Nerves

A Closed Mouth is out in the world and doing well. As a new author, I hoped for instant success. I wanted to be on all of the bestseller lists in the first week. Then reality hit, and I realized that no one knew me. It’s not like I had a huge publishing house behind my name pushing my book. No, it’s me, my family and friends, and the kindness of strangers spurring on book sales. It’s scary, to say the least because only I know the level of work that went into publishing my work.

I’m hopeful that A Closed Mouth will become a bestselling novel. I’m sure I will see a surge in sales soon.

Until then, I will continue to sing, “Go, Little Rockstar!!”

Sincerely,

Lauryn

It's Finally Here AND...

The work doesn't stop! A Closed Mouth is in the world; I feel like a proud parent at a dance recital. I want to scream, "that's my baby right there! Do you see her? Go, baby girl!" The thought makes me laugh because I was afraid even to say I had written a book for so long. Here I am, promoting my tuckus off, hoping everyone in the world buys it. One piece of advice I'd offer to anyone thinking of writing a book, start promoting as soon as you finish with the manuscript. It builds momentum/anticipation for the book. Being a new jack to the literary world, I waited a bit late to advertise, and I feel behind the power curve. However, I do believe that what is for me will be. 

I'm trying not to watch numbers every day, but it's hard. My saving grace is the occasional text from my family and friends with pictures of my book in hand! I genuinely love all of the support they are giving me. Trust me; I need it! For a month, I didn't see any movement in sales. Today, I'm excited to see the lines on the sales graph moving upwards. I am genuinely looking at clicks, likes, subscriptions, and sales with my hands over my mouth, like a teary-eyed mom watching her baby ride off on her bike for the first time, thinking, "look at my baby, go!"

I want to personally thank everyone who has shared the link for purchase, left a review, and purchased the book. It means the world to me!

Sincerely,

Lauryn

Being Fearless

As I sit in my office, days before the release of A Closed Mouth, I feel some nervousness. You see, this is my first novel. I’m excited to finally be nearing the end of this journey, yet a little trepidatious about what lies ahead. The road getting to “publish” was long and arduous. It began with a dream to write a book. I thought it would be easy; however, I quickly learned how difficult the task would become. I used writing as a tool to keep myself entertained while recuperating from a bout of pneumonia. The first few chapters poured from my mind with ease. Creating well-rounded characters with depth was another story.

As the story unfolded, I found myself emotionally involved. The strain was so bad I stopped writing for six months. Several family members and friends called to encourage me to continue. So, I pressed onward until I finished. After writing the manuscript, I contemplated not publishing it. I was afraid to put my work into the world. Fear kept me paralyzed for three more months. Finally, after more encouragement from loved ones, I reached out to a company to put the eBook and paperback together.

The process was challenging, to say the least. Nerves, frustration, lack of understanding of the process all jumbled together, causing me to want to give up…again! Throughout this process, I discovered that I give up when things get too complicated in my life. I’m not proud of this attribute because it has kept me from growing. Nonetheless, I had too many people, at this point, rooting for me and my success.

I had family, friends, and Beta Readers who were all chomping at the bit for me to release A Closed Mouth. So here I sit, less than a week before the debut of my first literary work, telling myself to be fearless. I’ve discovered through this period in my life that being courageous doesn’t mean having no fear.

It means fear less of what is holding me back. Today, I’m choosing not to fear judgment, not to fear ridicule, and to have less fear of the voice inside my head telling me what I can’t do or how it won’t be received. I wasted nine months being fearful. I finally dare to release my work into the world. For that, I’m very proud.

Courageously Yours,

Lauryn