As of tomorrow, MODERN GIRLS has been out in the world for two weeks now, and I still don’t know how to react to the compliments. This is what I say to people who gush over me and the book: “Aw, thank you! I really appreciate that. I’m so glad you read and enjoyed the book.” And I do mean it.
But this is what I feel like:
Image by Kristin Chirico/Buzzfeed
It’s not you; it’s me.
Beginning the day before my pub date, my e-mail and social media lit up with folks sending me the “shipped” notices for the book.
Then on Tuesday, as books began to arrive in people’s homes and placed on display in stores, folks began to send me pictures. How much do I love each and every photo!
My friend Todd took this shot in Grand Central Station on his commute home.
Folks brought me flowers, sent me brownies. My husband read in an interview I gave where I said I thought writers should splurge on the good bourbon, so he brought me home a bottle of good bourbon. Plus champagne for toasting.
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- Chocolate and books: the perfect combination.
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- The good bourbon… and the good bubbly.
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- The kids cheered with apple juice.
My daughter came home from school on pub day Tuesday and gushed, “Mommy, all my friends said, ‘Wow! Your mom is a published writer!”
“How did they know I was a published writer?” I asked.
Taking off her backpack and grabbing a snack, she said, “Because when I got to school, I said, ‘Hey everyone! My mom’s a published writer!”
I spent all of Tuesday basking in the glow of the well wishes of all my friends. It was the perfect day… until Amazon ran out of stock. I stressed for a freakin’ week until the books came back to Amazon (and no it doesn’t mean my print run sold out; it just means that Amazon didn’t order enough books).
Wednesday was my launch day, a reading and book signing at Porter Square Books and then drinks afterwards across the street.
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- Doesn’t every author take photos of the audience?
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- The audience I took a photo of.
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- We served themed cocktails that packed a real punch.
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- The cake looked just like the book, but tasted much better.
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- Me, with a Modern Girl Manhattan in hand, ready to cut the cake
Two weeks have passed. I’m still on cloud nine, though I’ve come down enough to start trying to tackle the other work in my life, namely all the end-of-school-year stuff at my daughter’s elementary school, prep for Passover, and (try to) get farther into the next novel.
In the meantime, keep the photos coming! I love them. And if you have a free minute, an Amazon review is super helpful. Other stores/sites too, but Amazon reviews have a magic power that I have yet to fully comprehend.
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- The book is clearly having more fun than I am.
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- MODERN GIRLS in the Union Square Barnes & Noble in Manhattan.
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- A good friend reads MODERN GIRLS.
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- A very dear friend shows his support.
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- The book is in the Concord Book Store.
And by all means, please continue to say nice things. Just because I won’t believe any of it, doesn’t mean I don’t want to hear it.
Your book is so great and you deserve all of this!! I’m not even related to you, so you have to believe me!
You’re the one who turned me on to this! So…no! (But I thank you anyway!)
I just finished “Modern Girls.” I read it in one sitting — laughing, crying, calling my mother to read lines to her. It was phenomenal! Please tell me there are more books from you in the works.
Thank you, Stephanie! That’s so kind of you to say. Yes, I’m working on the next novel now. The beginning is well under way and I’m researching, researching, researching.
I just finished your book. I really liked it..hard to stop reading. But I have to ask…this ending deserves another book that tells what happens to Dottie [deleted text–forgive me; don’t want to reveal the ending!] At the end I thought I want to read more about them & their families.
First off, forgive me, Kendra, for removing part of you comment! But I don’t want to give away the ending to those who haven’t read it it.
Second, thank you for your kind words! I will say that my current project is not a sequel, but I’m toying with ideas for what happens next…. Need to think it through before I attempt to write it! 🙂
Yes, yes please write a sequel!
I need a sequel so badly!! I was thoroughly enjoying myself and then it suddenly ended. I feel unfulfilled! Please sequel!!
I’m giving lots of thought to what happens to Dottie and Rose, but it takes a long time for me to sit with an idea before I’m ready to write. But I have some ideas and they are percolating away. 🙂
I love this book! Please write a sequel… I will be looking out for it!
So glad you enjoyed it! Working on another book right now, but not yet a sequel. We’ll see about that! 🙂