Dear immature and irate fan,
To answer your question about the Jamie 3 release date, there isn't one right now. And, to be honest, I am
this close
to putting the book on indefinite hiatus because I am SO FREAKING TIRED OF THE HATE MAIL. I'm tired of putting so much thought, stress, and hard work into a project that I am literally losing sleep and giving myself migraines over, only to keep receiving nasty emails full of people swearing at me, calling me names, demanding things from me, saying I owe them, telling me I suck because I am releasing other books before Jamie 3, and saying they're not going to buy any of my other books again unless I release Jamie 3 first. Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but your nasty letters are not having the outcome you're hoping for. In fact, all the pressure and hurt your letters cause are making things worse and will only delay the book that much longer. I am so fed up that for the first time since I began this project I am considering pulling Jamie 2 from publication and never releasing Jamie 3. I am one more nasty comment away from scraping the book entirely.
I understand that when I decided to put my work out there for the public I was opening myself up to negative feedback, bad reviews, and the idiocy of people who like to hurt others just because they can. I am a pro at taking it. There are plenty of people that don't like my work. That doesn't bother me in the least. I know that you can't please everyone. I know that not every book is the right book for every reader. I get it. I'm fine with it. I even embrace bloggers and fans giving their honest reviews even if their feelings are negative. I live for constructive criticism. Love it. And I know how to ignore rants from people who simply like to be snarky. That's totally whatever. But at the same time, I am still a person. I still have feelings. And I need to really love my job to be able to take the bad with the good. I need to not stress myself out so much, and not make myself sick because I'm trying to please my fans, or trying to live up to that impossible standard of writing a book that everyone will love. Unfortunately, right now, that's not happening.
I'm having problems with the third Jamie book. I love the story, I love the characters, and I know how it all ends. But in the beginning, there were several different ways that the story could play out and I wasn't sure which way was the best. I started with one outline, got about 130 pages written and decided it wasn't working, so I went back to the beginning and tried the next idea... To make a long frustrating story short, I am now on the 8th draft of the book. I have written close to SEVEN HUNDRED PAGES, and I am still only 170 pages into the book. The good news is, I finally, after much trial and error, found a version of the story that I am happy with, and that I think works the best. The bad news is that in this process, I have completely psyched myself out and have stressed so much over it that I'm having a difficult time finishing the book. I've lost my confidence in it and I've also taken so long that people are getting impatient. I get emails daily asking about the release of the book. A lot of those emails are beyond sweet, (Which I thank you for.) but a lot of inqueries are not so nice.
I feel awful, absolutely terrible, that I've made people wait for this book. I never imagined I'd have this problem because when I wrote Jamie 2, I already had the outline for Jamie three done. I figured it would be like all the other books I've written, and take me maybe 3 months to have a first draft written, but sometimes the plain and simple truth is: what you have planned doesn't always work once you get into it. The original plan I had for Jamie 3 wasn't working. It wasn't good. I could have just finished it anyway and then published it so that people wouldn't have to wait for it. But I felt that was unacceptable. I love Jamie, and I know how much my fans love it. I don't want to mess it up. I don't want to let people down. I want to get it right. I have read way too many series' where I get to the final book and am completely disappointed. I really, really don't want to do that with my own book. I have worked too long and too hard on this series to sell myself short and put something out that I don't fully believe in. And believe me, you guys don't want that from me either. Wouldn't you rather wait and get a book that you're happy with, than have me rush a release and you're let down with the ending of a story that's taken years to get to the end of?
I have been working hard on Jamie 3--stressing over it and agonizing over it for months. I have been losing sleep over it, and have been giving myself migraines over it. This is not writers block. It's some kind of mental, emotional thing, and all of the pressure I get daily from my fans--especially the particularly nasty letters like the one that prompted me to write this blog post--only makes it worse. It has to stop. I can't keep doing this to myself. It's affecting all of my writing now and not just Jamie 3. I have been having anxiety attacks when I sit down to write because I am so stressed and feel so much pressure. So, as much as I hate to do this, and hate disappoint people, I need to do what is best for me. I need to write Jamie 3 on my own timeframe, and if that includes shelving the project for a few months--or years if that's what it takes--then so be it. I am sorry. I apologize. For now, Jamie 3 is on hiatus. I haven't given up on it completely yet, but I am going to put it aside. I am going to concentrate on finishing my other series' and works in progress, and hope that in taking some time away from it, and clearing some of the other things off my plate, I'll be able to stop stressing so much and find my heart for Jamie again, and feel better about my writing.
I appreciate your understanding on this and, if you can't deal with that, then I'm sorry. There's nothing else I can do for you no matter how many nasty, hurtful emails you send.
To all of you who have sent lovely, nice, encouraging emails concerning Jamie 3, thank you. I'm sorry for the bad news, but I hope this can at least answer your questions on the matter. I appreciate your patience, understanding, support, and love for these books. It's for you guys, (and for myself too) that I don't want to abandon this project. I will continue to try my best to not let you guys down.
Sincerely,
A stressed-out writer
Kelly
I understand that when I decided to put my work out there for the public I was opening myself up to negative feedback, bad reviews, and the idiocy of people who like to hurt others just because they can. I am a pro at taking it. There are plenty of people that don't like my work. That doesn't bother me in the least. I know that you can't please everyone. I know that not every book is the right book for every reader. I get it. I'm fine with it. I even embrace bloggers and fans giving their honest reviews even if their feelings are negative. I live for constructive criticism. Love it. And I know how to ignore rants from people who simply like to be snarky. That's totally whatever. But at the same time, I am still a person. I still have feelings. And I need to really love my job to be able to take the bad with the good. I need to not stress myself out so much, and not make myself sick because I'm trying to please my fans, or trying to live up to that impossible standard of writing a book that everyone will love. Unfortunately, right now, that's not happening.
