Thursday, November 05, 2009

Guest Author Lori Handeland



Book Release Panic

Has anyone been watching the TV show Castle? It's the best show, not only because of Nathan Fillion (I miss Firefly!) but because whoever's writing it is a writer.

Not too long ago there was a show that took place during Richard Castle's book release day and they got it SO right.

He's trying not to think of the book, but everyone's talking about the book. His mother keeps going to bookstores and calling him to tell him no one's buying the book, or the book isn't there, or it's not placed where it's supposed to be.

I was laughing my head off. Mostly because at that moment it wasn't ME who was in "Book Release Panic."

The latest entry in my urban fantasy series, The Phoenix Chronicles, APOCALYPSE HAPPENS, was released on Tuesday and it's been personal panic for me for over a week now.

The week before a release is spent pretending that I'm not thinking about next week. I keep working on whatever book I'm writing at the time, which is usually 2 or 3 books removed from the one that's about to be released. But I don't get much done. I can pretend all I want that I'm not thinking about the upcoming release.

But I am.

Then the day of the release arrives and I can tell myself all I want that I'm not going to go to the bookstore and look for the book.

But I do.

Half the time it's not on the shelves yet. Or it's not placed where it's supposed to be. Or no one's buying it.

Sigh. Richard Castle and I have the same issues.

Here's a taste of the book that's keeping me up nights, APOCALYPSE HAPPENS--
AVAILABLE NOVEMBER 3!!

Jimmy and I had always had a volatile relationship. Hell, the first time I’d met him he’d put a snake in my bed; then I’d loosened his teeth. We were twelve. At seventeen he’d relieved me of my virginity; a year later he’d broken my heart. Same old tune, heard a thousand times before. Except Jimmy and I weren’t like a thousand other couples. I was psychic and Jimmy— Jimmy was a dhampir. My gaze lowered from his face to his gored shoulder, which wasn’t gored anymore. The gaping wound had almost healed. Most demon killers were breeds—offspring of a Nephilim and a human.. With less demon to contend with, they could choose to fight for the forces of good, and because they had demon blood, breeds had supernatural powers. To fight demons of biblical proportion, they needed them. Jimmy was the son of a vampire and a woman. He was very good at finding and killing bloodsuckers of any type. As a dhampir, Jimmy had mythical strength and speed; he could heal just about anything--although wounds made with a weapon of pure gold took longer, and they stung like a bitch. My gaze went to the approaching cadre of varcolacs. Each of them now carried a weapon that glinted golden beneath the moon. Swell.


I've learned to give in to the urge to visit every book store in my town and the next. Once I see my baby on the shelves a few times, I calm down.

A little . . .
So what do you panic about? And what do you do to stave off that panic? I'm giving away a signed copy to ANY GIVEN DOOMSDAY to one commenter today!

www.lorihandeland.com

30 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Lori :)
Thanks for the great guest post.
I Follow you (@The_Federation) on Twitter and I was wondering if you will be interacting there eventually?
(crosses fingers)
Deep breaths stave off panic, as does gritting the teeth and making fists.
All the best,
RKCharron
xoxo

Lori Handeland said...

Hi, RK--I'm afraid I haven't figured Twitter out beyond posting updates.
I do interact at facebook.

KylieBrant said...

Welcome to the convertible, Lori! I read all your Moon books and need to get started on you UF novels. I find that giving in to the panic and allowing myself to obsess for twenty-four hours is much easier than pretending I have it under control, LOL.

Michele Hauf said...

Lori, the whole series is going to rock! (I just know these things.) :-)

I always feel that urge to go to bookstores on release day, too. What is that? But then, if you see your book, and someone is looking at it, do you go up an introduce yourself as the author? (I would not; figure they'd look at me like I was some kind of nut.) But would you?

Pamela Keener said...

Thanks for the interesting blog. As a reader it is so neat to get a taste of what goes on in the background. I would probably obsess about the placement and such of my book. Deep breathes help me and also I give myself 5 minutes to think of something calming in the hopes that the obsession would go away.
Love & Hugs,
Pam

Unknown said...

Lori, how'd you get so much HAIR? You look great as always and the new book sounds fantastic. Who's the publisher?

As for panic...I just wallow in it and make as many people as possible suffer with me.

Minna said...

There is always that last minute panic...

catslady said...

Everyone is talking about Castle and it too is my favorite show.

Panic - when I'm worried I pick up a book (and yours sounds fascinating byt the way :) It's a true sign of a great book if I can get lost in the book and forget my worries.

s7anna said...

Hey Lori,
Great to see you again...I visited with you when you were over at Bitten by Books :) I'm really looking forward to start reading The Phoenix Chronicles...it looks really good.

As for what makes me panic, it would have to be lack of control. Not knowing the outcome or not being able to plan for something drives me to anxiety attacks..I simply try to take deep breaths...step back and assess what is within my abilities to control and slowly and painfully try to step away from what is beyond my control. I think it just all links to a childhood of where I had very little say in what took place so as an adult it's something that is a constant struggle. I want my rights protected and the only I can guarantee that is making sure that every possibility is covered.

Happy Reading
Anna Shah Hoque
s7anna@yahoo.ca

victoriasdreams said...

thanks for a great opp. 2 win a book.

as for what i panic about is makin sure i have enuff money 2 pay bills n money for diapers, food etc..i have a 12yr going on 25 this month haha,2yr, 5mth old. wat i do is say alil prayer, remember im bless have fun with my kids, get them ready for bed and read a good book :)

LSUReader said...

