Something Borrowed Book Launch Eve Post

Here it is, the night before the release of Something Borrowed, Something 90% Dark.  I’ve done a blog post just before each of my books, reflecting on what I’ve learned from writing each title.  I think this time, I want to talk about how connecting with even just a few readers is such an amazing experience.  Early reviews of Something Borrowed are coming in, and there was one talking about the “highly anticipated” resolution of Felicity’s love triangle, which has been six books in the making.  (Don’t worry – just because the triangle is resolved doesn’t mean she doesn’t still have room for character development, as she moves into a serious relationship that is very different from her first marriage.  And it doesn’t mean that the other character is going anywhere.  He’s still going to be a part of Felicity’s circle of friends in future books.)  But just the idea that there are readers out there, waiting to find out what Felicity is going to do next – highly anticipating the payoffs to the promises I made in earlier books – it’s a humbling thing!  Thanks to all of you guys who have offered your feedback, your encouragement and your joy.

This book had a lot in it about music, and I wound up doing several character-based playlists for the blog tour.  And I realized then just how real these characters had become to me.  I scheduled this book to launch right after my anniversary, since it centers around a wedding and there’s so many romantic elements coming together.  (And yes, I took my book to some of the wedding venues in Galveston while we were there to celebrate.)  On the way down, we listened to the playlists in the car, since they made for upbeat traveling music – just in very different ways.  And I found myself imagining the daily routine each of the characters would be going through while listening to their favorite jams.  There was no hesitation filling in the gaps with things I haven’t developed for the story, because after six books, I know these characters well enough to just fit it in.  And the fact that my husband didn’t mind spending part of our romantic trip lugging a book around, or talking about my characters’ breakfast preferences in relationships in relation to our own choices – now that’s love.  The more I talk to writers working without a support network, without cheerleaders, without anyone to bounce ideas, the more I realize how amazing my guy is.  He’ll schlepp books around a conference, and make sure my AV is working.  Right now, he’s in the other room updating my website since this is the first day of the blog tour.

Obviously, I want that kind of relationship for Felicity, and I made sure she could find it with either of the guys she’s seriously considering as love interests.  Either one will support her creativity and her business.  Both of them want her to be happy, no matter what, which is why they’ve given her time to get her life in order before committing to anything she wasn’t ready for.  Thinking about that makes me realize how much of my own personality comes through in my work.  I guess it always has – even Bo from the Chocoverse was in many ways psychologically similar to me – even though she was supposed to be the archetype for building a telenovela heroine.  I think the fact that my writing really is so personal is what makes it appeal to readers.  I think my weakest (and most un-sellable) projects have always been when I tamped down my voice, trying to fit a particular genre mold, or let myself become afraid of what readers were going to think about particular plot or character decisions.  As a reader, I find myself returning to writers who have a voice I enjoy, even if their books change up structural or character expectations.  After all, most people read for fun.  Why not enjoy the writing too?