

5 comments:

Angela Brown said...

I wish I could say mine is looking like highs, but truthfully, it's a lot of lows. Some of the negative spirit of 2015 is trying to linger on into 2016 and it's doing a really good job. People I thought were supportive of my dream are turning out to be little more than wordsmiths with no action of any kind to show support, though they're actively supporting other things. I continue writing because despite the flailing sales, I love it too much to stop.

Perhaps this is a season of Valley and things will improve soon. For once, I'm simply going back to the enjoyment of the writing process because the business side of things has lost much of its glitter and glam and excitement.

I wish you the best answer hope you are able to experience far more highs and have true support from those who claim it, both in word and deed.

Natalie Aguirre said...

I feel bad you're both experiencing the lows of writing. Because the publishing world is so fickle, I'm just writing nonfiction for my job and my blog for now. I'm happy just supporting other authors and am grateful for my job. Fingers crossed for you, Elana.

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

You are doing so well, Elana! When I first met you in blogland the only book you had published was a free one you were giving away. AND omgoodness have you looked in the mirror lately? You look fantastic! Slow down, have a cup of ginger lemon tea and relax. You've got this girl...you've got this....

Unknown said...

Dunno if you RITE, yet, lemme add summore thots; lemme fill-you-up withe efficacious epiphany, the avant-gardeness and necessary wisdom to achieve Seventh-Heaven, dear, if ya desire Seventh-Heaven...

If 'freedom lies in being bold' (Robert Frost), doesn't pushing-the-envelope also result in the Elysian Fields of Utopia? If I'm the sower, we plant the Seed; if I'm an artist, we RITE the symphonies heard Upstairs ☆IF☆ we accept His lead withe orchestra...

Wanna find-out the fax, Jak, in a wurld fulla the 'power of cowards'? Wanna wiseabove to help a 'Plethora Of Wurdz' [POW!] which are look'n for a new home in thy novelty?? Yay!

Q: But [gulp] can anyone tell me the difference between K2/IQ? A: Nthn. In Heaven, we gitt'm both for eternity HA! Need a few more thots, ideers, wild wurdz (whoa, Nelly! easy, girl!) or ironclad iconoclasms?

VERBUM SAT SAPIENTI (Latin: words to [the] wise): As an ex-writer of the sassy, savvy, schizophenia we all go thro in this lifelong demise, I just wanna help U.S. git past the ping-pong-politixx, the whorizontal more!ass! we're in and wiseabove to 'in fin sine fin' (Latin: in [the] End without End -Saint Augustine).

"This finite existence is only a test, son," God Almighty told me in my coma. "Far beyond thy earthly tempest is where you'll find tangible, corpulent eloquence". Lemme tella youse without d'New Joisey accent...

I actually saw Seventh-Heaven when we died: you couldn't GET!! any moe curly, party-hardy-endorphins, low-hanging-fruit of the Celestial Paradise, extravagantly-surplus-lush Upstairs (awww! baby kitties, too!!) when my o-so-beautifull, brilliant, bombastic girly passed-away due to those wry, sardonic satires...

"Those who are wise will shine as brightly as the expanse of the Heavens, and those who have instructed many in uprightousness as bright as stars for all eternity" -Daniel 12:3, NJB

Here's also what the prolific, exquisite GODy sed: 'the more you shall honor Me, the more I shall bless you' -the Infant Jesus of Prague.

Go gitt'm, girly. You're incredible. You're indelible. Cya Upstairs. I won't be joining'm in the nasty Abyss where Isis prowls
thesuperseedoftime.blogspot.com
infowars.com
JohnLeary.com
-YOUTHwitheTRUTH
-------------------------------
PS Need summore unique, uncivilized, useless names?? Lemme gonna gitcha started, brudda:

Oak Woods, Franky Sparks, Athena Noble, Autumn Rose, Faith Bishop, Dolly Martin, Willow Rhodes, Cocoa Major, Roman Stone, Bullwark Burnhart, Magnus Wilde, Kardiak Arrest, Will Wright, Goldy Silvers, Penelope Summers, Sophie Sharp, Violet Snow, Lizzy Roach, BoxxaRoxx, Aunty Dotey, Romero Stark, Zacharia Neptoon, Mercurio Morrissey, Fritz & Felix Franz, Victor Payne, Isabella Silverstein, Mercedes Kennedy, Redd Rust, Phoenix Martini, Ivy Squire, Sauer Wolfe, Yankee Cooky, blessed b9... (or mixNmatch)

God blessa youse
(trustNjesus)
-Fr. Sarducci, ol SNL
☆refuse2Bindifferent☆

Unknown said...

