Why is publication day like New Year’s Day? Because after all the anticipation, nothing much happens. Both are arbitrary dates that we try to instil with a significance that they don’t really have. We throw parties to celebrate them precisely because there would otherwise be nothing to distinguish them from the days on either side.
Except, of course, that publication day does provide us with something tangible to show. Granted, many of the sales are now virtual sales of eBooks; and online bookshops like Amazon enable pre-orders; but still, after long gestation the author’s baby has finally emerged into the world. Pregnancy is a good analogy for the long drawn out effort to create a book, so perhaps publication day can best be thought of as childbirth without the pain.
This time around I decided to dispense with the book launch party (or rather, to merge it into an Australia Day party, when everyone has got over the post-Christmas blues and the self-flagellation of “Dry January” and is gagging for some fun). Between then and now I have three weeks to grapple with one of the two great disadvantages of being born British: an inhibition when it comes to self-promotion. So, excuse me while I skip between three leading manifestations of the Anglo-Saxon psyche: the Brit, the American and the Aussie. I think I just might enjoy this..
In keeping with my new American persona, if you have trouble finding the paperback version of Searching for Satu on Amazon and can only see the eBook, just click on the author link to Alan Brunstrom that is shown under the eBook title. It will take you to a page where you can find the paperback and place an order. Just saying.
