On being published 

The question I keep being asked is “how does it feel now that your book is published?” So I am going to attempt to put the feeling into words. 

It’s exciting and wonderful. It’s a dream come true. It’s terrifying. It’s nerve wracking. It’s surreal. It’s like pulling out your heart and sticking it on a book shelf for all to see. 

My book has been out for over two weeks. I’ve seen it in the shops. I’ve read reviews. I’ve served customers in the bookshop I work in buying it. I’ve obsessed over my Amazon ranking. I’ve signed copies. I’ve smiled. I’ve cried. I feel as if it’s all been a blur. As if I’m in a dream world. It’s so strange to have people talking about something I’ve written. 

I also feel loss. I have lost all control. I have no power over my book now. I can make no more changes to it. I can’t make people like it. They either will or they won’t. I am the author but it’s as though the book has become its own being now. It stands separately from me after being part of me for so long. It’s on its own now. 

I have had messages from people saying they loved reading it. I have had people saying they are proud of me. I feel proud. I have achieved something. I tried for a long time to get published, and here I am. A published author. The journey was long and hard but now I can say that it was all worthwhile. 

I feel grateful. I am grateful. To anyone that has bought it. Who has read my words. Who has told me how it made them feel. Who has reviewed it. Who has let it into their hearts. And for those who might still discover it. I hope too. Hope that it does well, of course. Hope that readers will embrace it, and me. 

I think the best part of being published is that my book is in the world with my name on it and that can never be taken away from me. 

And that is an amazing feeling. 

  

 
 Victoria

xoxo