Jan 26, 2003
Hi everyone. I’ve been lurking for a while, but the subject of pre-publicity came up and I figured it was finally time I got off my duff and joined. I have a novel coming out very soon (1st novel, 2nd book) and am full of all sorts of pre-pub anxiety, not the least of which is that I’m not doing everything I could be. After reading your discussion, I promptly bought M.J. Rose’s Buzz Your Book, which I plan to read ASAP. Any other advice?

Jan 27, 2003
The novel actually spun out of the last story in my story collection, Circling the Drain. I don’t have the brief synopsis thing down yet, and never feel like I’m doing it justice, but here goes: It’s about a 16-year-old girl who is haunted by the ghost of her formerly fat self, commits an act of revenge and runs off with a small circus ...

Jan 28, 2003
I traveled with the Bindlestiff Family Circus, which is a far more risqué circus than the one in the book. I used to live in the same building as the Bindlestiffs, years ago, that’s how I hooked up with them. When I knew I was writing the book, I approached them and they hired me to run the Autonomedia Bookmobile, selling radical media stuff (and t-shirts, bumper stickers, etc.) in costume on the road. My big trick was the do a handstand on stage and pitch the books while upside-down — VERY unimpressive when everyone around you is swallowing swords and spitting fire!

Jan 28, 2003
My publisher seems to have gotten a bunch of the ladies’ magazines interested, which is great. Seventeen was all ready to excerpt it, but then Darcy Jacobs left ... Alas.
      I’m on my fourth editor, though, and feel like I need to do all I possibly can, since there isn’t that backing I felt last time. I’m sending postcards and trying to get creative. Most of all, I’m in that hurry-up-and-wait place, which is so nerve-wracking.
      Doing book tour readings upside-down, you guys? I guess that means no skirts ...

Jan 30, 2003
I think submitting to slish piles is useful for two reasons: a) we are all somewhat delusional risk-taking people or we wouldn’t be writers, so you have to believe (or at least, I foolishly do) that you might just be holding that winning lottery ticket ... b) this business is about talent, yes, but it’s also about relationships, and that “lowly” reader who likes your story might have [Deborah] Trieman’s job in five years. Or better yet, that reader might champion you. Or might be moved by your work and remember it. Or might be able to suggest the perfect place for your story.
      I don’t know. I like to think that however slim the chances of actual publication, it’s all part of the process ... and you never know.

Jan 31, 2003
Kirkus is freaky. The last sentance of my Kirkus doesn’t make any sense — it’s like the reviewer left out a few words or pasted something strange. But the worst thing about mine (argh) was that there was this amazing first sentance, which I was so excited about until someone pointed out to me that it was ambiguous and could mean the opposite of itself. So the reviewer either believed the novel was marvelous or a mess. I could not stop scrutinizing that line, even though it never got any clearer.
      Dierdre McNamer had this great analogy for all this: It’s like you spend three or four years dressing your child, and then you send him out in the world and hope that no one laughs at him, that his socks match, etc.

Feb 2, 2003
I once did a reading where the audience was my godparents, the organizer, and this one little old lady at the front. I thought, OK, fine, I’m going to read just for this lady. Well in the middle of it, she stood up and asked me to keep it down, she was trying to read. Sigh.

Feb 4, 2003
This is more nerve-wracking than I had imagined. I mean, until last week, no one but my mother, editor and agent had read the book!
      I haven’t seen Housing Works since they renovated, but I’m excited to read there ...

Feb 5, 2003
I firmly believe that all large moments should be capped with new shoes. A few weeks ago, I had a very hard, long-in-coming meeting with my agent — it merited two pairs!
      My book is in! I have books on their way to me ... !

Feb 7, 2003
I just found out that the magazine that was going to feature me (and 4 others writers) on the cover has offically gone under. Not our fault, I hope! First they said it was going quarterly, then they pulled the plug. Oh, well. Just waiting ...

Feb 17, 2003
Tomorrow is my official “on sale” date! Got a few books and they look great, though unfortunately, the postcards were printed with my San Francisco reading date wrong; so this week I’m going to try and correct 6000 of those by hand, as I apply labels. Yuck.
      Two of the magazines that said they were reviewing the book seem not to have. The one I’m definitely in is the March Elle. Newspapers, I have no idea about. Just have to sit back and hope. Many ways to get oneself worried, it would seem ...
      Please. Will you all cross your fingers for me?

