Today is the official release date of my new book, THE SECRET OF EVERYTHING. That’s the only thing I’m thinking about today, so that’s what I’m writing about.
A couple of weeks ago, I posted to Facebook that every time one of my books arrives on my doorstep for the first time, it feels like the scene at the end of Back to the Future, when the proper timeline has been restored and the father is a writer, and he opening a box of his books. He’s glossy and happy, his wife is chipper and well-tended. The father is a writer, so all is right with the world.
That’s how it feels to me, every time. I never get over it. The package lands on my doorstep, usually delivered by FedEx in a brown envelope from my editor. And there, in its own cover, is a book that I wrote, a book that contains words arranged in the order I put them in, a book about people and situations that came out of my head over a period of a year or more. Every time, it is a miracle. A wonderment. A reason for great celebration. Somehow, against all the odds, I became a writer. Wow.
And each book, like each child, is unique and beloved for its own reasons. None of them are perfect, but I love them anyway. I love THE SECRET OF EVERYTHING partly because of the main character, Tessa, who is a strong, proud woman who has one of my fantasy jobs: she’s a hiking tour leader. I’m a big hiker, but I could never lead a tour, and I am quite aware of the freak accidents nature can deliver. Tessa knows, too, and that’s what lands her in Los Ladrones, where she is trying to piece together a mystery in her own life.
The book is brimming with breakfast, centered as it is around The 100 Breakfasts Café. My favorite meal is breakfast, and it was a rich pleasure to test all the recipes. You might enjoy testing them, too.
I also love her father, Sam, who is—in my mind—Sam Elliot as an old surfer who loves his daughter but has some things he needs to own up to. Sam lives on the beach and makes margaritas for a living and believes your dogs reincarnate all of your life, like little dog angels to keep you company through the ups and downs in your life.
Come to that, I love the dogs in The Secret of Everything. There are six of them, one of whom is my own Sasha, 17 years old and half-blind but still kicking. One is a border collie members of my family will recognize immediately.
Finally, the other two people I’m thinking of in this book are Vince, the widowed father of three daughters, an ex-pro mountain biker (yes, he says that ironically) now turned search and rescue in the mountains of New Mexico. He’s as sane as milk and sexy as chocolate and very protective of his daughter Natalie, a baby foodie with a fierce will and a lot of anger.
I’m thinking about the eagerness I feel to complete the circle, to finally be able to continue the conversation—begun in my mind, now continuing on to readers. I hope you’ll join me—take my hand.
Wow, thanks. Good to meet you. Let’s go eat, shall we? I’ve got the bacon.
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And it also arrived yesterday and is going to the commuter train with me this morning.
I remember the first time I held one of my books. It was at an RWA book signing. My author copies had arrived at my house while I was out of town, and I made hubby promise not to open the box until after I’d touched mine. Seeing the name tag with my name on it, and a pile of MY books was unforgettable.
I’m so glad I came over here today. This book sounds wonderful! I’ll pick it up this week.
ps. I just loaded up 2 garbage bags of books to take to Goodwill. *sigh*, I’ll never dig myself out of bookland.
Congratulations on your new release, Barbara. Because I saw your post over at Writer Unboxed and I like “foodition”, I’ll look for your book.
Congratulations on your new release. It sounds wonderful and that is one of my dream jobs too. I love hiking and miss having the time to do as much as I’d like. There is something so wonderful about holding your book in your hand no matter how many times it happens.
Hooray, Roms. Hope it makes the commute more appealing.
It’s true, Terry. It is such a great moment in every writer’s life. It takes so much work to get there!
LOL, Jaye. Just think of all the good you’re doing for charities!
Patricia, what are some of your favorite fooditions? (Love that word, too.)
It’s the eternal conundrum, Susan, trying to find the time to hike. I have had a low-miles hiking year and have resolved to make this one a high-miles year.