Pop!

Guest blogger, Allison Winn Scotch
From the author’s blog, June 14, 2010.

Pop.

That’s the sound that nearly every author hears once his or her book is released out into the world. It’s the sound of the bubble deflating, as he or she looks around and thinks…now what?

It both seems and feels impossible to believe that after a year of work, The One That I Want, has been out for nearly two weeks, and while yes, I have some big things ahead – some prominent reviews (fingers crossed), some signings/readings out west next week (Seattle – June 22nd, LA – June 24th) – for the most part, now, the book goes out and does its thing, and it is time to get back to life.

Pop.

It’s strange, to toil so much on it – the book, the promotion, all of it that goes into a year’s worth of work – and then realize, well, life goes on. And in my case, that means turning my attention back to my next book, which I’ve neglected in the wake of the promotional flurry of this one. In many ways, books feel like children: you focus your attention on them for a while when they’re young, and then you realize, “Oh, they’re going to be okay, let’s see what else is going on around the house,” and you stop worrying. I’m not at the point where I’ve stopped worrying about The One, but I am at the point – which I promise you every published author reaches – where I think it’s time to start looking around the house to see what else there is. The revelation came this week when I was talking about The Memory of Us (my next book), and I couldn’t remember the name of two of my main characters. Oops. I’ve neglected one child for another, and that’s never a good thing.

I think this is the hangover phase of a book release, and it’s inevitable. I have literally never spoken to an author who didn’t experience this. What did we expect? That the world would stop spinning on its axis with the release? That our lives would be magically changed? I dunno. I’ve been through this twice before, so I didn’t expect anything along those lines, and to be sure, my hangover is much lighter compared to my previous books’ releases. I know that the pop is coming – that the world certainly won’t stop spinning on its axis – and I’m ready for it. I have my figurative Advil standing by, and in many ways, I’m relieved. There’s something almost disconcerting about spending so much time obsessing about a singular thing in your life, and I’m exhaling that it’s time – and that I’m ready – to concentrate on everything else now.

To be sure, there are still some great things ahead for The One, and I cannot wait. But I’m almost glad this bubble has popped. That’s the difference between the first two books, when I was discombobulated when I had to move on. Now, I welcome it. There is so much more in life than just a book’s release! Like writing my next one and remembering both the names of my characters and why I loved them. Also, things like balance with my family and letting go of stress and being grateful for the fact that I got to publish a book at all.

So maybe this time it’s not a hangover, it’s waking up the next morning after a huge party and realizing that I’m NOT hungover. That’s so much better.

Writers – will you share your experiences of post-book feelings? Did you feel this pop too?

Allison Winn Scotch is the author of the novels The One That I Want, The Time of My Life, and The Department of Lost and Found. Her work has also appeared in Parents, Glamour, and Redbook. She lives in New York with her husband, son, daughter, and their dog. www.allisonwinn.com

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