My publisher, Plum Tree Books, writes a bit about the process of bringing a book out into the world. Writing may be solitary, but publication takes a village. Thanks to everyone who helped, and thank you to everyone who helps the book continue its journey.
Non-Book Happiness
The publication of my book makes me very happy. I could go on and on and on about it for days. As anyone who's been my friend for any length of time can attest, my ability to obsess over a topic knows few bounds. And this publication thing is taking up a great deal of …
And it’s here!
My novel arrived today. I'm trying to think of something clever or insightful to say. I'm too gobsmacked. All I can manage is to wish you vast amounts of luck and deep wells of persistence in whatever dream you're pursuing. I think Woody Allen is a jerk, but this quote of his still works for …
Still the Same Story
Soon, I will have an actual physical copy of my book, The Blue Jar, in my hand. That's going to be amazing and unbelievable. There's the feeling of finishing something. Then there's the feeling of putting that something out into the world. I started this novel as a writing prompt on a Tuesday afternoon in …
Pulling the Fire Alarm
One problem about writing about a girl in high school is that I haven't been in high school since 1986. In the manuscript I've been working on, my main character pulls a fire alarm at school. She does so on impulse, in one of those it seemed like a good idea at the time impulses. …
The End of a Book
The other day I finished reading The Book Thief. A couple days after that I read Mockingjay, the third book in The Hunger Games trilogy. Have you read either of them? They are filled with death. So many characters die in both books. I feel drained. How do you feel when you finish a book? …
Death and the Old Year
2013 nears death. Not that our calendar rules the world, but it is the way I measure time thanks to happenstance of birth. Death was nagged at me a great deal this year. A cancer diagnosis and a heart condition will remind anyone of mortality. I feel lucky to be alive. How old were you …
Halfway out of the Dark
I wish everyone the best this holiday season. Perhaps it is a joyful time for you. Perhaps it is difficult. Perhaps it means nothing at all. Whatever your situation, I wish you all good things now and always.
The Solstice
The year is approaching its close. January 1, 2013 I met with a surgeon. I didn't have a cancer diagnosis yet. In fact, the surgeon said that with my case history and profile, I had less than an 8% chance of having anything cancerous. Five surgeries and months of chemo later, I am not officially …
What’s in a Title?
I'm rewriting another manuscript. A few years ago, I thought this manuscript was done. I even gave it to people to read. But the more I thought about it, the more unsure I became. I pulled the story out and started going through it again. Now, I've cut chapters, added one character and deleted another. …
Marta Bacon 