I'm having problems with the third Jamie book. I love the story, I love the characters, and I know how it all ends. But in the beginning, there were several different ways that the story could play out and I wasn't sure which way was the best. I started with one outline, got about 130 pages written and decided it wasn't working, so I went back to the beginning and tried the next idea... To make a long frustrating story short, I am now on the 8th draft of the book. I have written close to SEVEN HUNDRED PAGES, and I am still only 170 pages into the book. The good news is, I finally, after much trial and error, found a version of the story that I am happy with, and that I think works the best. The bad news is that in this process, I have completely psyched myself out and have stressed so much over it that I'm having a difficult time finishing the book. I've lost my confidence in it and I've also taken so long that people are getting impatient. I get emails daily asking about the release of the book. A lot of those emails are beyond sweet, (Which I thank you for.) but a lot of inqueries are not so nice.
I feel awful, absolutely terrible, that I've made people wait for this book. I never imagined I'd have this problem because when I wrote Jamie 2, I already had the outline for Jamie three done. I figured it would be like all the other books I've written, and take me maybe 3 months to have a first draft written, but sometimes the plain and simple truth is: what you have planned doesn't always work once you get into it. The original plan I had for Jamie 3 wasn't working. It wasn't good. I could have just finished it anyway and then published it so that people wouldn't have to wait for it. But I felt that was unacceptable. I love Jamie, and I know how much my fans love it. I don't want to mess it up. I don't want to let people down. I want to get it right. I have read way too many series' where I get to the final book and am completely disappointed. I really, really don't want to do that with my own book. I have worked too long and too hard on this series to sell myself short and put something out that I don't fully believe in. And believe me, you guys don't want that from me either. Wouldn't you rather wait and get a book that you're happy with, than have me rush a release and you're let down with the ending of a story that's taken years to get to the end of?
I have been working hard on Jamie 3--stressing over it and agonizing over it for months. I have been losing sleep over it, and have been giving myself migraines over it. This is not writers block. It's some kind of mental, emotional thing, and all of the pressure I get daily from my fans--especially the particularly nasty letters like the one that prompted me to write this blog post--only makes it worse. It has to stop. I can't keep doing this to myself. It's affecting all of my writing now and not just Jamie 3. I have been having anxiety attacks when I sit down to write because I am so stressed and feel so much pressure. So, as much as I hate to do this, and hate disappoint people, I need to do what is best for me. I need to write Jamie 3 on my own timeframe, and if that includes shelving the project for a few months--or years if that's what it takes--then so be it. I am sorry. I apologize. For now, Jamie 3 is on hiatus. I haven't given up on it completely yet, but I am going to put it aside. I am going to concentrate on finishing my other series' and works in progress, and hope that in taking some time away from it, and clearing some of the other things off my plate, I'll be able to stop stressing so much and find my heart for Jamie again, and feel better about my writing.
I appreciate your understanding on this and, if you can't deal with that, then I'm sorry. There's nothing else I can do for you no matter how many nasty, hurtful emails you send.
To all of you who have sent lovely, nice, encouraging emails concerning Jamie 3, thank you. I'm sorry for the bad news, but I hope this can at least answer your questions on the matter. I appreciate your patience, understanding, support, and love for these books. It's for you guys, (and for myself too) that I don't want to abandon this project. I will continue to try my best to not let you guys down.
Sincerely,
A stressed-out writer
Kelly
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message 1:
by
Isabella
(new)
Sep 28, 2014 12:12AM
This is going to be long so you've been warned ;) I read Being Jamie Baker and loved it it had been out a while and I didn't even know that it was going to be a series but because I loved Jamie Baker so much I knew you were going to one of my authors you are one out 4 authors who no mater what you write i'll read it because for some unknown reason I am super picky about the books I just love because i'll read a book and while i'm reading i'm going this book is awesome and then the next day I go to rate it and i'm like 3 stars but I have read your books over and over again and I finish and its just as amazing as the first time the only books of yours I haven't read is the supernatural series but that's just because I don't like stuff like that I've even pre ordered Cinder & Ella (so excited!!) and i'm so sad that people would send hate mail over a book not coming out on their schedule and as I said I adore the Jamie Baker series so i'm sad but I totally know what your talking about because I've read books were you wait and wait and it totally and completely sucks but to be honest I highly doubt your books would ever suck and i'm so sorry you've got so many hate letters because your books are awesomely awesome :D
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I don't understand why people who love your books but give so much hate and pressure. I don't mind waiting, there are a millions of other books to read, people just don't understand that. Hang in there, it will be over soon. Please don't scrap it...I will be devastated. Good luck!
We love and support you Kelly. Don't you even read those stupid emails they don't worth it. We'll wait as long as you need. They're not even fans. Keep doing what you do. You're an amazing writter so keep writting anything. We love you and all your books.
Just don't mind them. They're just being irrational. I would rather read a book that finished late than a rushed book that makes no sense at all. Try taking a break, and relax and don't let those people pressure you, they're so not worth it.
I'm surprised people are demanding you write/release your books faster. Every time I look at my goodreads emails, it seems like you are popping books out quite frequently. Maybe it's just that I have other things to occupy my time, but anyone who writes an author for the sole purpose of trying to get the next book sooner isn't a real fan. You produce quality work and like others have said, I'd rather wait longer for a book than to get one early and not at its best. You do you, Kelly!
Well said!! I'm sorry you had to deal with that and wishing you a better stress free time ahead!! I would think people would be more appreciative for you waiting to make the book good than rushing on...
