This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
By Anna Bell
My second paperback is published this Thursday. You’d think I’d be more relaxed and nonchalant about this one, what with it being the second, but I’m more excited and terrified than ever. I’m wondering, do you ever get blasé about it?
This book is special to me because I was barely aware of my first paperback being published. It came out four weeks after I gave birth to my baby boy and I have to admit that, for the first eight or so weeks, I had no idea what day of the week it was or even if it was day or night, let alone registered that my book was hitting the shelves.
Don’t Tell the Groom had also been published previously as an eBook – first by me as a self-published author and then by my publishers, which meant I had a good idea what people thought of it. I didn’t worry too much about reviewers reading it, as the reviews up until then had been fairly positive.
Before Don’t Tell the Groom had been self-published, it had also gone through my pre-publication steps of editing and test readers. A few of my eagle-eyed readers had read it and given me their feedback before publication, preparing me with lots of good insight into what readers might think.
In contrast, my latest novel, Don’t Tell the Boss, had, until review copies were sent out, only been read the editorial team at my publishers. I didn’t send the manuscript out to test readers, and I’ve been amazed at how much I missed that step. That’s the closest I can get to real readers before it hits the shelves, and it’s the first boost to my confidence en route to publication. 
The eBook and paperback of Don’t Tell the Boss are also simultaneous, so there’s no soft launch or build up of reviews, making me slightly nervous about what people’s reactions are going to be. It’s slightly daunting looking at the blank part next to the title on Amazon where the star ratings should be and wondering what is going to appear.
I also feel slightly removed from the review process (which is no bad thing). I’ve been so used to self-publishing and having my usual list of reviewers and building up a rapport with them. I generally know what types of books the reviewers like and know that my books fit into their criteria. Yet, with these books, my publisher deals with bloggers and reviewers for me and it’s a lot more daunting not being in control of where you book ends up. I’m a big bag of nerves and I’m going to be biting my fingernails until the first reviews start rolling in.
What I am most looking forward to this time is being more involved with publication day itself and actually enjoying it. I missed out on being that awful shameless plugger on Twitter and Facebook during my last launch day, but this time I’m going to be there in full force (I apologise in advance if any of you follow me!). My husband is taking me and Baby Bell out to a fancy restaurant for lunch and we might have a bottle of bubbly (or two) to celebrate in the evening. It’s a proud moment having a book published, and this time I really want to enjoy and appreciate it!
Is it wrong to get more excited and terrified the more you publish? Or will it be old hat by the time book three hits the shelves?