“Telling A Story”
It takes a long time to write a book.
Actually, writing a book does not take that long. Getting a book sold and edited and published takes far more time than I imagined. But my wait- ing is finally over as this book, 'Loon Point,' that I started writing two and a half years ago, will be released at the end of the month.
I was sure I would be com- pletely terrified on the eve of my first novel's release. I was sure that there would be a million things I still had to do, and a thousand regrets for things I should have done sooner, and at least a hundred things on
my to-do list every single day. This has not proven to be the
case.
The process has been re- markably smooth, and I have panicked far less frequently than I imagined I would. In- stead, I have been touched by how sincerely folks have wel - comed my first little novel. I've had quite a few newspapers re- view 'Loon Point,' and -- for me -- this is the hardest part. If the reviews were bad, I could say, 'They make an excellent point. I could have done a bet - ter job!' But when the review er says nice things about my writing, I find it hard to read. When the early reviews came out, I made my husband, Peter, read them first.
'What do they say?' I asked Peter.
'It's all good,' he told me. 'That's what I was afraid of!' I find the whole thing ter ribly embarrassing.
But I love to hear from readers. I had a few early readers, and when they told me they stayed up late to finish, or stopped before they read the last chapter so the book wouldn't be done so soon -- those comments made me want to cry.
The world doesn't need any more books -- that's what many
people will tell you.
There are more books
printed every day than anyone could possibly read. I have
piles of books I intend to read, and the possibility of ever get ting to the bottom of the pile seems remote. I am more than a little aware that there is no shortage of reading material.
And yet, I'm glad I wrote this book. Because, two and a half years later, I still believe the book will make people happy and perhaps feel a little better about the world they live in, or their neighbors, or their lives. And I still think it
is funny.
There will never be anoth - er first book. This experience
will soon be over and, with any luck at all, there will be another book and one after that. The uncertainty will be less pronounced. The fears will diminish.
But I don't think the excite - ment will ever end. Because telling a story never grows old. If I'd been born in a different place and time -- if I'd been born long ago -- I can easily imagine myself sitting by a fire at night and, when things seemed a little dull, or a little gloomy, or perhaps the folks gathered around the fire were a little scared, I would tell a story.
My story would not be important. It would not change anyone's life or change the world. But I think there must be an evolutionary advantage to a sense of humor. I think it somehow helps us to survive the hard times. For a few minutes that night, the darkness might not seem as impenetrable, the future might seem a bit less ominous, and we would find things to laugh about to gether.
And that is enough. Till next time, Carrie
