Every writer looks forward to “Release Day.” That is the day that their publisher - them, if they self-publish as I do - has the book go live. That is, put the book out on the market, and let readers decide if it was all worth it.
“A Guardian’s Promise” released today. I tossed and turned last night, my mind focused on what I would say, the things I would write. What is is like, how can I get people attracted to it? In spite of the hours and hours of effort…how many typos, where are the flaws in the story. What will people think?
The answer, for a writer, is generally “Who knows?” This morning, when Amazon authorized the “go live” date, the book stopped being mine. It became yours. If you read it - I hope you do - the Amy on the cover becomes the Amy within you. You fill in any blanks I’ve left out (some intentionally). You feel her trepidations, her fears. You share her triumphs. The supporting characters become your friends, your allies or your enemies. For the time you spend with them - a beach, a porch - you are there at their sides as they try, as best they can, to do police work in the manner it is intended.
Or, die trying.