The Long and Winding Road to being Brand New. Again.

On Wednesday,  July 10, 2013, Secret Sister by Emelle Gamble went on sale at Amazon.

It's my first new book for sale in over a decade. I won't bore you with the details of why this is (but it is spelled L–I–F–E), but let me say that, while it's just as exciting now being a ‘new author' as it was the first time,  it's a lot more nerve–wracking  the second time around.

In my past life as Harlequin Intrigue writer M.L. Gamble, when I got a new idea for a book (always the ending first, then the title), I'd get a thrilling, chilling little ‘pop' of excitement inside my head.  Sharp inhale. I knew the creative process had begun.

A few days before the contract deadline (most of the time) I printed the whole thing out on paper. Addressed a big–ass envelope. Drove to the United States Post Office. Bought postage and insurance ("It's a manuscript, I'm a writer." This sentence was always worked into conversation with the postal worker). Watched the now impressed (surely) postal employee throw  the package in a bin, giddy with the knowledge it was going to end up on my New York Editor's desk in 48 hours.

Then, four to six months later, there would be a knock on the door and there was a box of books. Beautiful books. My books.  Exhale. Delirium. My book would be read, my story shared. I was a new author.

Now, ten years later, the creative process hasn't much changed, except for the fact it's done electronically instead of on paper. But everything else, and I mean EVERYTHING else has changed.

On behalf of Secret Sister, I've contacted myriad review sites, I've asked friends, family members, and fellow authors to read and consider posting  reviews. I've spent hours to set up a website, a Facebook Author page, a twitter account,  a GoodReads Author page. I have a blog. (Worth the ten hours it took figuring out how to do it just to see the look on hubby's face when he saw it!)

I've put up a book trailer on YouTube. I've sat with local book sellers, three librarians, two newspaper columnists and spent money on a website, book covers, copy editors, and a top notch ARC giveaway site, NetGalley, a Facebook ad campaign, a GoodReads ad campaign, and a publicity blog tour campaign with Goddess Fish Promotions. (And I have the surreal Paypal receipt for the IRS to prove it!)

Which brings me back to Wednesday, July 10, 2013.

Exhale. Delirium. My book is being read. My story is being shared. I'm a new author. Again. Some things really are lovelier the second time around!

Secret Sister by Emelle Gamble is romantic women's fiction with a paranormal twist. It came to me (with that thrilling, chilling little pop of excitement) with a single question... "What if everything about you changed, would your true love recognize you?"