Hi {{ subscriber.firstName | default('Friends') }},
Spring is officially here, and I just love this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson and how it captures where we are right now in this moment. Is it a coincidence that we are winding down on COVID-19 as spring shines her light? I don’t think so. Living in Florida, we don’t have clearly defined seasons, but you can feel it in the air wherever you are, the buzz of a new beginning, the trickle of that laughter and hope. By now, hopefully, many of you are on your way to full vaccination and easier times. And more reading!
So here’s something original. I’ve just turned in Book Six. Ha! Since conception, approximately two years ago, this book has taken on at least twenty-seven iterations, a hundred and nine complete edits, multiple hand-offs to my agent, and when that proved not to be enough, she (of course she’s a she) went over to Tiffany Yates Martin for one of her world-class developmental edits. Normally, it takes me about nine to twelve months to complete a novel, but this book—this book—has just about broken me.
After the success of This Is Not How It Ends, there was internal pressure to create the next best story. I watched the bestseller lists, took note of the stories shaking up the market. I listened to my agent and editor, the experts, as well as the voices of the characters in the many books I’d devoured. And what happened? In listening to too many voices, I lost my own voice. And while I strongly advise any writer to get the feedback from their team, it’s as equally important to trust your gut. Recently, my agent and I had a heart-to-heart about expectations and writing and how they go hand-in-hand. I left that conversation and my recent stall with one piece of publishing gold: Just write where your heart takes you.
Spring comes, revival and renewal, seeds are planted, take root, and bloom. I’m sitting here right now, enjoying the outdoors with a stunning view of the water. The temperature is a pleasant seventy degrees, and I feel the pull that comes from deep within to write that story. The one that keeps me awake at night. The one whose words are already spinning through my brain taking shape. Like spring, I will start anew, plant the seeds, and let them take root. Wishing you sunshine and laughter as we embrace this new season!
Rochelle