Generally, saying lots of "Hail Marys" and "Our Fathers" helps me cope with panic. Sometime, I'll do a whole rosary sitting in the dentist's chair!

MrsMixx said...

I panic about too many things, mostly i fear failure. If i know there's something that i might fail my body reacts to stress very violently, with panic attacks and pains. So what do i do? I try to avoid failure,meaning trying a avoid any situation where i could fail too (which is just playing chicken):/ , and i read a lot to keep my mind on something else.

I guess i still have to learn the good way to deal with it ;)

If i had a book coming out i would probably obsess about it too. ;) I love Castle by the way.

I wish you the best book release!

Kathleen Eagle said...

Congratulations on the new book, Lori!

I think I've been in this game too long. I used to run to the store to see my book on the shelf, but I don't anymore. I love getting the box of author copies in the mail before the release so I can see it and touch it and hug it. The book is important to me, but seeing it on the shelves...okay, maybe I'm scared. Afraid I might hear somebody might say my baby's ugly?

I panic when I'm driving and don't know where to turn. Hate driving. But you're safe, Lori. I never drive the convertible. I just ride.

Lori Handeland said...

I should just give in to the panic, you're right,Kylie. Why fight it?

I've had that happen, Michele. And I did NOT talk to the person. With my luck they'd say, "I heard this was SO awful and I wondered how that could be." Ha.

There is always major placement obsession, Pamela.

Lori Handeland said...

Hey, Lois!!! Haven't cut my hair for 2 years. Has it been that long since I saw you? SAD. This book is from St. Martin's.

Yes Minna, always.

Cats--a good book cures all ills, doesn't it?

I think that's part of my panic, Anna, the lack of control. Control freaks unite!!

Lori Handeland said...

Bless you, Victoria. You certainly have your hands full! Mine are 21 and 18, soooo, they are a handful in different ways.

Prayerful repetition is always good for panic, LSU.

Thanks, Patte. Take deep breaths. It always helps me. If I can get past the panic enough to remember to do it.

Lori Handeland said...

I've gotten more panicky about driving as time goes on, Kathleen. I was good until my kids started driving then I got all nervous when I drove. What's that all about?

Helen Brenna said...

Hi Lori!

Yes, the hair! I'm with Lois. Last time I saw you it was short. Didn't go to DC last year, so I must've missed the inbetweeny stage. Love it longer on you!

And I love your titles, espcially ANY GIVEN DOOMSDAY.

I panic about all kinds of things and I think it's getting worse as I get older. Used to be not so much bugged me. Now? Ugh.

I have a feeling it's too much time at home in front of my computer. Must get out more.

Hellie Sinclair said...

HYSTERICAL. I love Castle; and I was cracking up at that episode.

As for you panicking about release days, it would be a cool thing to panic about! Me, I panic about nonsense things...like not filing something on time or not showing up to something on time.

Stores never have books shelved on time. It's annoying. *LOL* But my bookstore says it's because the company didn't ship the books on time...

Lady_Graeye said...

Hi Lori!
Panic is a hard thing to get aroung. I would say depending on the time of day: either a hot tea or a stiff drink and a nice place to hideaway for a few minutes to find your head. It always works for me! Congrads on the new release!

Lori Handeland said...

Hi, Helen!! We ALL need to get out more!

Ms.H--I panic about everything else too. ;)

Lady G-Is it bad if I have hot tea AND a stiff drink? Or maybe a stiff drink IN the hot tea.

SusiSunshine said...

I always try to sooth my mind. Like taking a long hot bath with a good book, or going shopping always helps or talking to my sister. These are always my emergency actions.
I loved the series so far. Phoenix always makes me laugh with her way of talking. Love all the movie references.
Congrats on the release!

Lori Handeland said...

Shopping! Yes. I'm with you, Susi. That always helps.
So glad you've been enjoying Liz. She and I have a blast.

Keri Ford said...

Hi, Lori! Used to go in panic mode as I hit send on submissions. I'm better about that now. It only took me a couple years and several sevearl rejection letters to get over that. Course, that is only submitting to ONE person unlike you who are facing hundreds and hundreds of readers who can saying anything in the world about your book...not really helping, am I?

But thinking about your panic doesn't have me so twitchy about my own now!

congrats on your release!

Lori Handeland said...

Glad to help, Keri!! LOL! Thanks.

Unknown said...

I panic when I have things that have to be done by a certain time and I can't seem to get them done. Like I have a large dinner planed for Thanksgiving and I am already worried weather I will get everything just the way I want it. I know I have plenty of time to do the shopping and things and I haven't panic yet but give me time. The best stress reliever for me is reading a good book and just get away from it all.

Lori Handeland said...

I'm having Thanksgiving too, Virginia. I'm already worried about the pies. Sigh.

Susan Shay said...

I love Castle!
Susan

Martha Lawson said...

Hi Lori!! Love your books. Congrats on the new release. They haven't put out books at Wally World, so I haven't had a chance to pick this one up yet. When I'm panicking or really worried, I try to lose myself in a good book!!

Cindy Gerard said...

Lori
Sorry I wasn't here to comment on the day you posted. LOVE CASTLE too!
Congrats on the new release! it sounds awesome!!Hugs
Cindy