As Good As The First?

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!

You know the drill.  Thanks for reading, enjoy your day, and keep reading, writing, or better yet, both. Take care.