One Month to Debut and Counting…

Craziness.  That’s the only way to describe the feeling.  Like I’m on an out-of-control ferris wheel and I’m flying in circles…so many ups and downs and the world spinning out of control.  Also the felling that I either want to scream or puke.  Or both.   (But hopefully not at the same time.)

But I digress.  There’s just one month left until my book debuts and I’m constantly struggling with the fear that there’s something I’m not doing. Something I was supposed to do.  Something I wish I hadn’t done.

I know I’m being a little dramatic here.  But nothing like this has ever happened.  In all my years, I’ve never awaited the launch of a novel.  And I want to do everything right.

I want to do everything.

Logically, I know I can’t.  I know I shouldn’t try.  But it’s hard not to throw another few hundred irons in the fire while I’m reminding myself to take it easy.  So I’m frantically busy doing…stuff.  What kind of stuff, you ask?  Good question.  I decided to go back over the week and write it all down here.  Then, you can know what to expect when it’s your turn.

WHAT I DID THIS WEEK:

•Worked up a powerpoint presentation for sixth graders, created Reader’s Theater scripts of my book.

•Visited Centennial Middle School and did two presentations on dialogue.  (Fun, I gotta admit!)

•Finished two blog interviews for other sites.

•Googled my name and book, looking for reviews or news.  (Multiply that by 50.)

•Went to an author signing at Changing Hands Bookstore.

•Went to a dinner with other authors to meet people and network.

•Answered over 250 emails related to writing/book launch.

•Bought my BEA ticket to roam the floor on Tuesday, May 23rd.

•Opened a Cafe Press store to sell OyMG shirts for anyone interested.

•Opened an Etsy store to sell OyMG shirts because the shirts were too expensive on the CafePress store.

•Met with one of my critique groups to review pages.

•Created an Evite for my launch party.  Edited it.  Stressed over it.  Finally, sent it.

•Set up a Goodreads giveaway of OyMG.  (And set up a link here in the sidebar so you can enter.)

•Created a book launch event on Facebook and sent out notices.  (I hope!  FB still confuses me.)

•Started work on my launch party presentation.

•Wrote an essay for an online magazine with a tie-in to OyMG. (We’ll see if it gets published.)

•Emailed contacts in the local Jewish community to introduce myself.

•Checked blogs.  Commented in various places.  Congratulated writing friends on their good news.

•Stopped by Twitter each day.  Facebook.  Listservs.  Class of 2K11.  Elevensies.

•Read Invasion by Jon Lewis for my Reading Young Book Club.

•Bought ILLEGAL, by Bettina Restrepo, MEMENTO NORA by Angie Smibert and FAERIE WINTER by Janni Lee Simner

•Started QUIET AMERICANS by Erika Dreifus for a book chat next week.

•Sent publicity announcements out for my launch party.

•And finally…finalized my book trailer.  (Posting next week!)

And all that is just off the top of my head.  The crazy thing is that when I look over this list I realize that one thing is missing.

WHAT I DIDN’T DO THIS WEEK:

•Write.

This is the problem.  I’m too busy to write.  The irony is that the only reason I’m busy is BECAUSE I write.  Once again, craziness.  And I know this is a blip on my usual schedule.  I won’t be this busy for long.  But maybe I shouldn’t be this busy right now?  So next week I’m going to challenge myself to stop just shy of doing everything.  And instead try for doing lots of things.  Or some things.  Or a few carefully thought out things.

Then again, maybe I’ll just put that ferris wheel on turbo and hold tight for a couple more weeks.  You only debut once, right?