The Chicks are thrilled to welcome Nancy Cole Silverman, whose fifth book in the terrific Carol Childs Series, REASON TO DOUBT, launched November 6th. Take it away, Nancy!

Book Launch? Breathe Baby Breathe!

I recently attended a seminar where a well-known author admitted to me when his publisher booked him for book signings, he would hold his breath, and pray, “Please God, let there be people.” I echo that prayer, particularly since my latest book, REASON TO DOUBT, book five of the Carol Childs Mysteries, dropped on Tuesday, November 6. Midterm Election Day.

Ironically, that’s also National Nachos Day.

Who knew? Certainly, I didn’t know about it until the day my book debuted. While answering emails and responding to various facebook posts, I ran across the National Day Calendar. Which near as I can tell, has a celebration marked for each day of the year. Most of them centered around food.

 

Today, by the way, is National Pickle Day.

I’m not sure of the importance of any of this, but the idea that we have a national holiday celebrating a selected food or food group for each day of the year did relieve my stress the day of my debut. Or at least it gave me permission to pack a bowl of nachos on my desk, along with a well-chilled margarita, as I chowed down and prepared to surrender the control of my book to the universe.

For an author, those final moments before a book goes live can be stressful.
I equate it to giving birth. Writing a book – everything from developing the plot to crafting the characters and then prepping for its launch is like having a baby. And on the morning of November 6, all I could do between answering emails and responding to various Facebook posts was to remember to breathe deep and… push!
Which I did, between handfuls upon handfuls of nachos and margaritas. After all, one does deserve to celebrate.

In reality, books are finished long before their drop date, and frequently as much work, or time anyway, has gone into planning the launch. Dates are made. Blogs are written. Speaking engagements scheduled. Then its hurry up and wait.

So, I celebrated the launch of my new book, prayed just like my author friend, there would be people who would show up online to support me, and decided next time…yes, there is another series in the works… I’d try to coordinate my launch date with something a little sweeter. Chocolate maybe? Fingers crossed, National Chocolate Day is October 28th.

Meanwhile, cheers to Carol Childs and REASON TO DOUBT. Carol’s out the door, off my desk and in the middle of one of the biggest stories of her life. Not since the hillside strangler has Los Angeles been so on edge.

How about you? Aside from deep breathing, and chowing down on a favorite food, what do you do while awaiting the delivery of your next book?

 

BIO: Nancy Cole Silverman spent nearly twenty-five in Los Angeles Talk Radio, beginning her career on the talent side as one for the first female voices on the air, to the business side, where she retired as one of two female general managers in the nation’s second largest radio market. After a successful career in the radio industry, Silverman turned to writing fiction. Her crime-focused novels and short stories have attracted readers throughout America. Her Carol Childs Mysteries series (Henery Press) features a single-mom whose “day job” as a reporter at a busy Los Angeles radio station often leads to long nights as a crime-solver. Silverman lives in Los Angeles with her husband and a thoroughly pampered standard poodle.

About REASON TO DOUBT: Carol Childs is in the middle of one of the biggest stories of her life. Her daughter Cate has returned from college with a boyfriend in tow. A photographer who police suspect to be The Model Slayer, responsible for the murder of three young women. Not since the Hillside Strangler has Los Angeles been so on edge. And when the police arrest Cate’s boyfriend, Carol’s personal life and professional worlds collide. A tattooed cocktail waitress calls the radio station and asks to speak with Carol off the record. She knows the true identity of the real Model Slayer because she says she killed him.

Tensions mount as the clock ticks. The police are convinced they have the right man. Mother and daughter aren’t talking. Carol can’t reveal to investigators all she knows, and unless Carol can find the real killer before the trial begins, an innocent man may spend the rest of his life in prison or be executed for a crime he didn’t commit.