Out of Dublin published last week. Its publication didn’t kill me, but it was difficult and painful. Part of me feels like a bad telltale. Grief still gnaws. There’s the fear that nips, who has read it? What will they think? What if it’s all meaningless?
Mostly, though, I feel a weight laid down. I’ve a better sense of closure now. A woman asked last night, “God, how do we survive?” We do. We’re amazing.
The responses I’ve received to Out of Dublin has been wonderful, thank you. Most of you have told me, I didn’t want it to end. Because I’ve mostly published short-short work, I hear that a lot. I’m working hard on a final revision of my novel. I hope that book will deliver the long, satisfying read so many of you have asked for over the years. That’s if I can finally figure out how to end the beast, and end it well.
This week, The Rumpus published an interview with me. My deep thanks to Liana Holmberg, Publisher, Red Bridge Press for her excellent questions and to Rebecca Rubenstein, Interviews Editor at The Rumpus.
Last night, Shebooks hosted their official launch party and showcased their new website and Equal Writes Kickstarter Campaign to raise money to pay ever more women writers. I read alongside 9 fellow and excellent Shebooks authors and we enjoyed a wonderful evening. I felt Out of Dublin, as tiny as it is, has value.
For those of you who asked, you don’t need a Kindle or Nook to read Out of Dublin. You can download the free Kindle app and read Out of Dublin or any Shebook on your phone, PC, or iPad.
For all their power and might, words often fail. I’ve always thought Thank you is wholly inadequate. There just isn’t enough heft and beauty and emotion to those two words. To those of you who continue to support me and my writing, I’ll leave you with this attempt to convey my deep gratitude: Stories, books, all art, would fail without witnesses.