Dunno if you RITE, yet, lemme add summore thots; lemme fill-you-up withe efficacious epiphany, the avant-gardeness and necessary wisdom to achieve Seventh-Heaven, dear, if ya desire Seventh-Heaven...

If 'freedom lies in being bold' (Robert Frost), doesn't pushing-the-envelope also result in the Elysian Fields of Utopia? If I'm the sower, we plant the Seed; if I'm an artist, we RITE the symphonies heard Upstairs ☆IF☆ we accept His lead withe orchestra...

Wanna find-out the fax, Jak, in a wurld fulla the 'power of cowards'? Wanna wiseabove to help a 'Plethora Of Wurdz' [POW!] which are look'n for a new home in thy novelty?? Yay!

Q: But [gulp] can anyone tell me the difference between K2/IQ? A: Nthn. In Heaven, we gitt'm both for eternity HA! Need a few more thots, ideers, wild wurdz (whoa, Nelly! easy, girl!) or ironclad iconoclasms?

VERBUM SAT SAPIENTI (Latin: words to [the] wise): As an ex-writer of the sassy, savvy, schizophenia we all go thro in this lifelong demise, I just wanna help U.S. git past the ping-pong-politixx, the whorizontal more!ass! we're in and wiseabove to 'in fin sine fin' (Latin: in [the] End without End -Saint Augustine).

"This finite existence is only a test, son," God Almighty told me in my coma. "Far beyond thy earthly tempest is where you'll find tangible, corpulent eloquence". Lemme tella youse without d'New Joisey accent...

I actually saw Seventh-Heaven when we died: you couldn't GET!! any moe curly, party-hardy-endorphins, low-hanging-fruit of the Celestial Paradise, extravagantly-surplus-lush Upstairs (awww! baby kitties, too!!) when my o-so-beautifull, brilliant, bombastic girly passed-away due to those wry, sardonic satires...

"Those who are wise will shine as brightly as the expanse of the Heavens, and those who have instructed many in uprightousness as bright as stars for all eternity" -Daniel 12:3, NJB

Here's also what the prolific, exquisite GODy sed: 'the more you shall honor Me, the more I shall bless you' -the Infant Jesus of Prague.

Go gitt'm, girly. You're incredible. You're indelible. Cya Upstairs. I won't be joining'm in the nasty Abyss where Isis prowls
thesuperseedoftime.blogspot.com
infowars.com
JohnLeary.com
-YOUTHwitheTRUTH
-------------------------------
PS Need summore unique, uncivilized, useless names?? Lemme gonna gitcha started, brudda:

Oak Woods, Franky Sparks, Athena Noble, Autumn Rose, Faith Bishop, Dolly Martin, Willow Rhodes, Cocoa Major, Roman Stone, Bullwark Burnhart, Magnus Wilde, Kardiak Arrest, Will Wright, Goldy Silvers, Penelope Summers, Sophie Sharp, Violet Snow, Lizzy Roach, BoxxaRoxx, Aunty Dotey, Romero Stark, Zacharia Neptoon, Mercurio Morrissey, Fritz & Felix Franz, Victor Payne, Isabella Silverstein, Mercedes Kennedy, Redd Rust, Phoenix Martini, Ivy Squire, Sauer Wolfe, Yankee Cooky, blessed b9... (or mixNmatch)

God blessa youse
(trustNjesus)
-Fr. Sarducci, ol SNL
☆refuse2Bindifferent☆

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