A few months ago I asked a couple of multi-pubbed authors–authors who have been writing for around twenty years–when they felt “real”. They kind of looked at me like “Uh, one of those. Someone get the net.” That was my first clue that admitting you don’t feel real is probably not the best idea–but here I am again, talking about it.
I have five books in print, four more under contract, two short stories ready to be released and a novella. Kind of wild. I also just found out my next full-length Nocturne is scheduled for April. Which means two of those books (Dark Crusade, the Nocturne and Amazon Ink, urban fantasy) will be out in the spring. By this time the novella and both shorts will also be out and about. Even wilder.
So, does this make me real?
Being a writer is a weird thing. I tell people that is what I do, and they usually assume I don’t really have anything published, then when I say I have five books out they look at me like I’m from Mars. It makes me strangely uncomfortable, like I am impersonating someone. Very, very weird.
But there you have it, by spring I will be able to say I have seven books published–eight if you count my Holiday with a Vampire 
Oh, and I got the Holdiay with a Vampire cover. I’m in it with Merline Lovelace. She is real. 
Nice cover… and I say you are real… as long as you are not a one hit wonder, you are real!!! Congrats on your novels and I look forward to others in the future!!!
by Colleen September 17th, 2008 at 11:08 amIndeed, a very nice cover! You are very real but keep in mind that it is better to be loved by readers who know your name and have read your novels and loved it very much than being a household name, everyone knows the title but few have read them completely or know them only from a film adaptation! Sic!
by Mirko di Wallenberg September 18th, 2008 at 6:57 amLooking forward to your new novels!
Your name is on the cover of eight books. That’s real!!!
by TFW September 18th, 2008 at 11:33 amThanks, everyone. :)
by Lori September 18th, 2008 at 11:58 amMirko, I have no real desire to be a household name–in fact the idea kind of freaks me out. Now I wouldn’t mind the money that came with that, but the everyone knowing…not so appealing.
Now I’m going to have to start asking other authors this question to see if I am the only oddball out there that feels like this! Or, hey, maybe I could just go write something! There’s an idea…That is probably what makes you real–continuing to write.
You totally hot a note with me–when someone asks what I do, it goes exactly like that–but then I only have one title actually released, but there are two more under contract and still others I’m reasonably optimistic will get picked up–but none of it makes me feel real….
by Evanne September 26th, 2008 at 2:21 pmIt is funny, isn’t it, Evanne? I don’t remember wondering when I was an advertising manager for a newspaper if I was “real.”
by Lori September 26th, 2008 at 3:44 pm