Happy Birthday - The Last Bridge

On Tuesday, July 28th 2009 after working on it for over ten years The Last Bridge debuted at The Corner Bookstore in New York City. It was a hot and steamy day, so hot that I didn't even bother to put makeup on until I was sitting in front of the bookstore in my car.

It's hard to describe the feeling I had all day on Tuesday, on the one hand it felt like the wait had been so long that it was hard to

believe it was finally here, on the other, I had the feeling that it had all happened too quickly. Was I ready? Would it do well? How would it feel to add "published author" to my evolving story?

I was worried and understandably so. Anyone who has ever seen a dream realized knows it is one thing to work and plan for something, it is a whole different thing to step into it and experience it with joy and acceptance. You see, I didn't just want to get through the book launch, I wanted to be present and to feel the enormity of the moment.

I did. And man was it intense!

The evening started with me arriving at the same time as my friend Jane and both of us looking at the window display FILLED with copies of The Last Bridge. Within

seconds, my friend Gwyn and my niece Cameron came up and snapped a picture of me in front of the bookstore. Please note the smile, this is a real one not one of my fake, I'm trying to be happy in spite of all the pressure I'm feeling smiles.

The Corner Bookstore is the kind of bookstore you wish was on...well...every corner. It's just big enough to hold enough books for you

to actually browse through and with a team that cares about the books and their customers you feel like someone has already whittled down your choices for you. I am happy to say that although the bookstore is the perfect size for books, it was almost too small to hold all the well wishers who came to christen the launch of the book.

Chairs were setup in two columns with an aisle down the middle, and although I was a few minutes early the seats were already filling up. Lenny, the owner of the bookstore, walked me through the evening and asked me if everyone I was expecting was there. I looked out into the room and saw so many friends and colleagues from work, fellow writers

from workshops and writing groups who read hundreds of versions of the book, friends (or sisters!) of friends from high school, my agent and the full JVNLA support team!, my editors, publicist and marketing peeps from Random House and my large extended family!

Lenny introduced me and as I stood in front of the mic I felt all my worry slip away. The expression, "you are among friends," was never more true than standing in front of that crowd. Honestly, if you could bottle that support we could change the world by dinner on Sunday.

For the launch I decided I wanted to read one of my favorite scenes from the book, the dinner visit with the Igby's. I love it because I think it sums up Cat's real nature, her drinking, her humor and her difficulty assimilating her past, and I love Ruth Igby as she is truly a nosy neighbor.

Central casting couldn't have filled the room with a better crowd, they laughed at all the right spots (some I didn't even realize were funny) and sighed at the end when a critical piece of information is revealed.

The questions were fun. I was asked if I thought about making The Last Bridge into a movie and I joked that there was no way I would consider it. I was also asked about the editorial process, where I got the story from and what I was currently working on.

Lenny wrapped up the reading portion of the reception and asked everyone to fold up their chairs so we could mingle and then the book signing began. I have to admit that I was so excited that I had to ask a lot of people, people I have known for many, many years to spell their names for me before I signed their book. I was so afraid I would spell it wrong (and hope I didn't!)

In case you need more proof of how great my supporters are, this will seal the deal. Many, many people bought more than one copy of the book. In fact, they bought every single copy of The

Last Bridge in the store, including the ones that were on display in the front window. Including my own author copy I brought to read from!!

As the evening was winding down, I looked up from signing to see a tall handsome man come into the store. He looked a lot like my brother, Patrick but I knew it couldn't have been him, as he was in Michigan that day at a board meeting, still this man looked A LOT like my brother. I looked at my sister, my friends Gina and Donna and from the look on their faces I knew it was him. Although he would not go into detail about how he managed it, he left his meeting in Michigan and got to the event with minutes to spare. In an evening of highlights, that was a major high point! (Okay I'll admit it, it made me cry.)

Lenny helped us coordinate getting a table at a nearby restaurant to continue the celebration (what other bookstore do you know will do that for you????) I landed home late in the evening and had a hard time falling asleep (okay I'm still pretty high from the whole thing!)

