Not Another Newsletter!
Well, It's My Pub Day, Too
I'm writing to all of you in a state of abject nerves. I'm also watching the new Netflix documentary about Charlie Sheen, my high school star crush (dating myself here), and the first two lines of this newsletter make me think of the song You Say It's Your Birthday by the Beatles, which then makes me think of Twist & Shout obviously also by the Fab Four, which THEN makes me think of Charlie Sheen's four minute, life-changing cameo in you know which movie, right?
Of course you do.
Bueller? Bueller? Anyone?
So, back to my nerves.
It's been a little over two and a half years since my publisher at Thomas & Mercer invited me out to breakfast and asked the inspirational question: Have you ever considered putting your psychology background to use in your fiction?
Some of you know that before becoming an author, I practiced as a psychotherapist for fifteen years, specializing in treating children. The very first case I had, as a baby newbie therapist, was this cherubic five year old who had just committed a vicious, violent act. My job was to determine whether this girl was a burgeoning sociopath or if there was some hope for her. For us. All of us, because no good comes when a child is suffering enough to make another creature suffer, too.
We need hope in our lives, right? When I told my now-publisher that she had given me a fireworks bolt of inspiration, I knew that hope would be the driving force behind the character who was already coming to life in my mind. A psychologist driven by demons from her dark past who's also driven to save children. And there are so many who need saving.
The second in the series drops (publishing lingo for releases) today and in this one a former client turns to Dr. Arles Shepherd for help. A young girl has approached Kara Parsons at a bookstore and said just one thing. I am a missing child. Neither Arles nor Kara can find out anything else from this girl, not even her name. But when they finally do learn something about her, the danger really begins.
Steve A., thank you for keeping this book alive in your mind all these years. It's finally here.
I love writing Arles's stories. I love seeing the way she evolves—things have changed since book one!—but mostly I love the hope factor that each Arles book ends on so far.
It was true in real life, too. That young patient of mine? I treated her for over a decade. Years after she'd completed her therapy, she came back to visit me. She was in college then. She'd made good friends, was dating someone. Not a hint of violence had ever dogged her in life again.
Me & Macarons
Thomas & Mercer is a wonderful publisher in terms of the in-depth editorial they offer, the gorgeous work by their art and design teams, and of course their data-driven approach to connecting books with readers. But what might be less well known is the way they gift their authors various delights to celebrate book milestones. When the first in the Arles series dropped last year, I awoke to a bouquet of two dozen red roses! This time they somehow intuited my love of cookies and sent me a luxurious box of my favorite kind, in almost every flavor under the sun. No matter what happens today, at least I can drown myself in sweets.
Back from Bouchercon
The biggest mystery and suspense conference of the year took place in New Orleans last week. I always find that writers conferences are one part summer camp, another part family reunion with people you truly like, and a final part hopes and dreams. There's so much electricity and adrenaline you could keep a whole city running—even one as lit up as NOLA. Among some high points were an author speed dating event I took part in that introduced me to a hundred readers, one tableful at a time; a panel I attended on crafting a villain; and of course, beignets.
We're getting a theme going here, cookies, doughnuts...
One author friend I was happy to see writes with her sister as Liv Constantine. They have a new audiobook out today about the dude behind the eponymous character in one of their biggest bestselling titles—check it out!
But the highest high point of the con for me was meeting my editor in person for the first time. Which brings me full circle. Because my new book is out (eep!) and it would not be what it is without the wisdom and insight of my editor. Sitting and talking with her for an hour or so brought to life why that is. Listening to her mind fire—and feeling mine fire back—was like seeing the creative process spring into action in real time.
Where To Go From There?
Where I did go from there was Florida. I knew the days leading up to pub would be at least one part stress-fest and an article came into my feed just in time. The most calming state park in the nation happened to be under five hours from New Orleans. We decided to drive down—girl loves a road trip—and cap the con with a few days at a glamping site. And there a life moment happened to rival the meeting with my editor.
As I was swimming—more like floating actually—in what were indeed the most calming waters I've ever experienced, a dolphin swam up beside me. I am not kidding. Not an encounter in a pen, an actual wild dolphin. It dove not fifty feet away for a few minutes. Then it flicked its tail flipper at me and swam off. I have been dreaming of a moment like this ever since it happened to Vicky in A Ring of Endless Light.
I was about her age when I read that book. Her grandfather's perspective on life has always stayed with me, and it pertains to my nerves now.
We don't know what's going to happen. We can't control it. All we can do, once we have put in the work and done as much good as possible, is trust that there's some wisdom, some reason, some order behind what is to come.
All we can do is hope.
