Erika Dreifus

“Anticipating the Worst” may not be the most uplifting or optimistic phrase I’ve used in any of these pre-publication posts to date. Overall, it’s been a joy and a blessing simply to know that my story collection, Quiet Americans, is going to be published.

But this weekend, as I sat with a printout of the designed book interior, reading through the entire book (aloud) to catch any last glitches (yes, there’s a professional proofer at work as well), I became a bit queasy. What if these stories aren’t quite as good as I’d hoped they were? What if people begin reading and dislike the writing intensely? What if the reviews are uniformly negative?

Admittedly, some of this newfound nervousness may be due to two concomitant factors: this week’s focus on negative reviews in Janice Harayda’s #bkrev tweets, and my visiting a number of book bloggers’ sites and reading their review policies, many of which warn (fairly and honestly) about the possibility of negative opinions.

Then, too, I’m sure it’s natural that as a publication date approaches one simply becomes a little fearful about the book’s reception. Right? Right? Totally normal.

It may be normal, but it’s also nerve-wracking. I’d love some tips from other authors about managing this kind of pre-pub anxiety. Please share–and thank you in advance.

Thanks so much to all of you who took the time to comment last week when I presented the cover of my forthcoming story collection, Quiet Americans. I’m so glad that you agree with me: The cover designer has done an wonderful job.

Since last week, lots of behind-the-scenes (or, should I say, behind-the-screens) work has been taking place to build up my brand-new website. I’ve mentioned before that the impending book publication has motivated me to try to consolidate my various online locations/projects/identities. A couple of days ago, the talented web designer I’m working with unveiled a mockup of the homepage. All I’ll reveal for now is this: If you like the book cover, you’ll love the homepage!

The cover is also appearing on the Facebook page I’ve just created to help share information about the book (and hold contests/giveaways). I hope that you’ll “like” that page, too–in all respects! (But please forgive me in advance if I keep my personal Facebook goings-on more or less limited to family members and those of you I’ve met/worked with/studied with/etc. in “real life.” For now, at least.)

Thanks again for the enthusiasm about the cover. It really means a lot to me!

I am proud to present to you:

I hope that you all like the cover! I sure do!

This week’s post will be relatively short and sweet. The crux of the message is simple: THANK YOU!

You have all been wonderfully receptive and supportive since I began tracking the pre-publication life of my story collection, Quiet Americans, earlier this year. You’ve read these posts. You’ve commented. You’ve opined.

I’m so grateful for all of that. I’m also grateful to those of you who have taken the time to send me messages privately. Some of you have written incredibly comprehensive messages packed with advice from your own experience and expertise. And since I’ve sometimes been on the giving end of the advice spectrum, I know how much time that can take. So here’s a special, public thank-you to you (and what really amazes and humbles me is that among you are both people I know in “real-life” and practicing writers I didn’t even know read this blog until I received their messages).

Whether you’ve offered me sage advice, the names of contacts for potential reviews or readings, or, in one case plucked from this week’s correspondence, an actual venue where I can sign copies of Quiet Americans next year, your generosity means more to me than you can imagine. So I’ll say it one last time (for now): THANK YOU.