The Nervous Anticipation of a Book Release
Reflections one week before The Girls We Sent Away officially releases
In one week, my second novel officially releases into the world. Last night, I had the absolute pleasure of visiting my local independent bookstore and seeing my title already sitting in the storefront window.
“Look at her!” I exclaimed to my twelve-year-old who accompanied me for the visit.
“You’ve gendered your book?” she asked.
Yes. Yes, I have. Because it feels right. Because the main character, Lorraine, is more than a figment of my imagination. Over the five years of working on her story, she has become multi-dimensional, real and human to me.
The Girls We Sent Away is the story of 17-year-old Lorraine who believes she has it all. She may be growing up in the mid-1960s when women’s choices were limited, but she believes herself to be different. She has the audacity to think she can be her school’s first female valedictorian, that she can go on to college, that she can reach for big dreams like becoming an astronaut despite her gender. But, as chapter one says, “She just didn’t know yet that the notion was built more on sand than solid ground.”
Because you see, when she steps outside the rules of that society that has thus far nurtured her, she quickly learns there are consequences for her actions. Even if those actions happened in a state of ignorance. Even if that society has perpetuated her ignorance, while they still hold her accountable for not following its norms.
It was an absolute dream come true to see this book in a bookstore for the first time. But that dream came with a whole lot of effort, patience, and perseverance. I began work on the story in 2019, before I had an agent or a book deal. With no certainty that this novel would ever land in the hands of readers, I kept working.
My research took me to sometimes astonishing places. I listened to the heartbreaking stories of women who were sent to maternity homes. I came to understand that sometimes these women became pregnant in part because they were ill-informed about how a woman even becomes pregnant. I learned about the surprising and desperate use of household items such as Lysol that was used as a form of (quite unreliable) birth control. I read about how studies have shown that these women who were sent away could experience higher rates of alcohol abuse, drug addiction, multiple marriages, and countless jobs because of the trauma and shame that they carried with them for the rest of their lives.
I researched, wrote, and re-wrote for five years. It was a long dream with ups and downs and lots of uncertainty. But we’re here, one week away from the official release of The Girls We Sent Away. And now I’m dreaming a new dream, one where readers get to hold this book in their hands.
I hope the end result is that Lorraine’s story offers a fictionalized, yet empathetic look at what women in our society have faced. If the amount of early readers’ tears are any indication, I think I may have succeeded.
I couldn’t hide my cheesy grin when I saw this beautiful girl standing in the storefront window last night. If you follow me on social media, you’ll see lots more of that grin and giddiness as my book tour kicks off this Friday and I get to celebrate the fruition of five years of work.
But really, the work is just beginning. Now we simply move into a new phase of being an author: the public phase when readers can finally meet Lorraine. I’m both nervous and excited—feelings that are two sides of the same coin.
So, Reader, I hope you are captivated by Lorraine’s story, that you get swept away and experience the world through her eyes. Perhaps keep tissues close by. This book has been known to wreck its readers (and its writer).
The Girls We Sent Away officially releases March 5. It’s not too late to preorder and get some fun book swag. To receive the special gift package that includes a signed bookplate, letter from me, sticker, bookmark, and (my favorite!) an iron-on patch that’s perfect for your favorite canvas bag or book tote, order from one of these independent bookstores (they ship!):
Park Road Books | Charlotte, NC
Litchfield Books | Pawleys Island, SC
I’m SO looking forward to this second book! I’m also wondering if you’re working on a third and what the interesting topic might be!! You’ve made your parents very proud!!