My debut novel The Pelican Tide launched on June 11. As I’m the Deb who administers the Substack around here, I had planned to announce my launch with verbal confetti and a sincere thanks to everyone who has helped me reach this milestone. Oh, how sweet, dear misguided author!
When I began writing, lo and behold my brain was a messy first draft of thoughts and emotions. I’m not a supporter of messy first drafts! But that’s me and my writing process.
The best editing advice I can give anyone is to step away from the narrative and give it time to cool. Let your mind work while you’re doing absolutely anything else.
A Week of Surprises
Launch week was anything but chill and cool. The week was packed with surprises and they’re still coming.
June 11 began with a live - yup me on screen - with Cyrus Webb on his Amazon streaming show.
Cyrus was the best interview I’ve done to date. He had read the book and was 100% engaged with the story. He’s a Mississippi native and had lived through the Gulf oil spill. We had a thoughtful talk about the book both before and after the show. (This in contrast to a radio interview I did the previous week where the host hadn’t read my book and introduced me three times as Sharon Winslow - not my name.) Cyrus also had me back for his Friday podcast.
One of the questions he asked was: what’s it like to live with these characters for so long and then to release them? That’s akin to my least favorite margin note from an editor, “how does the character really feel, provide more emotion.”
Boarding the Bus
It’s like having a baby, watching her grow up, and then putting her alone on a school bus for the first day and praying that she returns home safely with new friends, a kind teacher, and her empty lunch box. First days are hard on everyone.
The next surprise came from the writing community who really had my back with posts and reposts about the book. Note to self, share more love.
The surprise that knocked my socks off came from the good people in Grand Isle, Louisiana where my story is set. I’m working with the Restore Grand Isle project to help raise funds for island restoration and perseveration. I asked my contact if he would post about my book launch on the island Facebook page.
The post was flooded with congratulations, (purchases), and gratitude. And… one reader identified the cover image as “Norah Canal on Cheniere between Beverly and Foster.”
I love my book cover and had to fight for it. When I successfully argued this was the right one, I didn’t ask too many questions, like - is this really in Louisiana? I just crossed my eyes, fingers, and legs and hoped for the best. The FB poster told me her fishing camp was on the same canal just out of view and if I happen to come down to Grand Isle, it’s up for rent.
Yesterday the latest surprise hit. The Pelican Tide is the number 1 book on Kindle in Southern United States Fiction. Not bad for a kid from Boston. And while this is only an Amazon marketing/promo rating, and may only last a hot minute, I’m savoring it. I’m using it to propel me through the dark days on my current WIP.
Publishing is challenging but our stories matter. In my personal Substack, Research for Writers and Other Curious People, I describe some of the marketing and promotional activities I’ve done and my thoughts on whether they were worth the effort. I invite you to hop over there if book launching is in your future.
Share More Love
Thank you to my fellow Debs. We’re having an exciting launch year. I hope our stories find you and lift you through your life.
Congratulations, Sharon! I hope you keep getting happy surprises.
Congratulations Sharon "Winslow" - life is filled with all kinds of surprises, but I'm glad for your sense of humor, and overwhelmed with your success! "Keep Going" as my kids always tell me, and let us all know what's next/what are you working on?!!