- Me and my book, at a pre-launch sale and signing at my local library
So, today is the day I’ve been anticipating since the time, back in January of 2011, when an email from my agent, Neil Salkind, landed in my box with the subject line “Good news.” A month later, contract in hand and a July deadline, I promptly … panicked. And cleaned my office, and dealt with 4,000 other things that were obviously far more important than sitting down to write my first book. Somewhere around the end of February, my month of panicked dithering over, I got started.
I hit “word count” more times than I care to admit, and I despaired once or twice, but even that was minimal. Honestly? For the most part? I felt like I turned on a tap and the water started gushing out.
Here’s one of my word-count sheets, which is still taped to the side of my file cabinet — last March’s very frequent updates gradually tapered off, and I settled into a rhythm as the chapters were written. (Incidentally, that last number is still 20K short of the final count, more or less.)
Word count updates: My low-tech motivational tool.
No one (starting with my parents) has ever accused me of not having much to say. (Common at our dinner table when I was a girl: “Denise. Stop talking and eat something.” As I said recently in a blog interview about the writing process, all I’ve ever wanted was to communicate, to say what I had swirling in my head, and for people to listen.
So listen up: Read the book! Buy your copy today (links right there on the right side of the blog).
Tell your friends! Think about what a great Mother’s Day gift this is. And know that I’ll thank you from the bottom of my heart (especially if you, for example, leave very cool reviews on Amazon, or, you know, whatever…)
Congrats, Denise! So excited for you. I have pre-ordered the book and can’t wait to read it
Congratulations! I was going to hold out for the Kindle edition, but I want to read it now!
I hope you outsell all your publisher’s projections and make millions b/c that would indicate a heartening number of sensible parents out there.
I just went to purchase and see it is on Kindle. Yay!
Congrats!! How exciting! Looking forward to reading it.
Congratulations! This will be my go-to gift for new parents.
I pre-ordered mine and it arrived today! Can’t wait to get reading, congrats!!!
Congratulations! Can’t wait to get my Nook book copy!
Ordered your book from Amazon the other day, and I am LOVING it. (I’m about half-way through right now, I don’t want to rush it; I’m highlighting like a good student and everything). Ha! You articulate so well how I feel about so many parenting-related issues. It’s like a breath of fresh air! I’ll be lending my copy to my sister next, I think she’ll also love it.
Thanks for doing what you do! It definitely resonates with me.
Jen,
Thank you so much! Your comments brightened my morning considerably.
best,
Denise
I am new to your blog and already in love with your posts, but importantly with your parenting style. I have your same mantra. Proof-when we go to a grocery store, my 4 1/2 year old asks, what is on sale today?