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I posted in May then, WHAMO, it's September. Holy time travel, Batman.


The quick flip of calendar pages shouldn't be surprising. Outside of this writing endeavor, I run a tour company and summer is the busy season. Gotta make some cash to fund this publishing venture.


Still...four months, gone.


During that time, I've been obsessed with line editing. If you're not familiar, before a novel is printed, it is necessary to review every single word in every single line. Every. Single. One.


Yes, there is a line editor who does that, but it's my name going on the cover and I'm weird about details. So, I had to do it myself. For two novels.


Releasing two debut novels at the same time. Twice the work, twice the marketing expenditure, twice the stress. Twice the success?

So many avoid fearful situations. They look for safety, avoidance, and attempt to live without uncertainty. Foolish efforts all, but many (most?) still try.


Realizing the launch date of my two debut novels (go big or go home) is six months away, fear has been punching me in the gut every morning. That'll get your day going with a bang.


I've told friends, reserved a place for the release party, and put it out into the universe. There ain't no hiding from it now.


But fear is my friend not an enemy. It's that buddy who calls you on your shit, reminds you that you're not so hot after all, and, if you're lucky, it's a pal who pushes you to do your best.


My books may not sell a single copy. They may not break the average of 1,000 sales. But if they do not ring on the cash register it won't be because I held back.


Fear pushes me. I push back.


Now I need to go find some antacids.

Expanding on fears of releasing my novels into the world...


It isn't fear of rejection that consumes me. It's not concerns over criticism or the 'literary world' snubbing my children. My biggest fear is one that will most likely happen - nothing.


98% of all published works sell less than 1,000 copies. People are reading less than ever and seldom invest in new voices.


There are 342 million people in the United States. That means, in order to sell 1,000 copies, I have to find the .00000292 percentage who will resonate with my words.


In other words, I'm searching for a needle in a stack of needles.


The overwhelming probability is my babies will not be rejected. They'll be ignored, orphans on the side of the road not given a first glance, much less a second.


So, why write?


The stories chronicled in my two debut novels gave me no other choice. It's been an obsession, an annoying tap on the shoulder most waking moments.


'Tell our tales, please.'

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