How are we all doing? I suspect it's been a strange time for many. The events abroad have been shocking and disturbing, the ripple effect hitting close to home. I hope the new year brings peace and humanity, an end to needless suffering, and the strength and resiliency to repair what's been broken.  

 

Releasing a novel during a war sucks. There's really no other way of putting it. While I celebrated with an amazing crowd in Miami, spoke to packed houses in New York and Los Angeles, smiled, convinced myself What You Do To Me's words and music were a necessary reprieve, by six weeks in, I was losing steam. Though I had found “the space in my heart for both grief and joy," I was depleted. This was on the heels of turning in my eighth novel (releasing February 2025) to my editor.

 

Yesterday, I spoke to a group of future authors at Pinecrest Library in Miami. I realized a few things as I shared with these hopeful, eager writers. Here are a few takeaways that may apply to your own life: 

 

1) Ignorance is bliss. You don't know what you don't know. And that's okay. The further along I am in this business, I sometimes wish I was that newbie self-published author--innocent and trusting--not jaded by the wicked-fast roller coaster ride. The more I learn about publishing, and the more publishing changes with disruptors and modern tech (that's you BookTok and AI), I kind of want to crawl in my cozy hole far away from the noise and chatter. Information isn't always power. It can confuse and overwhelm, stripping us of joy. Which brings me to point two. 

 

2) Get back to the basics. Be still. Be present. Put the phone down. Shut off the news. Get off social media. Watch a sunset. Walk on the beach. I've personally had to cut back on all electronics. My head literally HURT from scrolling and reading and watching and streaming. Get in the car and do a Bruce Springsteen. Turn up the volume. Roll down the windows and let the wind blow back your hair. I did that yesterday and came up with three book ideas. Don't zap yourself of creativity. Clear your brain of clutter.

 

3) Manage expectations. The first question I ask of my students is what's your goal for your work? Why did you write this book? It seems like an easy question, but it holds a lot of weight. Whatever your goal is for your work will ultimately pave the path to get there. And like life, no two people or their individual goals are the same. Paths will crisscross and U-turn or dead end. They'll intersect or run parallel. Doors will close. Others will open. It's just the way it is. Do yourself a favor. Be realistic about your expectations. It's okay to be optimistic, but don't be delusional. It's okay to think big, but understand defeat. Cautiously optimistic is a safe place to be. 

 

4) It's all about the journey. When I was rejected by umpteen agents and decided to self-publish my first two books, the decision was met with criticism and disdain. I didn't know at the time how that decision would impact my career. Some saw self-publishing as career suicide, I viewed it as moving forward. I took a risk, and What We Leave Behind, a self-published novel, hit the USA Today Bestseller list. Since then, I've endured agent and editor switches, Amazon bestsellers, self-doubt, touching reviews (Bear tells me), demoralization, beautiful personal notes from many of you, thoughts of giving up, and multiple book deals. We don't always know where we're going to land. The lesson is in the journey and the ups and downs that come along with it.

 

5) Have a support team, the I GET YOU. Writing is a solitary sport. We sit at our screens alone while a world of imaginary characters and deep-seated emotions take root in our minds. No one understands what goes into carving those perfect words, the grief in saying goodbye to them, the rejection, the challenging and soul-crushing publishing maze, or the significant highs and lows. I could not have managed the last twenty-three years as a writer and published author without the support of my girls (and some guys!). Find yours. They will hold you up during the darkest times, and they will applaud the loudest at your success. 

 

So, while I walked into that class feeling weeks of distress, wondering if I had another book in me, wondering if this was it, wondering why on earth these people want to be authors, I walked out heeding my own advice.

 

I will continue to write, but I will slow down, quiet the chatter, remembering 2000 when I sat down to write that first book having ZERO EXPECTATIONS. I'll continue to nourish the relationships I've made--authors, readers--strangers I now call friends. And I'll remind myself that every door that closes, another one opens. I will anticipate the highs with that cautious optimism and anticipate the lows…because they too will come. And if any of this resonates with you, let's all choose to be kinder to ourselves as we navigate our journeys.

 

And it's for sure been a journey, but it's one that I'm grateful to be taking with you. We've been through a lot together, and it feels as though I know your families, your relationships, your hardships, YOU. Thank you for reading my books, these (sometimes) lengthy newsletters, for the emails of encouragement, and for taking time out of your busy lives to meet me in person. Ahem. That's you, Barbara Diaz!

 

All that to say that I'm wishing you amazing humans a beautiful, bright holiday season filled with good health and laughter. I hope 2024 is your best year yet. And for the end-of-the-year giveaway to show my appreciation, I've made it super simple. Reply to this email with the following: 

Describe your 2023 in one single word.

Describe your anticipated 2024 in one single word.

Mine are: Eye-opening and Hopeful 

 

One winner (US) will receive all 37 of the books pictured below. Four winners (US) will win a copy of Alison Greenberg's latest gem Maybe Once, Maybe Twice. One of you will win the music swag (sponges and pens). One winner (US) will receive What You Do To Me and the fun swag pictured. Two winners (International & US) will win $50 Amazon Gift Cards. Two winners (International & US) will win $25 gift cards to Starbucks. That's TEN winners. How'd I come up with that number? 8 days of Chanukah and 12 days of Christmas. I went with 10!

 

Winners will be chosen and notified on January 2, 2024.

Please excuse any typos. Sometimes I make mistakes!