It is not possible to fully describe the emotion of the evening except to say this, I cannot imagine a first book getting more love than The Last Bridge did and well, as a published author now, I'm pretty sure that spells success.

(That's Mom, bro-in-law Giuseppe, niece Sophia, sister Tami, yours truly and brother Patrick.)

There are no pictures of my friend Catherine as she was the one who took all these great photos (check out the slide show to the right for the full set!)

Alien Invasions

"You must do the thing you think you cannot do."

-- Eleanor Roosevelt

There are lots of ways to face your fears, even more ways to avoid them. I am not a theme park kind of person. I get no thrill from thrill rides and am usually the one holding the jackets and drinks while everyone else waits on line for the roller coaster.

Last year, I went to Splish Splash, a water park on Long Island, for the first time and discovered that although I don't love water rides they are more manageable. At the urging of friends (in the form of children) I got my courage up and went on one ride called Mammoth River which shoots you down a winding flume. I ended up liking it more than I thought I would. Although I was happy with my small achievement (and believe me I had to really push myself to do it) I knew there was no way I would EVER be able to do the biggest ride there...Alien Invasion. After all, who really wants to shoot down a winding enclosed tube in a four person raft, then get shot out into a giant funnel where you swing wildly from side to side and then splash into a pool of water? Just hearing the screams coming from the ride was enough for me to know, I would never do it.

A lot can change in a year.

On Monday, I went on Alien Invasion, not once but twice. Saying I liked it would not be accurate. I was terrified both times and each time I spent most of the ride wondering why I was doing it (when I wasn't wondering if this was how I was going to die.) So why did I do it?

It's good practice.

I guess it would be nice to think we could have a life devoid of fear or challenges. Sometimes it would be nice just to have one day without a struggle of some kind but as we know -- a life without fear, or the triumph over it, is hardly one worth living.

So, while riding Alien Invasion may not make my top ten list of life achievements, it pushed me past my comfort zone and reminded me of that intense, wondrous satisfaction you can only feel when you have done the very thing you thought you could not do. I'm considering it a trail run for the weeks and months ahead as I begin life as a published author (I promise I won't scream!)

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience by which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.” -- Eleanor Roosevelt

Book launch at The Corner Bookstore

A Helping Hand...

I got an email last night from a friend asking me for some suggestions on how they could help with the book. As I was drafting a response I realized it would be easier to make this a post and share it. Most of these suggestions fall into the category of "word of mouth." Yes, in spite of signings, reviews, interviews and yes folks, even blog entries, the best way to sell books is to write one that people want to read and share with others. I hope I did my part by writing the book and if you like it I hope you will share it.

Speaking of sharing, if you have any other suggestions or ideas about ways to get the word out let me know, I'm game. (Okay maybe I should clarify that...I'm not sure I would eat bugs to sell books.)

Buy the book

Although I like to support independent bookstores and anything local, I'm happy to have you buy the book wherever you like. I have links on my website to all the major online retailers including Indiebound which can hook you up with listings to local independent bookstores. (Special thanks to those of you that have pre-ordered the book.)

Tell your friends about the book

There are lots of ways to do this, here are some of the main ways.

1. Bring a friend to an event or tell them about the book.
   


2. Recommend the book via email. If you want you can send them an excerpt from the book. I have a link on my website that will let you send a brief message with a link to an excerpt.
   


3. Send a postcard (or ask me to) I have postcards I can send you if you want to do a mailing or you can shoot me an email with some addresses and I'll send them out with a quick handwritten note that says, "Daniel Craig thought you would be interested in this..." (Obviously I would put your name instead, unless you are Daniel Craig, in which case you need to contact me immediately we have more important things to discuss than my book - like our future together.)
   


4. Forward my newsletter to a friend or send them a link to my blog or send me an email to add them to my mailing list.
   


5. Post a link to my book trailer, website, reviews, etc. on Facebook, Twitter, your website, etc. (see below for those links)
   


6. Write a blog or know someone that does? I can guest blog or be interviewed. I even have interview questions available.
   


