Couple things before I get going here- yes, I just finished a new book. Yes, it’s a Nessa book. No, you don’t have to have read the previous Nessa books to dive into this one. Yes, it’s more for adults than young adults. Yes, I will be getting a pre order date that will allow this to be your Jolabokaflod pick for this year.
Wait, you don’t know what Jolabokaflod is? Here’s a handy link- https://jolabokaflod.org/about/founding-story/
Let’s see.. oh yes, audiobooks are still being held up by ACX, but my goal is to have the whole series recorded by mid June next year, and available by the grace of ACX before I die and my heirs have to claim the royalties. Yes, I’m a little salty about that- The Witch’s Daughter was submitted for QC at the end of June. The QC cycle is supposed to take thirty days. You may notice it’s almost December. Saltiness.
Onto the post!
I’m happy. I’m sad. I’m fulfilled. I’m bereft. Read on only if you want to listen to my ecstatic moping.
Welcome to what’s called the Book End Blues. This is my fifth book I’ve finished in six years, and I thought I wouldn’t feel this drag this time. Ha.
When you think about it in a particular way, I spend all year wanting to set aside time to play with my imaginary friends. You know, catch up on their stories, see what new shenanigans they are getting into now, really spend some time with them. You know, like folks (read freaks like me who have imaginary friends) do. And now they’ve told me all they are going to tell me, and I go back to living my own life for awhile.
I’m going to miss them. It’s funny, when I finished book 3, and I thought I’d finished following Nessa, this same feeling was here but a million times worse.
And then… crazy happened. I saw Nessa’s way forward, on a theme near and dear to my heart. Now I want to point out that I was strong. I resisted this… until about May. Then I told myself I’d write just a little novella and say goodbye and get it out of my system until I turned to Serious Work.
Well. Author proposes, character disposes, and the novella became distinctly unsatisfying because I was trying to cram too much into too small a space.
Fine, I said, still to myself. I’ll do just one book, just one, and tidy it all away.
Author proposes, character disposes. Having lived in this other world for so long now, I knew a lot of major things were happening, all having to do with my favorite imaginary friends. And suddenly, there’s another trilogy happening. Serious Work is just going to have to sit over there until I’m ready for it.
So… book end blues. I’m happy I finished something I never thought I’d do (and that’s true with every damn book, story, whatever I write, no matter how many times I do it. I’m always amazed that me, Ari, writes books and people like want to read them). I’m sad that all those thoughts have to go away for a while. I’m happy to be able to share the next piece of the story with my readers. I’m sad that I have to go through editing and marketing. I’m happy to get to work with Meredith, my reader, again.
And always, always, a fierce joy and wonder in holding a newly printed copy in my hands and saying, “This is mine. There’s a million out there, but this one is mine.”
To take us home, a tiny Actual Conversation at Casa de Wellman.
Me- Well, that’s it, the book is done.
Rick, a little vaguely as he wanders into my dark emo writing nook- That’s good.
Me- That’s it? That’s all I get?
Rick, grinning after he’s turned a light on- It’ll be great once it’s edited.
Me- lots of words too tender for most sensibilities before admitting he’s right.
Curiouser and Curiouser 