Cover of Snow
Me, the black chick, listening and enjoying at the Mysterious Bookshop
What an exciting night it was this past Tuesday in downtown New York City in the Mysterious Bookshop bookshop with author Jenny Milchman! Forget all the great fruit and cheese and wine and cake she offered during the evening reading (though I did quite enjoy it; and my chats with Jenny’s adorable little daughter). What impressed me most was my chance to meet – face to face at last – with this first time published mystery writer, who I’d only known previously through online literary circles.
If I was handing out perseverance awards here at Yaminatoday, she would definitely be getting one.
Jenny from the block: local girl hits the big-time
When I, and one other person in the audience asked her on separate occasions why the other 7 books hadn’t been published Jenny stated: “At least 6 of them weren’t ready and weren’t structurally sound, even though I enjoyed writing them. And yes, publishers didn’t think they were good enough.”
And yet, that didn’t stop her from continuing to write (personally, I think it can take writes a long time to find both their voice and their “aha” story moment, with great characters and plot and everything, etc.). Though she did despair at times, she says she had great family and friends to lean on, and a husband who reminded her that, “This is what you were born to do.”
And from the looks of things, others think she was born to do this also.
The book has already received high praise from such bestselling authors as Lee Child and Nancy Pickard and the reading she gave last night showed the packed house a writer whose command of language is ripe with crisp, vivid words and sententious phrases (her book has also been chosen as the Mysterious Bookshops first Mystery Club Selection of the month, and I hear there are quite a few little twists throughout the story).
Great job all around Jenny!!
P.S. The reading event was put together by Jenny and the Manager and Event Coordinator at the Mysterious Bookshop, Mr. Ian Kern and not Random House. This is no slight to Random House, since Jenny praised their hard work on such publicity events as the Great Booksellers dinner the company threw for her and 30 other writers. Still, I am always reminded how much writers must do to promote their own works outside of the efforts their publishers give (.take heed all you and coming literary newbies!)
As Ian explained to me, “Years ago, publishers supplied everything for the author. Now it’s a 50/50 collaboration.”
So keep writing, friends, and get used to collaborating. With that I say, goodnight, and see you again tomorrow.
Jenny,
I was honored that you invited me. It thrills me to see writers making their dreams come true. P.s. I already see you’re climbing up on the Amazon charts. I’ll be keeping track.
Best,
Yamina
Yamina, it was like reliving a dazzling memory to read your post. Thank you–for being at my launch party, and for covering it on your blog. Your insights and appraisal are most welcome.
Though it was wild and crazy and wonderful to finally get to act like a Real Author after 13 years of trying to be one, to read and sign books and all those wonderful things, the most special part of the night was meeting you and other friends in person for the first time.
What got me through all those years of struggle was yes, the support of family, but also the wide world of writers I met on the web. Thank you for letting me lean on you, and celebrating with me when the time finally came.