Today, I’m feeling pretty lucky. Aside from the fact that I have a wonderful family and that we’re all in reasonably good health, March 18, 2015, is the official release of my first novel: A Work of Art. Not only that, but I got to celebrate by sitting in on a parent book-club meeting at my son’s school where they were discussing (dun-dun-DUN) my book!
Yes, I know it sounds narcissistic, but you have to understand that getting to discuss a book that I wrote (and getting to discuss it with people I respect) was something I’d fantasized about long before I got published—one of those silly little dreams that you think will never happen.
I’m still pinching myself.
What made it even more amazing was the fact that these other well-read moms (and two librarians) were discussing A Work of Art as a piece of literary fiction—which I guess it is. But the only other time I’ve sat in a room where people were discussing my book was when those people were my critique group and their job was to expose the book’s weaknesses. Today was an entirely different experience (for the first time since this writing journey began, I felt like a real author), and it was more than a little surreal.
So thank you, ladies, for making my book birthday such an amazing, exciting, memorable experience. Tomorrow will go back to being a regular day, but this day, at least, has been one of my luckiest.
If you missed the other three parts of my Countdown to Publication, click here for Part 1. 
What a pleasure meeting with you, Melody, and discussing your book! I look forward to more insightful conversations!
Thanks, Alona. It was a pleasure meeting you too. Thanks for helping make the experience so memorable. I know we’ll see more of each other in the future.
Leave it to the internet to provide me with exactly what I needed to read. Firstly, thank you for writing Work of Art and sharing the lead up/publication excitement, trepidation, ups and downs, ins and outs. Congratulations! (I already have my Amazon page open to purchase 😉
It’s funny, there are so many resources for how to write, the drafting, querying process, etc. but so little in support for authors as we go through the time leading up to and beyond publication. I’ve felt buoyed and supported but now with just weeks to go, I’m all like, anyone, a life raft? Please?
I needed to know the queasy stomach fluttering is totally normal. (As are the mixed reviews. What’s up with that? Par for the course, I suppose. Keeps us on our toes.)
Anyway, thank you and congrats!!!
Thanks, Deidre! I’m glad I could help. It’s been almost a month since A Work of Art’s official release date, and the highs and lows keep coming.