Surprise!

 

Terry here with our question of the week: tell us one thing that you didn't anticipate about the writer's life, which surprised you once you became a writer. 

There are so many things I didn’t anticipate about the writer’s life, that I can’t hold it to one. I’m going to list a bunch! 

It starts with those last two words: writer’s life. I always wrote stories. Even when I worked long hours in computer programming and analysis, during lunch hour I often went to my car and wrote. And I wrote after work. BUT that didn’t mean I was living a writer’s life. I discovered (to my surprise) that a true writer’s life meant I had to take writing seriously—not just dash off a few pages at random. The writer’s life meant working and reworking the same thing again and again. It meant I often had to decide not to do something frivolous, but instead keep myself moving forward with whatever I was working on. 

I also did not anticipate how hard it would be to get published. Yes, I thought my prose was so brilliant that publishers would fall all over themselves for the privilege. Well, maybe it wasn’t quite that dramatic, but still…Even after I started becoming more serious, I had many, many failures. And then, finally, the publishing gods smiled on me. 

That’s when I really was surprised. 

1) I was surprised at the success of my first novel. A Killing at Cotton Hill was nominated for numerous prizes, winning the Macavity Award. There was huge “buzz” about it. It was a heady adventure. 

2) My goal had truly been to have a novel published—period. It was a surprise when the next one in the series presented itself, and I wrote it! Two books. I’m still surprised that the ideas keep coming and that the books keep being published. And that I have readers who love them. 

3) I was surprised at how natural it felt. It was as if I had been auditioning as an author for a long time. Once it happened, it felt like I had finally come home. 

4) I could never have anticipated how much I enjoyed my relationship with my editors. I had no idea that an editor was the rock I could depend on. 

5) Same with my agents. I had some vague idea that an agent just handled the money. It was a shock to me when I found out they could also give me writing advice, and advice about what publisher might work best for my particular books. 

6) Here’s an odd one—I hated public speaking before I became a published author. My hands would sweat, I’d practice again and again and still feel nervous and embarrassed. After the first book came out, it was as if a switch had been flipped. I found that I could easily talk in front of hundreds of people and feel completely relaxed. What is that all about? I still don’t know. 

7) I never knew I would have fans. Fans who wrote to me. Fans who told me they read all my books—more than once. I had sat mesmerized when a friend who had just published a novel was approached by someone when I was with her, telling her how much they enjoyed the book. Wow! That seemed like it could never happen. I’m still stunned when someone comes up and tells me they’ve read all my books. It happened last weekend and after twelve years of being published it still stuns me. 

8) Perhaps the most amazing unanticipated result was that I found a whole new community of friends. People who have the same fears and doubts that I have. The same struggles. The same welcomed me into the writing life. Who always seem willing to help. And who admit to having their own struggles. A warm, generous community that I can laugh with and commiserate with. 

9) Reviews. I don’t know why, but I’m always surprised when my reviews are great. I’ve had some terrific comments, including one that I’ll list below. 

10) And finally, the biggest surprise of all is that I don’t sell that many books. I have loyal following, and a loyal publisher. I have fans and good reviews. And still, my book sales are modest. Go figure. 

 So now for a little BSP: Deep Dive comes out July 2, and just got a terrific review from Booklist, which ended the review with: “With taut suspense, scary moments beneath the sea, and a surprising conclusion, this twisty, watery tale is a must-read thriller!”