I have reached a little milestone in my publishing author’s journey: I have hit 25 reviews on Amazon, and I wanted to stop and celebrate. Now why 25 and not 20, or 30? I don’t really know — maybe because it’s a quarter of 100, but it seemed like a good time to stop, take stock and enjoy this little success.
In his brilliant commencement speech, Neil Gaiman shares the best piece of advice he ever received, which was from Stephen King. Gaiman was in the midst of the early Sandman success and King told him: “This is really great. You should enjoy it.”
Gaiman then confesses that he didn’t follow that advice, too focused on worrying about the next book, the next deadline…He never really stopped to enjoy that early thrill of success.
Now, I’m not exactly surfing waves the size of Sandman’s success, and yet I can see how that could happen. Even as only a budding published author, I’m already getting caught up in worrying about the next book. Will it prove a satisfactory sequel? Can I get it finished to the level I want in the time I want?
So, remembering Gaiman’s speech, I thought I would take an official pause (and in these days of the internet, what better way to make it official than by writing a blog post?) to stop and enjoy this little milestone.
I’m very aware that in the grand scheme of the literary world, 25 reviews is too small to even be considered paltry. I know of other indie authors who have had more reviews than that by the end of their book’s second month. I also know of authors who’ve had less reviews than that. Each to their own pace and we all have to celebrate our own milestones, such as they are.
Knowing that my book is being bought and being read is such a thrill and I don’t want to risk that sensation diminishing because I’m rushing through everything to get to the next step, or because I’m comparing myself to other writers. Sometimes, it’s important to stop and enjoy the moment. 25 people who are not related to me by blood or shackled to me by matrimony chose to take the time to write reviews about my book. That is such a wonderful thing!!
Of course I’m aware that not everyone will enjoy my book (maybe you, reading this right now didn’t enjoy it), but that’s ok. I love Vonnegut’s take on this: ‘If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.’ You can’t please everyone, after all, and there’s no point trying. Knowing that not everyone will enjoy a given book makes finding those people who have enjoyed it all the more special. It’s like building a tribe, in a way.
So a big thank you to everyone who read and enjoyed The Viper and the Urchin, and who took the time to write those reviews, it really means a lot!
Congrats on the 25 reviews! That’s a great milestone. Reviews can be hard to come by. And you’re right–we don’t celebrate the little things like we should. Always so focused on our current WIP.
LikeLike
Thank you! 🙂 Yes celebrating the little things is so important, but so easy to overlook. Makes life a lot more fun if there are lots of things to celebrate, little as they may be! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
For sure!
LikeLike
Congratulations – keep at it you have a great book.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Rosie. A big part of that thank you goes to you and your team, they’ve all been amazing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Félicitations ! I can hardly wait for the next one! My husband has your book next on his list, I am sure he will love it as much as I did! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Merci! Oh wow, that’s so cool that your husband will read the book too. Hope he likes it!! 🙂
LikeLike
Congratulations on the 25 reviews …. hope you get many, many more!
LikeLike
Thank you so much Eileen — I hope so too! 😉
LikeLike
25 is a good number to celebrate. So will be 26. Enjoy every bit.
LikeLike
Thank you Dan, I definitely plan to enjoy every last moment. And since writing the blog post, I hit 26 reviews, so I can now celebrate that too! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
From one indie to another, I’m giving you a standing O right now. I think I have that total combined between three books…does that count? 😉
LikeLike
Wow, that’ll be my first standing O 😉
And it definitely counts! Every review is worth celebrating, I think. It’s an amazing success that you’ve written and published three books – few people can boast of that feat 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations!
LikeLike
Thank you!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congrats on 25 reviews. Yes, it is important to celebrate the little milestones along the way. And you’ll find your tribe. It is a very good book, so it will find its readers.
LikeLike
Aw thanks Liz!! Yes, I think given enough time my book will find its readers – or at least I hope so 🙂
LikeLike
You’re up to 28 now! 😀 Congratulations on your milestone, Celine! It’s such a great book, I’m glad it’s getting noticed. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol, I know! I didn’t get to stay at my 25 review milestone for very long, but I’m not complaining. I’m definitely going to try and enjoy all of it, whatever happens. And thank you, makes me so happy to know you like the book 🙂
LikeLike
You will have at least 29 now that your book is next on my list 😉 i’m so happy for you, Celine. Success is measured in defining it for ourselves, and you have successfully done that in your attitude about how your first novel has been received. You rick!
LikeLike
Ooh, I’m so excited to hear what you think! I hope you’ll enjoy it.
That’s absolutely true, success and failure depend so much on our definitions of both, and mindset can make the same result into either a success or a failure.
(have to laugh at the ‘you rick’ typo. Brought up a mental image of someone rocking with a crick in their neck. Very random! 😉 )
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh Lord!! I didn’t even see that typo ( they usually flash before my eyes just AFTER I push the send button) and I had a huge crick in my neck yesterday !!! I love ‘zou’ 😊💖
LikeLike
Clearly that was the crick talking then!! 😉 haha
LikeLiked by 1 person
And soon you’ll have another review… though I’m sorry to tell you: I do know you and I did enjoy your book. Hope you don’t mind 😉
I think Gaiman and King gave a very good advice. It’s so easy to oversee that passage. That important passage that is enjoying what you’re doing. That’s the entire point, and still sometimes we forget.
You did well to remind us.
And hey, I friend of mine linked me to that speech of Gaiman’s sometime back and I still thank her. That’s a truly fantastic speech. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha, I don’t mind one bit! 😉
Yes enjoying the process is a very important part of it – that’s why we’re doing it after all, for the love of it 🙂
And yes, that Gaiman speech is brilliant. I watch it every so often, when I need a little bit of motivation 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m running around and waving my arms, going “Yaaaaaay!” 🙂 Your book is super, it deserves every last one of those reviews!
LikeLike
Aw thank you Sue!! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s so wonderful to stop and take in the moment. A friend of mine sent me the Gaiman speech last week so it’s funny that you mention it here. Obviously the universe is trying to tell me something because I keep getting reminded of it, haha! I’ve bought your book but haven’t read it yet but can’t wait to read it when I catch up on my reading! Felicitation!
LikeLike
It’s a fantastic speech to be fair, so no wonder the universe is sending it to you from so many directions 😉 It got made into a lovely little book apparently but out here I can only get a version with chinese characters – sadly.
I can imagine you have lots of books to get through especially now that you have your amazing new subscription service! In any case, very excited that you’ll read mine at some point, you’ll have to let me know what you think! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will, I will!
LikeLike
That’s a great milestone! And I’m glad you see it for what it is: something to celebrate!!!
LikeLike
Thank you! Yes it’s a brilliant milestone, and it’s been a really love confirmation that I’m not entirely deluded in wanting to be a writer 😉
LikeLike
Congratulations and hello. I am new to the blogging world and I ran across your page due to a mutual blogging friend Carrie Rubin. Love the book cover. I will stop by later to enjoy your blog. Best of luck.
thelonelyauthorblog
LikeLike
Well thank you very much, and welcome! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s awesome! I’m celebrating with you. I’ve got your book on my kindle, but I’ve got two other obligations just before it. I’m looking forward to digging in, though. 🙂
LikeLike
Oh exciting! I hope you’ll like it 🙂
LikeLike
A huge congratulations to you!! It’s a great book!
LikeLike
Aw thank you Lori!! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice nice nice Celine!
LikeLike