Taking a Day

'Her Scottish Groom' hits the shelves today! After the butterflies and nerves I wrote about last week, today I get to celebrate the release of my second book! It's the first day out, but I'm fortunate enough to have a couple of 5-star reviews up at Barnes & Noble's site already! Thank you Harriet and April!

The time between submitting a manuscript and releasing a book can be a year or even longer. This may be a good thing, as it allows an author to forget the stress of finishing that particular book by deadline, or in the middle of a family flu epidemic, or whatever roadblock the universe decides to throw at her. And believe me, there's always something. It's sort of like giving birth: once you have the baby, memory of labor (eventually) fades, enabling you to consider going through the agony again.

I can't describe the sense of accomplishment gained from seeing and holding my own book. I hope I never take that for granted! I'm not high enough in the writing food chain to think that just because I've been published, future sales are guaranteed. We all have to strive to be better.  But today I will pat myself on the back, look at my pretty cover and acknowledge what I did.

Everyone needs to take the occasional day to savor the fruits of their labors, large or small. It doesn't have to be a book. A good test score, an outstanding review at work, the culmination of months of hard work on a project, starting the new art class you've always wanted to take — what is important to each of us differs, but we all deserve to pause, take a deep breath and say "I did that!"

How do you celebrate your triumphs, large or small?

Tagged: Barnes & Noble, Her Scottish Groom, Postaweek 2011, Traditions, Writing