This has been an exciting month for me with the release of
my second novel, A Life Well Loved. It’s funny, though, because I felt a little
like the enthusiasm wasn’t there as it
was for the first book. I’m selling copies, and even some are buying my first
book, A Life Unplanned, so that has been a nice surprise, but still, it felt
like something was missing. I was
talking it over with my sister, and she gave me a perspective I know I would
not have thought of on my own.
Whenever a first baby comes along, hundreds of pictures are
taken so as not to miss a minute of that baby’s life. Then the second comes
along, and maybe not quite so many pictures. If there is a third one, even less
pictures. I should know, I’m a third child!
Don’t get me wrong. There are pictures of me as a child, but I’m pretty
sure not quite as many as my sister and brother. Of course, they will tell you that’s because
they were the cuter baby. Perhaps that is a discussion for the next family
reunion.
But the analogy made perfect sense to me. As excited and
proud as I am of my second novel, it could never be the same as when I
announced to my family and my friends that I had published a novel, especially
one that was based on the life of real people and real events. I’m sure no one
who knows me would have thought I would actually go through with this writing
stuff. Heck, I was never really sure until I hit the submit for publication
button. No matter how many books I wind up writing, I’m not sure I’ll ever be
able to say I have a favorite, much like parents who could never say they have
a favorite child, and again, my sister and brother would probably argue that
point, too.
I guess my purpose in sharing this with you is, if you are a
writer and find your second book or even third or fourth is not as well
received as your first, take a step back and look at the whole picture. The
family, friends, your readers—they’re still there. Maybe a little more quiet,
but that’s only because there’s never anything quite like the first. Every word
you write, every novel you complete, is just as special as the last, but simply
in a different way. There’s nothing wrong with that. I’m working on my third novel already, and I
even have ideas for novels four and five. I don’t know if those will pan out,
but something will, because I plan to keep on writing and loving every minute of
it, and with no favorites!
