And the anxiety is floating freely around here
I was at a book club discussion about BABYLON, when I happened to mention that all of my launches have been poorly timed – THE FRUIT OF HER HANDS during the 2009 recession, BEYOND THE GHETTO GATES in April 2020 (do I really have to explain this one?), and BABYLON in September 2023, right before October 7.
I then added that I was concerned that NAPOLEON’S MIRAGE would be out on November 12, 2024, one week after the election.
“I hope I’m not jinxing the country,” I added.
A member of the book club, who was sitting next to me, turned and pleaded, in all sincerity: “Don’t launch then. Just don’t.”
Of course, I don’t have much choice. The date had been pushed off a couple of times – first, so I wouldn’t conflict with BABYLON’s launch and second, so my publisher could move to Simon & Schuster distribution.
But now I wonder if I should have heeded that book club member. We’re just a couple of days away from the election. I don’t think anyone believes that the results will be finalized that night – and the anxiety we’re going to feel will probably be still be free floating about on November 12.
How will I be able to grab anyone’s attention if that’s the case?
Back when I was in school, I used to have a mantra before I took any tests. “I’m going to fail,” I’d tell myself. “No matter how well prepared I am, I’ll blank on everything I studied. There’s no way I’m going to pass this test.”
I’m in the same state of mind when it comes to this November 12 launch for NAPOLEON’S MIRAGE, as the following runs through my head: “Once again, I’ve picked horrible timing for the launch. I can’t win. There’s no way anyone is going to buy a book – any book – when all we’re worried about is the state of the country.”
Now, I was a good student and generally earned As and Bs on those tests. So I’m trying to come out from under this dark cloud of anxiety and contradict myself by saying: “I’ve written a book I believe in, a sequel people have been waiting for. I’ve gotten wonderful blurbs from authors I respect. People will need distraction – and what better way to ignore the world’s woes than through the pages of a novel?”
November 12 is 10 days away. Prove me right? Please?
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