On my memoir blog Wrote By Rote I have been following the publishing success story of Teresa Rhyne. In March Teresa told her story about how her book came to be and the road toward publication. Then in August she gave her report from the floor of Book Expo America in New York City and her successful preview debut. Finally, the big day is here! Tuesday October 2nd is the official release date of The Dog Lived (and So Will I). Teresa is here to fill us in on more of the story. And be sure to visit Teresa's blog for even more info. (Also check out the link Teresa gives toward the end of this post for the personal appearances she has scheduled so far--if you're nearby it sounds like fun!)
Do you know who has a book coming out on October 2nd?
Yep. Dennis Lehane, Jo Nesbo, Louise Erdich, Sherman Alexie, Bill O’Reilly, Ann
Coulter, Nora Roberts, Jasper Fforde, and Neil Young. Oh, and me. And probably
another 100 or so authors. But me. I’m there. I’m among them. Check out this list from Publisher’s Weekly and this article on why October 2, 2012 is the Best Book Day of 2012 (they did that whole article without mentioning my book; I’m shocked. Ahem. Not
at all.) This sums up quite well the dichotomy that is my publishing experience
of late, and, I imagine, the publishing experience of many a first-time author.
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| the box of my books I received from the publisher. It's an exciting moment in a writer's life. . |
On the one hand, it’s wildly exciting to even appear on a
list with names like this. I felt the same way (the “I can die happy now” way)
when my book was listed as a BEA Buzz Book alongside Barbara Kingsolver. But
then of course, because I’m new (and nervous, and probably a bit of a freak at
this point), I think “Aaargh—I’ll get lost in the stampede of fabulousness that
is all those other books!” Then I think, “Stop using exclamation points, you
are a writer, damnit! Stop. It.” And also, “Yes, but maybe this means everyone
will be rushing to bookstores and they may as well pick up your book too.”
Because, you know, that happens. But the reality of it is I have very little
control over any of it. Luckily, I have professionals looking out for me (my
publisher, Sourcebooks, and their team of marketing, publicity and sales aces)
and they know far better than I what to expect. They try to simultaneously encourage
and caution me, and they advise me, but it’s all some crazy Mr. Toad’s Wild
Ride to me. And to mix fairy tales but remain firmly in Fantasyland, sometimes
I’m the toad and sometimes I’m the princess. To wit (because I’m always a
lawyer):
Princess: Publisher’s
Weekly gave me a nice review, as did Library Journal. Cesar’s Way magazine also
had a nice blurb. A national magazine is doing an article and sent a
photographer to my home for a photo shoot of me and my dog.
Toad: A different
national magazine did an interview and we were told there’d be an article in
the October edition. I gleefully raced out to buy several copies of the October
edition, only to discover there wasn’t a word in it about me or the book. No
word why. We’re seriously hoping I appear in the November edition and return to
Princess status. But we don’t know.
Princess: Target
picked up the book and will have it in all of their stores.
Toad: It won’t be there until October 17th.
Target is big enough to have its own release date. Okay, that’s not very
toad-y; that maybe even sounds Princess-y. But it goes to show you the odd
world of book sales.
Princess: My boyfriend happens to own a wine shop (hey,
I’m no dummy) and we’re partnering to do a series of “Words, Wine & Wags”
fundraising events for various animal rescue organizations and “Words, Wine
& Women” events for breast cancer groups. It’s a chance to introduce the
book and the wines, and hey we get to bring our dog and help some great causes.
Great response from the dog groups so far. And I’ve been asked to appear and do
signings at several animal fairs and walks.
Toad: We can’t seem to find any interested breast
cancer groups and have had very minimal luck getting bookstores to be the
bookseller at any offsite events. (So Chris will be selling not just wines, but
books!)
Princess: There was interest in an interview from a
national TV show.
Toad: The dog had to be with me and the interview
has to be done in an East Coast studio. I’m on the West Coast and I won’t fly
the dog in cargo (dog lovers get this; if you’re scratching your head, recall
what just happened to supermodel Maggie Rizer’s dog en route between San Francisco
and New York.)
Princess: Blog reviewers were interested in advance
copies and have been very kind in their comments. The reviews have really
touched me. It’s fascinating to discover what someone else gets out of my
writing. And this being a memoir, it’s also good to know they seem to like my
main character.
Toad: ….No, there’s no toad on this one. Readers are
great. Bloggers are great. People who love books and reading are great. (Amazon reviews haven’t started yet.)
And that’s really the fantasy come true here. It’s not
Fantasyland anymore. Whatever happens, I’m not a Princess or a Toad. I’m a
published author. With a book tour. And readers who love the book.
Wait….I’m a freakin’ Queen!
Here’s my schedule of events for the next month: http://teresarhyne.com/appearances-and-events/
If I’m in your neighborhood, I hope you’ll stop by and say hello. I’ll be the
one in the tiara. With warts.
The Tale Of A Dog Who Wouldn’t Let Go And The Woman Who Followed His Lead.
Teresa Rhyne vowed to get things right this time around: new boyfriend, new house, new dog, maybe even new job. But shortly after she adopted an incorrigible beagle named Seamus, vets told Teresa that he had a malignant tumor and less than a year to live. The diagnosis was devastating, but she decided to fight it, learning everything she could about the best treatment for Seamus.
She couldn’t have possibly known then that she was preparing herself for life’s next hurdle – a cancer diagnosis of her own. Teresa and Seamus would battle for their lives together, while at the same time she’d bare her heart for a seemingly star-crossed relationship
The Dog Lived (And So Will I) is the uplifting, charming, and often mischievous story of how dogs come into our lives for a reason, how they steal our hearts, show us how to live, and teach us how to love.
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