(what nobody tells you about finishing and releasing a book).
Ghost Hunters has been out since April, and I’m not going to lie, it’s been quiet. It’s reached the people who know me (obviously), those who are in the know with Singlit (book bloggers, I see you!) and maybe the odd influencer or two. There are people who love it, people who hate it, and people who will side-eye and stomp on it when they get the chance. IYKYK.
No one tells you that after publishing a book, it gets very lonely. Here are some things that happen after the book is released:
- You keep waiting for edits, or something to do. You feel empty after a while, because the project has been your baby for so long. You walk around, like that Pablo Escobar meme, searching for something to do. You take a break, and start thinking about your next book.
2. After the book launch, I stayed at the venue and just hung out with friends. We got Jollibee! But everyone I can imagine, went back to their homes and their lives. Or maybe they hung out with friends. It’s like in the movie, Soul — the composer, Trent Reznor of NIN fame, said that after one of his concerts, everyone went back and continued on with their lives, while he remained. And if you don’t have a support system, it can get lonely. For those who stayed, thank you.
3. I cannot change what’s inside the book. A friend’s husband asked if I was open to criticism. Like, what do you mean? The book is out. I cannot possibly change and make comments based on what he didn’t like. And if I spent all day doing this developing my book, I wouldn’t even get far in being published because I cannot please everybody. Also, leave a review on GoodReads and tell the readers what you think. Criticism is for them to evaluate whether they want to read the book — or not!
4. Self promotion doesn’t end. I hate it. I hate self-promo a lot, but I end up having to do it because I am the best advocate for my book. You wouldn’t think, with me standing in front of a camera and talking to an audience, but here we are.
5. I still doubt myself. On bad days, I wake up and wonder why I people like me get published. What I write isn’t considered terribly literary, a writer. My style shifted and the stories I wanted to tell ended up being genre fiction. I think that’s ok, but on bad days, I wonder if I still “got it” to make it.
But hey—the more I meet readers, the more it is worthwhile to me. Because just the other day, I encountered someone who has an old but well-loved copy of Dragonhearted. And I will never forget the day that the auntie from the post office asked to read my book.
Ghost Hunters is in stores now.