Launching a book into the world is something every author does a little differently. In fact, it’s probably something most authors do differently for each book. Some of that is because we learn what works and what doesn’t. Some is because the stuff we learned about what works can change on a proverbial dime and then we have to learn what’s working now. And some of that is because not every book in a series necessarily needs the same kind of push out into the world as others.
It is, like just about everything that has to do with author life it seems, flexible.
But once the book is out there and the fanfare is over, I know I tend to turn my focus to the next book and its launch. And I rarely do much to mark the passing of time for books once they’re out there in the world.
But now, I’m aiming to change that.
I realized a few weeks ago that my first book came out in January of 2013. Eight years! That’s a long time! And while I missed that milestone birthday for Wisdom to Know, I decided I wasn’t going to miss the birthdays of my other books. Because how would I feel if people forgot my birthday? (Sad. I would feel sad. Fun fact: I know this because my parents did, in fact, forget my fifteenth birthday. At least it wasn’t the sixteenth, I guess.)
“How hard would it be,” I asked myself, “to make a list of all the release dates for my books so I could celebrate their birthdays on my Facebook page and Instagram?”
As it turns out, it was a little trickier than I initially thought. But! I got it done. And I now have a handy spreadsheet that automatically calculates the book age (in years) every time I open it so I don’t have to do that subtraction in my head. (It’s not that it’s hard, but let’s be real, it’s more fun to do a formula in Excel than to subtract manually.)
And so it is that this week, I am actually celebrating TWO book birthdays. Of course neither of them are actually today, but today is roughly between them, so it works out.
On Saturday, A Heart Reclaimed, book 2 of my Peacock Hill series turned three.
Three! Honestly, it feels like it should be longer than that. I thought for sure it was four or even five years ago that I started in on Peacock Hill. But no. Duncan and Anna’s second chance story–after unrequited love in college that took the visible form of irritation with one another–is just three.
I had so much fun figuring out ways to pit these landscapers against each other–and then draw them together.
And I loved getting a chance to touch base with them, briefly, in the final Hope Ranch book, Hope at Last.
The other book with a birthday this week is my second ever book, Courage to Change. This is book 2 in my Grant Us Grace series and it’s turning 8 on the 8th. (Fun fact: I just learned that this is called a “golden birthday” – when your age is the same number as your birthdate.)
Courage to Change might be one of my favorite books that I’ve written. I realize that’s a scary proposition, choosing favorites amongst your children. Even as I’m typing that, I’m starting to say, “Oh, but what about…” So maybe instead of favorite, I should just say that I still, to this day, love Allison and Phil. I love their story. I love the secondary plot surrounding Lindsey. And I love the connections to the first book in the series and the setup for book 3.
It was so much fun for me to look back over the books I’ve written and think about the characters and their struggles and the messages (which are hopefully encouraging and challenging) in each book. And so I find myself looking forward to celebrating further book birthdays as we get to them.
I’d love to gift a copy of your choice of either birthday baby to two commenters. I’ll draw names on Friday (so comment by Thursday at midnight to enter.) Do you enjoy it when authors spotlight backlist titles? What do you like to see in those spotlights?
Elizabeth Maddrey is a semi-reformed computer geek and homeschooling mother of two who lives in the suburbs of Washington D.C. When she isn’t writing, Elizabeth is a voracious consumer of books. She loves to write about Christians who struggle through their lives, dealing with sin and receiving God’s grace on their way to their own romantic happily ever after.
Congrats on your Book Birthdays Elizabeth! Way to go gal! Quite an impressive number of stories released! No wonder it is difficult to keep track. Way to many children for this retiree! LOL – My favorite series are: Baxter Family Bakery, Peacock Hill Romance, and Operation Romance. My favorite March read is Kinsale Kisses. My favorite summer read is Luna Rosa (A Tuscan Legacy). This German American had never heard about a Golden Birthday, until my youngest son told me when he turned nine. Had to do my research on this tradition – now I make sure to make Golden Birthdays special for my grandchildren. Was too late for my sons. Warm temperatures in Michigan, but misty with rain in the forecast. April showers bring May flowers. Best wishes and enjoy the warmer weather. Are the cherry blossoms blooming yet?
Thank you!
I love that your son told you about golden birthdays. I was too late to hit any of them in my family, so maybe in the distant future I can do something fun for grandkids.
I like when authors talk about their stories, like what you’ve done with “Courage to Change”–given just enough information to make me want to check it out! And I love the book birthday idea–my books are definitely my “babies.” I have five out there now and two more coming out, and this would be a great way to celebrate them every year. I used to live in NOVA and loved seeing the cherry blossoms every year!
