Book Launches, Best Practices and Following Your Own Joy.

So, I wrote a book. I did this amazing, incredible thing. I poured my heart and soul and years of pain, experience and wisdom into it and I got it done. That was the easy part.

Once the book was finished, that's where the hard part began. 

Being trained as a graphic artist, and working with design most of my life, I love putting elements together in a beautiful way. I love the challenge and harmony that's involved in the process. So when that part was finished, I felt accomplished. I felt proud. I felt satisfied. The hard part came when I thought about how I would birth it into the world for other eyes to see and, hopefully, appreciate.

That's where marketing came in. Marketing sucks. That's been my belief and that's where I always get stuck. It feels too contrived, too "salesy", to pushy. I have judged it harshly, maybe even unfairly. Yet despite that, and in an attempt to overcome it, I let myself get caught up in 'shoulds' and best practices because I wanted to promote the book 'right'. Recently, like the last few days, I psyched myself out to the point of stress, anxiety and hopelessness because I felt like a fraud, insecure and that I didn't know what I was doing. I felt lost and I wanted someone to show me the way. 

I took myself down that path of wanting to do it 'right' because I thought I would be more professional. I thought it would make things more successful. But all of the indecision, waiting, second guessing and more only ended up sucking the joy right out of sharing my beautiful creation. 

Today, a good friend needed to remind me what I had forgotten:

I'd forgotten that sharing my book is meant to be a celebration.

I'd forgotten that it's meant to be joyful.

I'd forgotten to listen to my own heart and intuition. I'd given my power over to other's best practices thinking they held the magic formula for success.

I'd forgotten to listen to what felt authentic and what felt like fun. I'd forgotten what excited me and I'd forgotten what 'I' wanted to do.

I'm not entirely sure yet what my launch will look like but this book is now on sale. No more 'pre-order' hype. No more waiting for the perfect moment. I want a celebration! I want to celebrate those nine months of birthing this beautiful creation. I have ideas now. The floodgates have opened now that I've taken the pressure off of myself. 

Covid sucks. Isolation sucks. But this book celebration will find a way. I will make it happen. Not in one grand moment but in many small celebrations and announcements spread out over time. Get ready...there's a book to celebrate!