In a few days, my fourteen single titled book is dropping. It’s entitled Fear of Dating. You’d think after that many books the whole writing and publishing process would be easy for me. That I’d have a formula, a process, or a list of all the items required to ensure I’ve done absolutely everything I can to make this book PERFECT, that I’d walk through this process like the expert, I pretend to be. But, that is so far from reality.

The moment I push the button to put the book up for pre-order, I begin to get nervous. As if this were my first time writing and publishing a book. I wonder if the writing is good enough, if there is anything else I can do to make it better, if I’ve done enough to promote the book, if readers will receive the book with enthusiasm. My list of doubts goes go on and on. As the release date grows closer, the anxiety increases.

I don’t know if this is normal for all authors, but this is my experience. I want to think many writers/authors have questions about the things they’ve written just before they let it loose on the world. Every day I spend time checking and double-checking all the things that I need to do. Making sure I’ve included all the acknowledgments, the proper links, that I’ve placed it on all the available sites and a hundred other small things. I feel like I have a blinking-neon light over my desk warning me of something else I need to do.

Part of the publishing process for me is trusting that I’ve done the best that I can this time. My hands are sweating, my head is swirling, and on October 18th I will wake up nervous that my email is full of messages stating something has gone wrong—like there are no words in the book, just a bunch of blank pages. I’ll run to the computer and double check everything. Then I’ll turn my attention to reviews. It’s a process with no end. But one day, I’ll have to stop thinking about Fear Of Dating and move on to the next book that is awaiting my attention.

I could be doing something that is easier, like knitting sweaters for my dog, who doesn’t complain about anything that I do, but it wouldn’t bring me the kind of joy that writing does.

I hope you enjoy the book as much as I enjoyed writing it.