Congratulations on all the book birthdays! Grant Us Grace is my favorite series of yours, so powerful!
The Cherry blossoms are always a highlight around here!
And yay! I hope you’ll give Courage to Change a look :)
Thank you! I loved writing that series.
My daughter had her golden birthday this year – and she was not happy that covid restrictions meant she couldn’t have a big party! Guess books don’t care quite as much as people!
Aww. I’m sorry your daughter missed out because of covid restrictions. So many people missed so much this last year, it’s heartbreaking.
I don’t think my books care one way or the other though, lol.
Congratulations on the book birthdays! I do like it when authors mention their books, just as you did, cause it gets my attention and makes me check those books out IF I haven’t already read them, and IF I did, it brings back (hopefully!) nice memories of the books, too!
I like it when the book birthday is celebrated with a deal on the book or series
Aw, yay! :)
I do also enjoy the little reminder of “Oh, yes! I loved that book!”
Deals are always fun as a reader.
As an author I understand why they can’t happen all the time, but I really wish they could :)
I read the first Peacock Hill book, so I would love a copy of A Heart Reclaimed!
Yay!
Since I already have all your books, you don’t need to include me in your drawing :-) It is fun to reminisce along with you about your books! I’m eagerly awaiting the next one…
Happy book birthday! I really like it when authors spotlight their older books because a lot of times the authors are new to me and by spotlighting their older works I get a chance to try new to me books. When I discover new to me authors I often go and read their backlist of books, especially when I really love their newer books. Thanks for the chance to win!
Not too much longer! I’m going to release my first Billionaire (the one that’s the pre-order bonus) in May. And then it’ll be one each month for a while.
Yes! I’ve found some great new to me authors that way as well!
I like learning about an author’s backlist, especially if it’s an author I am just getting acquainted with. I do not always take the time to scroll down their Amazon book list to see what all they have written, especially if an author has a large backlist. So, having the author periodically highlight some of their previous work, especially award-winning books and series is helpful. If I like their current work, I am a lot more likely to check out their previous work.
This is great info, thanks!
I do enjoy backlist spotlights because I almost never get a chance to read all of one author’s books.
Happy Book Birthday to your books! I enjoy learning about author’s backlist books because sometimes I miss them
This is so true – unless you were with an author at the start, it’s hard to make sure you got them all!
Thanks! And that’s for sure – some authors with huge backlists are hard to catch up with :)
Happy Golden Book Birthday!
I do enjoy spotlights of previous books because I may not have read them.
Thank you!
I just realized that the Saturday book birthday was its golden one as well (3 on the 3rd!) Two in a row!
Hi, Renate! To check on the Cherry Blossoms, try https://nationalmall.org/bloomcam
Double Golden Birthdays! There has to be something special about *that*! I enjoy backlist highlights as a way to discover more from authors I already enjoy. More stories, more fun. The only down side I have found is that earlier works may show an (ahem) earlier skill level. :)
Thanks for posting this – I totally spaced on digging that up for Renate! The short answer (but do go look at the pictures!) is that they were said to be peak last weekend but are still quite pretty.
Oh how I laughed. Yes, there is definitely an earlier skill level at play. (I know some authors who have gone back and rewritten their earlier books, but that way lies madness as far as I’m concerned. My writing has improved – and I hope it does with every book – but I still love those first stories.)
Happy Book Birthdays! Yes, I love it when authors do that, it is always nice to see the books I loved being remembered or some that I have never read but have read other ones from the same author . I have not read any of your books, Thank you so much for the chance of any of your books. Have a Great week and stay safe.
Yay! And I hope you win so you have a chance to read something of mine :D
Happy Book Birthday!! Yes, I enjoy when an author spotlights a past book. If the author is new to me, it maybe a book that I did not read or one that brings back great memories from reading the book in the past. Thank you very much. God bless you.
Congrats & Happy Book Birthday!! I enjoy when authors spotlight a past book & there great memories!! Your books are great! :)
Congrats!! I hope your enjoying your day. I like spotlight books for sure. There are a lot of memories from past books.
Thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoy them!
It is nice to revisit old friends :)
I share a book birthday with my own birthday! Can you say that?? And I also share a book birthday with my retirement date from my big day job. ;)
Woohoo! Congratulations!!!
Do you enjoy it when authors spotlight backlist titles? Yes.
What do you like to see in those spotlights? I love meeting the characters ;)
Happy birthday to your two book babies! I like when authors mention backlist titles and talk a little bit about the characters or story, as you did here.