It is almost time for my book to be released, and I am ecstatic. And also very caffeinated. And also so ready for it to just be done with already, but also dreading when I can’t make any more last minute changes. Because I still am making a lot of them.
My original goal was releasing it March 14. That did not happen. Then I thought I’d get it out the 16th-18th ish, and now its release is officially March 23rd. Over a week after my initial goal, however, I’m not sorry. As previously mentioned, this editing frenzy I’m in is a little crazy. Full disclosure, three keys and counting have fallen off of my keyboard– r, t, and h, plus g and s are wiggly, so it’s only a matter of time. The way those three keys stick to my fingers, jump off of their spots that I have carefully put them back into and fall on the floor often exemplifies what I feel keeps happening with my book. It looks good. Then a little piece sticks out. Then it falls apart and I have to stick it back together to hopefully work better than before.
None of that is as annoying as using the Kindle Create software. I’m publishing though Amazon, which means I get to use the worst software ever to make a document type they will let me upload… I don’t know who made Kindle Create, but it wasn’t writers or anyone who cares about functionality or writers’ sanity. There have been several tense moments of me banging on me keyboard (which is already in a delicate state and can’t afford to be banged on) trying to select words or italicize, and Kindle Create decided not to do it. Let’s just say I’m grateful to be through that, but using that software is always a bump in the road.
I’ve reached the point where I’ve edited about twenty five times, and I’m pretty sure the book sucks although secretly I still like it and like the story. I made it available for pre-order, so I’m not getting out of it at this point. It feels like a mad dash to the finish line.
If you’ve ever written something in a regular word document then pasted it into a document that’s book-sized with book-sized margins and book fonts, it makes it feel special. And real. And like a book instead of a really long word document.
My book is the second in a series. There is always so much pressure on a Book 2 to be as good as a Book 1, which has definitely crossed my mind as of late. I’m choosing to ground myself by thinking about Books 3, 4, 5… and so on (it’s an Amazon series, there’s a lot of them) and I already know the story. I think the usual problem with a Book 2 is that it’s not thought through before Book 1, so it tries to be an add on of what was already created, rather than an intentional step to a greater arc.
At this point, I’m relatively confident (although still slightly insecure) about the creative work I’m putting into the world, but I have one more day that I’m allowed to upload new versions and edits before it’s finalized. Funnily enough, my cut off time is in Great British time instead of American time, which means I get several less hours of the day to work on it and I have to remember the proper cutoff time of 7:59pm (since we just had daylight savings). I haven’t actually figured out why my cutoff time is in the UK time zone. I used to live in the UK but didn’t have my Amazon account when I did. Maybe all the cut off times are in the UK. I have no idea, but it’s another weird quirk to think about whenever I publish through Amazon. I guess it adds some spice by making things less predictable and harder to remember… exactly what everyone needs when dealing with deadlines.
My book is currently 137,298 words… this edit has added some chunkiness to it, which I’m not mad at. I’ve redone the cover and the back cover content about fifty times at this point, and I still haven’t thrown my hands in the air in defeat. I’d call that a win.
Send me positive thoughts and prayers as I push to the finish line. The deadline looms, and I’m changing my mind about how I feel about it every ten seconds š
Jules Conrad 