While the calendar has officially turned to August—the month that is meant to be the laziest of the year, full of sunny beach days, cold watermelon, and naps on a hammock—I am as busy as ever with final preparations for the launch of my latest novel, This Much is True, available September 18th!
It’s worth noting that the actual thing happening on September 18th is the publication of the novel—namely the packaging and distribution of my book in print, e-book and audio format, a multi-step endeavor that has involved editors, proofreaders, cover designers, voice actors, audio producers, and more—but the LAUNCH of any novel involves an entirely different set of activities.
A LAUNCH, in my mind, marks a very particular place on any significant journey—it is both the celebration of something achieved and an optimistic leap into the future, a flinging of oneself out into the world, all while hoping for a long trajectory, maybe even arrival somewhere meaningful (with as little sputtering and crashing as possible!).
The idea of a LAUNCH has long been associated with the christening of ships, that moment of pronouncing a new vessel seaworthy while simultaneously acknowledging that its job of exploring vast oceans, of carrying crews and cargo to distant lands is just beginning. Launch ceremonies have been practiced for thousands of years to ward off peril and bring good fortune, sometimes with spiritual blessings, animal sacrifices, oils, or holy waters, and more recently with bottles of wine or champagne smashed across the bow.
LAUNCH: 1. To cause to move from land into the water, as a ship on completion of the hull; 2. To send forth, as on a new career or into a new field; 3. To hurl or propel, as a dart
Funk & Wagnalls Dictionary of the English Language, 1934
The same word applies to an important weigh station in the process of coming of age. Lately, my friends and I regularly talk about the recent or imminent LAUNCH of our adult children, that stage when they’ve completed the messy maze of childhood, puberty, and formal schooling, when they are ready to leave behind the obstacle course of their formative years and start building a life of their own making. It’s a time when unknowns and optimism abound in equal measure. I have stopped short of cracking a bottle of wine on either of my sons’ shoulders, but the same desire to bless them with good fortune and safe passage runs deep.
And then there are the “children” of my creative invention, my novels, the latest of which (my 4th!) I am gearing up to LAUNCH in September. It will be part celebration, yes (with champagne involved!), but mostly I think of a book launch as a multi-pronged effort to help the story find readers in the world. It’s a process that starts almost as soon as the book is acquired by a publisher and will continue for several months after publication day. It’s a lot of hard work and fun and block-and-tackle to-dos all wrapped up with pent up excitement and anxiety.
One of the more significant parts of the process involves asking authors I admire if they would be willing to read the book for a “blurb,” which is book-speak for the quotes of praise you regularly see printed on the back of a book. While the “ask” can be intimidating—it’s no small investment of time on their part— it is incredibly gratifying to read what each author has to say.
While the praise is wonderful, of course, the real thrill for me is in hearing these amazing writers express, in their own words, what they loved most, what stood out to them, what they took away. Every carefully chosen word is like a beacon of hope to me, blinking from the future, a signal that the book might find its way after all.
I have been blessed throughout my career with blurbs from incredible authors, and this time is no exception. I am so grateful. What a thrill to open these emails, one by one over the course of many weeks, and read that “Women of my generation have been waiting for This Much is True…” (Michelle Lerner); and also that this book is not just for women, that it “is your mother’s story and your father’s, your daughter’s and your son’s, your sister’s and your brother’s…” (Susan Donovan Bernhard); that I handled sensitive material well, “Sherbrooke skillfully weaves moments of tenderness with piercing outrage…” (JJ Elliott); that it caused one to reconsider her high school years: “Anyone who lived through the 80s likely has had to revisit that era’s rules and re-examine what we thought we knew…” (Alisyn Camerota); that the book is “a profound meditation on the psychological gravity of our earliest choices…” (Katrin Schuman); and that the resolution brought it all home: “Brace yourself for an ending that is as surprising as it is deeply satisfying.” (Lynne Reeves).
Yippee yahooey—which is a technical term for how it felt to read these amazing testimonials in full and my level of gratitude.
I’ve also been busily sending out ARCs (which stands for Advanced Reader Copies, and is pronounced “Ark”—yet another kind of vessel flung into the world!) to booksellers, journalists, podcasters and the like, in hopes that they might find the book worthy of their store, of a review, of an article or live interview. There is a Goodreads Giveaway underway (enter for a chance to win one of 10 early copies!). I’ve been writing essays and answering written interviews which will be published in September, and I’m about to start a slew of podcast recordings. It’s all great fun and everything will be posted on the “Press” page of my website as they roll in.
Lastly, I’ve been happily scheduling launch events and appearances at bookstores, often with fellow authors to talk books and meet readers. Writing books, in the end, is for me about creating some kind of connection with readers. Sometimes it’s as ephemeral as conjuring a vivid image in a reader’s mind because of a particular phrase or description. Sometimes it’s as lasting as creating a character a reader will never forget. And there’s nothing better than getting the chance to meet readers at a book signing event or as a guest at a book group to talk books and writing. Come join me this fall if you can!
The tour is a schedule-in-process—my website event page keeps everything up to date (I’m hoping to organize a West Coast leg so stay tuned).
Between now and then, I will continue to work on securing bow lines and readying sails. PLUS I intend to add in a bit of my own August rest and relaxation before setting out to sea in September.
I hope you are enjoying your summer.
Until next time, as always, my regards,
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