Today—Oct. 22, 2020—is the day. Later this evening, I’ll upload my finished manuscript and in a matter of hours, I will be a published author. It is an exciting and scary time.
I had targeted this date a few months ago as the publish date for my first novel, but about three weeks ago, thought it would need to be changed. It’s just a date, you say, which is true. But this date has personal significance to me on a couple of levels and I was really sad when I thought I would have to push it back. So I have been giddy all day as I thought of uploading the file and being able to say I’m a published author.
As with all things in life, the anticipation of doing something is often scarier than just doing it. After months of anticipating, I’m ready (I think) to put my first novel out into the world. Unless you have created something and put it out into the world, it’s hard to express the feelings that process brings. When you create something, you use a part of yourself to bring it to life. So, putting it out for public consumption is a little like offering a piece of yourself up to the world. Will they love it? Hate it? Fall in love with the characters? It’s a vulnerable feeling.
I love the story of Unexpected so much, and the characters and the story are very special to me. Jenna, Jae-seong, and the rest of the characters that fill the Song Hits Universe were my closest confidants during the loneliest year of my life. Writing their stories gave me so much joy that after months of writing, I finally decided, with the encouragement of friends, allow others to experience their world with me. I first shared the story one-year ago with my friend Katey.
At the time, I thought she would read it, hopefully like it, and that would be the end. I have started writing other novels over the last 30 years and have shared with friends, but the process never went beyond that. Katey’s enthusiasm for the story is what first opened the thought to sharing the story more widely. The second draft was finished in March 2020—one year after I started writing the first scenes that would become the book. When new friends expressed interested in reading the story this spring, I eagerly shared it. With each positive review, the thought of actually publishing it became more real.
Today my dream of being a published author will become reality. It is a surreal feeling. And so the journey begins.
Amy G. Park 