Thursday, May 19, 2011

Losing Beauty is now on Amazon and Barnes & Noble!

There was more content to the email I received from my publisher earlier this week but that was all I managed to absorb.  Today, as in right this very minute you can go to the Kindle or Nook store and download my book.  Of course I've known I was headed in this direction for some time.  I've been rhapsodizing about it to all my friends but when I opened up that email all I felt was a wave of cold, nervous nausea. 

In fact, the last time I can remember feeling this precise combination of dread and excitement was when I was in labor with Child 1.  All I could think as we raced toward the hospital was, "I'm stuck on a speeding train and it's too late to get off."  Except even if I could have, I wouldn't have.  It's just scary to know you're all out of options. 

Writers regularly compare their books to children.  There is the euphoria that comes when you're almost at the end of your first draft and you know exactly how everything is going to come together.  It's like seeing your child for the first time.  There are the uncomfortable moments when you go back to look at it and your masterpiece is terrible, awful, quite possibly the worst thing you've ever seen.  The equivelent parenting moment is when you hear your child say something dreadful and mean-spirited and wonder how you managed to give birth to the spawn of satan.

Then there is the post-partum depression after you finish a book.  In my house finishing the last draft is often accompanied, not by popping open a bottle of champagne, but by me dragging around in sweat pants and eating too much ice cream.

Amazon link
﻿ So, I'm stuck on the speeding train and I can't get off.  I hope the baby (I mean book) is honest and well-loved because that's what everyone wants for their offspring.  Let's just hope the labor pains aren't too bad.

p.s. If you've made it all the way to the end of this post, and my talk of labor pains hasn't scared you away....please leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads.  You can't imagine how helpful it is to have good (oops, I meant to say honest) reviews.


Jo Schaffer said...

Congrats! How exciting. (= This is going on my list of books to read.

lizy b said...

Oh my goodness! What a thrill! Congratulations on your new baby ;)!

LHermes said...

What a perfect analogy! I've got it on my Nook and am hoping to steal some reading time this weekend!! So excited for you.

Christine Murray said...

Congratulations! You should be really proud of yourself :)

Johanna Garth said...

Thanks everyone!! Feeling very excited (and exposed) today. Kind of like I'm walking around naked ;)

lizy b said...

Just downloaded a new book today! It's...oh where is it....what was the name again....Losing Beauty!!!! Can't wait to read it!

Jennifer A said...


I just started reading it today! :)

Jennifer of Little Shelf

Johanna Garth said...

Lizy...LOL, you always make me laugh!

Yay, Jennifer. Thanks again for agreeing to review it!

naida said...

Congratulations Johanna! Good for you, best of luck! I like how you compare it to labor pains :P