I love blogging. I love writing articles. I especially love writing articles that readers suggest. That being said, today’s article was inspired by reader, Angela Dellisola. Her comment came on the release day of Death Before Daylight…after I made an entire batch of chocolate chip cookies to celebrate. I posted it on my Facebook page, but here was the initial comment: “Congrats! You must be beyond excited! Tired too, maybe, but a good tired…with all the back to back releases? I’d love to read a blog post on your author’s mind right now. J”
First of all, a GIANT thank you goes out to every reader, blogger, follower, writer, and supporter who shared the release. I hope you all are enjoying the finale as well!
But, yes, Angela isn’t wrong. I am exhausted. Beyond exhausted. (Hence all the coffee I was brewing and all the sugar I was baking.) I am thrilled Clean Teen Publishing agreed to release The Timely Death Trilogy back to back like they did, but there was a lot that had to be done to make that happen. Blog posts, guest posts, interviews, teasers, Facebook covers, newsletters, etc., etc. In fact, I’m not sure I’ve left my laptop at all. Even Luna-P is exhausted. (That is my laptop’s name in case you were wondering.)
These moments are rather funny in regards to an author’s life, so I thought I’d explain my time through gifs. Even better, since my laptop endured so much abuse these past three months—and since my laptop is named Luna-P after Luna-P in Sailor Moon—I’m telling my story through Sailor Moon gifs.
This summer and fall, I had three book releases back to back. It was AWESOME, but definitely a lot to keep up with. There’s a lot to do, so you’re always on your laptop. That’s when someone suggests you take a break. You know, go outside. Enjoy the nice weather…
You’re too busy collecting a team anyway. You get your readers, fans, bloggers, and fellow writers together…because it’s time.
But don’t forget the business side of things either. Swag, prizes, booths, etc.
(All worth it too! Which, by the way, I’m going to Penned Con next year in September of 2016!)
So, the book releases and you’re so excited!
And you’re exhausted too. So you sometimes forget silly things….when people are speaking to you.
So you eat. Eating always helps.
That’s when someone congratulates you or posts a review or a number of other wonderful things. It means so much to you.
You actually blush.
You’re kind of glad this wasn’t in public.
Your face looks like a tomato.
And sometimes people say mean things or try to bring you down.
(Crying to your cat helps. This is a fact.)
But that’s what food is for. And friendship. And baths.
(I made cookies.)
So, when all the craziness is done and over, you know you had a fun time with readers, writers, and fellow book lovers.
In the end, that’s just how it’s done, and you enjoy it to the end of the world—the good, the bad, the awkward moments and cat-cuddled moments, the emails, the interviews, and the missing reviews. The broken links, the extra posts, the phone calls and texts. The tweets and WordPress friends and loving bookends. The prize giveaways, the winners, the ones who will stick around for a chance to win again. The ones who were always around and still around, and the news faces that have blended in. The newsletter crew, the street team view, and the fellow authors I’ve called friends. A group of people, all together, for one release moment, and you wish it never came to an end.
The book release is a book release, but it’s so much more than that.
It’s a celebration, a moment to be with all my Internet family and friends.
~SAT
Now for my little Dark announcements.
All three books in The Timely Death Trilogy are now available! The first book is even up for free. For those of you waiting for the paperback of Death Before Daylight, don’t panic! It releases on October 19. Speaking of October 19, you can expect my newsletter to go out then and from now on every month on the 19th.
On October 21, you can come see me at Headrush Coffee and Tea Roasters in Kansas City, Missouri for a paranormal talk and book signing. It will be tons of fun!
Last but not least, the Seconds Before Sunrise tour is coming to an end, but here are all the lovely posts you should check out!
Guest post – Not Just Another Romance – on Mythical Books.
Interview with Kelly P’s Blog.
Spotlight on Dowie’s Place and Forget the Housework, I’m Reading
Seconds Before Sunrise Reviews on Black Words-White Pages, Endless Reading, and Young Adult Book Madness!
Death Before Daylight Reviews on The Examiner and Tamara Morning.
Stay Dark,
~SAT
Shannon A. Thompson 
This has to be the best explanation of the book release stages I’ve seen. Also shows that Tuxedo Mask isn’t really useful. 😀
Hahhaha! Yessssss.
~SAT