Tuesday, October 1, 2013

The Rocky Road



If I knew it intellectually before, I now understand experientially that the road to publishing, whether indie or traditional, is paved with boulders. They come in all sizes and shapes, and in surprisingly various forms. There are sharp, nasty boulders that trip one up and throw one to the ground, slowing and sometimes temporarily stopping one's progress; small, slippery boulders that seem to be cunningly placed purely to make one's journey 'interesting'; and, low, flat boulders designed to let one stop and rest and think.

Slipping, sliding and maneuvering among them is a frustrating, maddening, exhausting experience. Yet now I've done it, I feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment. I'm glad I didn't let the boulders stop me in my tracks. It was worth all the effort to achieve the goal. 

That's right. I'm now an officially published author of my very first book. It feels good. I am well aware that the next, repeat journey will feature a few unexpected boulders I've not met before, thrown in for good measure. But nothing will ever equal that first experience.

Having said all that, may I introduce you to the product of that journey among the boulders?

To Dream Of Langston was written 8 years ago, revised and rewritten within the past year. It truly is the 'book of my heart', as is often said. It is a coming of age tale, a journey of its own for the heroine, Katherine Fairbanks. Her story in many ways reflects certain stages of my own life, so I knew how she felt - her hopes and dreams - and I understood her final triumph.

If you choose to read her story, I hope you enjoy it, that it makes you laugh and cry and dream and sigh.

To Dream of Langston - Cover photo of yellow gorse by Rae Monet

Buy link:

http://www.amazon.com/To-Dream-Of-Langston-ebook/dp/B00FISPO4Q/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1380626946&sr=1-1&keywords=mairi+norris+to+dream+of+langston


20 comments:

  1. Yay, Mairi! Congratulations on the release of your first book! It looks wonderful. And if it's anywhere as awesome as the cover and your banner above, it will be fabulous! LOVE the "boulders" comparison. SOOO true. Some are sharp and jagged, and others smooth, but slippery. Hope your path to publishing is a smooth road from here on out!

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    1. Heather, thank you! I think the 'learning curve' on this first book is what created so many of those boulders, lol! Hope you enjoy the story. Our beautiful banner and the book cover were designed by the fabulous Rae Monet!

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  2. Congratulations!!! I'm happy dancing for you! Yes, the road is hard, steep and full of pitfalls, but so worth it. Tweeted, shared on FB and downloaded!

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    1. Lol, Ella, thanks for dancing with me! BTW, I finished The Seduction of Lady Phoebe last night (at midnight, no less). I loved it and am looking forward to Anna's story.

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  3. So excited for you!!! I love the book and wish you the very best with it. Congratulations!!!

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    1. Lane, you know well how my journey went...thanks for everything.

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  4. Oh, Mairi! A HUGE congratulations to you! I wish you SO much success too!

    Yes, boulders indeed on this journey. And also like writing, the road to publication can be heartbreaking, elating, and thoroughly cathartic. I'm so glad you were brave enough to keep trekking through! The world needs your writing!
    -Lani

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    1. Thanks so much, Lani! One of my beta readers and I were talking about how writing and publishing this first book had may similarities to giving birth to a child, lol...and like that experience, I've already 'forgotten' the pain and am ready to embark on a new journey of publishing with my next book. Authors must be part masochist, lol.

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  5. Huge congrats on your debut novel! Here's to many more!

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    1. Thanks so much, Lana! The next book is already written but needs massive revision, so that's my next task.

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  6. Congratulations on the book and good luck with all future ones. I grabbed a copy/

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    1. Thank you CK! I hope you enjoy it. Please feel free to let me know what you think (I can take it, lol).

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  7. Congratulations, Màiri. You have the nuts and bolts down. There's no stopping you now! Best wishes to you and your writing.

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  8. Enjoy this moment, Máiri!!! You so deserve this! I am thrilled for you and that you now have your first published book under your belt. I hope you will never forget this feeling or this momentous occasion!

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    1. I plan to take this entire next weekend to do nothing but enjoy it, Renee, lol. I'm going to watch a couple of my favorite movies, catch up on my reading, eat a few good things that aren't good for me and - sigh - rest!

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    2. Happy for you Shirley! Exciting plot that parallels your life. A must read. Enjoy the celebration:)

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    3. JC, thanks for visiting and celebrating with me! I'm going to take the whole weekend to do my celebrating, lol.

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  9. Congratulations on your release! And GOOD FOR YOU for sticking to it through the publishing challenges - it says a lot about your character. All the best!

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    1. Thanks a bunch, Lacey! I'm enjoying everyone doing the happy dance with me, lol. I appreciate the encouragement.

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