I have become what I’ve always wanted to be, Madam Serenity. Worries, hardship, strife are things of the past. Serenity has finally descended upon me. Precisely at 4.49 pm two days ago, when with a push of the button I released Peirene Title No 1 to the bookshops and the wide world.

I knew this moment would come but I didn’t realize it would be so soon, until I received an email from Bill, the Distributor Man. “When do you want us to release your first title, Meike?” I emailed him straight back, informing him graciously – because after all how could he forget the world-changing date - that publication is not until 4th of February. Yes, he replied, he therefore advises me strongly to release the book now. The bookshops need to receive it in good time. But, but but …, my anxiety level was raising as I send back my response, doesn’t that mean some bookshops will start selling it early, ignoring the date I have carved in stone all those months ago. Some surely will, he instructed me patiently, but that’s absolutely normal and unavoidable. I then sent an email to a trusted colleague requesting approval for what I was about to do. Is that the way it is done in publishing land? I needed reassurance. Absolutely, he confirmed, release date of the book is 3 to 4 weeks prior to sale’s date.

So for a moment I sat very still, reflecting on the magnitude of the deed. Then I pushed the button. Ok, lets do it. So Peirene is now released, unleashed upon the wide big world. And surely the world will never be the same again.

Afterwards that day I continued work as normal and it wasn’t until the following morning that I realized something had changed inside me. Somehow nothing seemed urgent any longer. I was – I am – utterly calm. Serene. My job done, Peirene out there, perhaps it’ll sell, perhaps it won’t, the outcome shrouded in utter mystery. All I can do now is wait and observe. I made myself tea and lit a few candles. Meet the new me.

PS  Actually, let’s hope I will be through with this new-me business quickly. Because otherwise Peirene Title No 2 will never see the light of day. And that, trust me, would be a pity.

Tags: Beside the Sea

This entry was posted on Friday, January 15th, 2010 at 18:10 and is filed under one-woman-show. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.