7. Organizations, libraries, newsletters? If you are involved with any charities, civic organizations or have a relationship with your local library I can do a reading, run a workshop on a variety of subjects related to writing (I can provide you with a list of subjects) do a Q&A, participate in an author lunch to raise money, etc. I can also donate a signed book for a fundraiser or giveaway. (I cannot sing, dance or juggle, so those are out.) (If you are looking to raise money and want to do an author lunch or event I can get other authors to participate.)
   


8. Belong to or know of a Book Club? I can join the book club discussion either in person (in the local area) or by speakerphone. There is a reader guide on my website with questions. Don't belong to a book club? You can have a book party -- it can be a small group where I can lead some discussion (or be a guest or not there at all) and get some good conversation going around some of the themes in the book.
   


9. Ask your local bookstores and libraries to stock the book if they don't.
   
   
10. Have any other ideas? I'm open to suggestion. (See the part about bugs, singing, juggling and also no thrill rides either.)

Tolerate this promotional period!

I only ask that you give me the same patience you would give the parent of a newborn. Over the next few months I will be talking A LOT about the book and trying to get it into the hands of as many readers as possible but unlike a parent of a newborn I will NEVER ask you to babysit.

Links of interest:

Send an excerpt to a friend

Author website

Novel website

Book Trailer on YouTube

Book Trailer on Vimeo

Facebook Author Page

Blog

Twitter Page

The Yin Yang Thing

There are few things in life that evoke a pure emotion. Even in life's extreme moments of hardship there is joy and in the highest peaks of bliss there can be melancholy. The interconnectedness of opposite forces is what the Chinese refer to as Yin and Yang. It is what most of us come to know as "life."

I lost my job in late May. I was another casualty in layoffs associated with the economic downturn. As the office of unemployment puts it, I am now officially a dislocated worker.

Like most life changing events, I could instantly see how this was the best thing that could have ever happened. In the last few years, my stressful job had become uninspiring and felt more like an exercise in futility than a way to do meaningful work. I had taken the ride as far as a could and had an escape plan in the works. The layoff felt like time off for good behavior. There was also the launch of The Last Bridge at the end of July to prepare for and finishing my second novel and a chance to enjoy the summer. Sounds good, right?

Well, with exactly the same insight of this being good, I felt with equal measure that this was the absolute worst thing that could have happened to me. I loved working with my team, enjoyed the stimulation of challenges and had made invaluable contributions. I was planning my own exit, why was I forced out before I was ready? Then there is the whole money thing, could I make it? What am I going to do now? What happened to MY plan?

Happiness and Horror, Thank God vs. Oh My God!, What am I going to do? and I can do anything I want to! This is the loop that plays over and over during my waking hours, not to mention what goes on in my dreams. I feel at sea, tossed overboard a pleasure cruise while everyone else parties on. I have moments where I don't understand how this could have happened and then a few minutes later, I have complete clarity and understanding.

The hardest part is realizing there is a part of me that still believes I can control what happens. If I am vigilant and work hard enough I can be the master of my destiny and be in charge of my future. While there may be some security in that thinking, it is a false one. The truth is we can only control our response to what happens to us, we can choose what we want our struggles to mean. This is what the character of Cat taught me as I wrote The Last Bridge. We are not what happens to us, we are what we do about it.

Our lives are made up of moments of extreme joy and unbearable pain, some days drag by one second at a time and some live on in our memories and are recalled until our final breath. Living is done in the middle part, the intersection between these extremes. My dream of having my book published and read is about to come true at the exact moment the work I had dedicated a good deal of my life and passion to has ended. My life is changing in ways I cannot control, but in ways I have wanted.

The Chinese say this is called balance. As anyone who has ever done Yoga knows, balance is hard. The key is to focus on a fixed point in front of you while rooting yourself in place. So that's what I'm going to do. If I topple over, I'll just get back up and try again.