An all-important event in my life happened on Friday, September 9, 2011. I’d been waiting for it with my heart in my throat, but as the date grew closer, I seriously questioned my sanity. What had I done?
My book, ALL THAT MATTERS, was about to be released for the entire digital world to read – and review. Not only that, but it was the launch book for a brand-new company, Tell-Tale Publishing Group. I fretted and stewed. What if no one wanted to buy the book? What if those who did buy it, didn’t like it? What if...? What if...? There were a lot of what if’s riding on the success of my book and the success of the company. No stress there, right? I was about to find out.
Blog tours, reader reviews, a new PC and printer that didn’t want to play nice with my laptop, everyday chores reminding me that I had family to take care of, fear of being invaded by dust-bunnies....Suddenly, reality hit me—hard. Launching a book ain’t for sissies, folks. It didn’t take me long to learn I couldn’t do it alone. Seriously. Thank goodness for my wonderfully supportive publisher. Help was on the way!
To begin with, my totally awesome cover, designed by the magic of talented artist, Patricia Lazarus, was the best lead-in promo I could’ve asked for. Yowzah! Without the untiring work of Tell-Tale’s editorial staff, along with amazing technical help from My Girl Friday VA, who kept our online presence in the public eye, we never would’ve had the wonderful response that greeted us on Launch Day. Their belief in me was the rock that supported me.
I quickly learned the truth about the importance of social networking. Numerous comments on Facebook and Twitter proved that point many times over. The unsolicited praise from Award-winning authors Nancy Gideon, Susan Mallery, Eileen Dreyer and Katharine Ashe, to name a few, quickly spread word of Tell-Tale Publishing and ALL THAT MATTERS across the country. The kindness and generosity of these wonderful authors, along with the whole-hearted support of my family, friends and fans, made my heart smile so big, it ached with happiness. I am humbled and forever grateful. I thank you all.
The First Day
by Elizabeth Fortin
Everyone has experienced a memorable first day. Many young mothers on my Facebook page have been commenting on various feelings as their children are going off to their first day of school, including nostalgic memories of their own first days. Others have commented on the first day of a newborn's life, on a new job, a first date, or the first time they visited a special location or participated in a new activity.
I have had so many personal firsts this year, I don't have time to list them all here. However, the birth of our publishing company is a first none of us will forget. The entire staff is oscillating from confident pride, anticipation and excitement to humble trepidation and insecurity.
We are fairly confident in our own skills and decision making abilities, but rising anxiety revolves around our use of technology. Should the doctor or the midwife birth our new baby? Which program? Which company? Which formats? How much will it cost? Technology is a miraculous, ever-changing tool. However, it is also only as good as the programmers and users involved in the execution of any singular task.
When you're an electronic-first publishing company, you depend exclusively on the electronic interaction of dozens of people, programs and machines. Though you try to coordinate every detail to the precise moment the baby is "launched", it is a harrowing task--or should I say hundreds of harrowing tasks performed by a dozen people over the past nine months?
It is less than three days until the launch of Tell-Tale Publishing. All the employees are involved in the process on some level. In fact, we've hired extra help. Everything that should be done, has been done. All the little twinges are being tweaked. When all is said and done, it is a nonstop learning process that however perfected is still subject to the often fickle reaction of technology and someone else's employees and programs. I think come Thursday night we will all tip a glass of wine and toast our months of hard work and prepare for the further success of our talented authors. Wish us luck!
Everyone has experienced a memorable first day. Many young mothers on my Facebook page have been commenting on various feelings as their children are going off to their first day of school, including nostalgic memories of their own first days. Others have commented on the first day of a newborn's life, on a new job, a first date, or the first time they visited a special location or participated in a new activity.
I have had so many personal firsts this year, I don't have time to list them all here. However, the birth of our publishing company is a first none of us will forget. The entire staff is oscillating from confident pride, anticipation and excitement to humble trepidation and insecurity.
We are fairly confident in our own skills and decision making abilities, but rising anxiety revolves around our use of technology. Should the doctor or the midwife birth our new baby? Which program? Which company? Which formats? How much will it cost? Technology is a miraculous, ever-changing tool. However, it is also only as good as the programmers and users involved in the execution of any singular task.
When you're an electronic-first publishing company, you depend exclusively on the electronic interaction of dozens of people, programs and machines. Though you try to coordinate every detail to the precise moment the baby is "launched", it is a harrowing task--or should I say hundreds of harrowing tasks performed by a dozen people over the past nine months?
It is less than three days until the launch of Tell-Tale Publishing. All the employees are involved in the process on some level. In fact, we've hired extra help. Everything that should be done, has been done. All the little twinges are being tweaked. When all is said and done, it is a nonstop learning process that however perfected is still subject to the often fickle reaction of technology and someone else's employees and programs. I think come Thursday night we will all tip a glass of wine and toast our months of hard work and prepare for the further success of our talented authors. Wish us luck!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)