Feb 20, 2003
Tomorrow I have invited everyone I could think of to come to Mills and eat pizza and stick labels on postcards.

Feb 24, 2003
I’m holding up. I had a cool thing happen. I found a site that had email addresses for people from my high school, and last night I did an email blast about my book and have been hearing back all morning. Many of them bounced, but some of them have brought such cool responses from people I haven’t thought of in years.
      Anyone in San Mateo? I’m reading at M is for Mystery on Sunday, March 1st. It’s my first reading for this book, and the day after my birthday, so I’m excited and would love to meet anyone who is around.

March 3, 2003
I’m gloomy today. Heard my book was going to be in Newsweek this week, but it got cut at the last minute. That seems to be my thing. So far I’ve been cut from Vogue, Glamour and Harper’s Bazaar as well, all at the 11th hour. Argh.
      I wish they were going to run that stuff later, but with those magazines it’s pub date or bust. Oh well ... there’s still word of mouth, right?
      And today I got the reprinted postcards (from the ones that were destroyed en route and had the wrong date anyway) so off to address them ...

Mar 6, 2003
Tomorrow I leave California and head east to do this little book tour. My dad is an amateur pilot and will be flying me from place to place to save $$, and I just found out that my mom is going along as well. The Author on Tour With Her Parents ... !
      Today I looked on Amazon and there was a scathing, horrible, really mean review by someone who seems rather in the know. Altogether no clues to identity, beyond someone bitchy and somewhat tuned in to the New York literary scene and sort of mean. But, I can’t get it pulled off at all. I asked.
      Thanks for voting “not helpful.”
      I was in Asheville once with the circus, so I’m excited about reading there. What I remember most about the Asheville show — beyond it being in my home state — was that we had to do a show in New Orleans 12 hours later ... and it’s a 12 hour drive!

Mar 8, 2003
I am in NYC for one night on my way to NC to start reading and pitching and crossing my fingers, but I wanted to say “hi" ...
      Regarding Bread Loaf: I went and loved it. I think it depends on who is there when you are there, but I think the conference gets a bad rap. I was a waiter, then on staff for 2 years (I wrote the daily conference newsletter) and then a fellow, and the reason I kept going back was that I met so many great people — and I mean great in the “friends you’ll have for a lifetime” sense, rather than “connection” sense.
      Also, in many ways, I credit Bread Loaf with whatever success I’ve had, as it was there that I was encouraged to start sending out my work, and there that I met the editor who would eventually publish my frist story.

Mar 11, 2003
WOW! You guys just made my week like you don’t even know. I am in NC on my very tiny book tour and not having such a smooth ride of it. I know I’ve wowed you guys with how many magazines have cut reviews of WWYMM, but then Friday my editor (#5!) quit. To go to work at Harlequin. Yikes.
      Last night’s reading, at my hometown bookstore, was really only attended by (the wonderful) friends of my parents. We’ve decided to blame this on the women’s basketball championship that was happening at the same time, and hope that more people come on Saturday — but anyway, I was feeling a little beat up.
      And then I logged on to Readerville! I had never seen that Book of the Month Club thing! What a treat to find it here. Thank you. How did I ever survive without Readerville?
      I heard who editor #5 is last night, and then spoke with her. She seems great and I’m excited because editor #4 was not a good match for my book. Luckily the new editor has a sense of humor (!) and seems smart and literary, so that is promising.
      What a crazy business this is. I understand more and more why Annie Dillard suggests we should all be plumbers if we can tear ourselves away.

Mar 12, 2003
I’ve had no luck with foreign rights. Every once in a while there’s a nibble, but then nothing. We didn’t sell the rights for my first book, but since it was a collection of stories, everyone told me not to worry, to wait for the novel. Alas ...

Mar 13, 2003
Hi, everyone ... here in Asheville, NC. What a beautiful place and a beautiful day!
      I’m reading at Malaprops tonight and am so excited, because it’s a great store and they’ve done some promo stuff and it all feels like it may work (and I splurged on a really cool pair of boots this afternoon!) ... Last night we arrived in Winston-Salem to find that there was no advertising, no sign and no people. Somehow wires had crossed and the store thought I was coming on Tuesday (when I was in Wilmington). Apparently they even had flowers for me. Whoops.
      Anyway ...