On Being An Author

Back in July, I wrote a little introspective entry on claiming the Author title for myself, and how good it felt.  Now that From the Desk of Buster Heywood is in print, all of that still stands, but I have something else to add:

Here's why:  I'd been working on this book for five years.  Buster had been a character in my mind for even longer than that.  The book itself was nothing new, to me ... but everyone that I've showed the print copy to has been absolutely over the moon.   

I had been so caught up in writing and juggling all the steps of self-publishing, in actually Being An Author, that I forgot how exhilarating the final product would be.   For me, having a readership is not just something that brings my story to a greater life: it reminds me how fantastic this Author business really is.  

I took my copy of From the Desk... around to a couple of local shops yesterday, and uttered the words "I'm a local, self-published author ... would you be interested in carrying my book?" for the first time.  It felt incredible, empowering ... and strange, as though I was doing something that I could be called out for at any moment.   I almost expected someone to pop out from the stacks of the store, point, and screech "You're not an author!  BOOO!"   (I am all about the pop culture references, today, apparently.)  But no one did, and I stood proud, and I owned my calling.  It felt amazing.

So, before I prepare to throw myself into the battlefields of NaNoWriMo next Sunday, I wanted to take a moment, pause in my mad preparation and the rush that October has become, and say thank you.  

Thank you to all of you: for reading this blog, for supporting me in any way, no matter how small.  For every Like, Retweet, smile, encouraging word, and excited flail.   It's easy for me to get mired in the work, as much as I love it: to forget that what I am doing is Kind of a Big Deal.   You, dear Readers, remind me of it, and it means the world.   I started this series for myself, but you are the reason I intend to keep going.   Thank you for being you... I'll see you next week.