In the Et Alia Press “Book Launch Tuesdays” series, writer Charlotte Maya shares experiences and advice about launching her first book from six months before publication date to its first birthday.
The Ancillary Essay
As I was approaching publication date, I had a hunch that one story from my memoir might make a good essay for Modern Love. Not an excerpt; I would have to explain that I’d been widowed to suicide two months before Christmas and that, even though I wasn’t feeling much of the holiday spirit, I still wanted to give my young children a Wii and a happy-ish holiday, in 1500–1700 words. Because this story was specifically Christmas-related, it would really only make sense to appear sometime in December, which meant submitting the essay in September and hoping for an answer mid-November. Like many writers I know and love, I had been rejected by Modern Love more than once, so I had a backup plan. If I didn’t hear back from The New York Times by November 15, I would submit the essay to three other publications.
Then, I waited. I wish I could say that I made good use of this time by writing other essays, or writing something. I had work, of course. And my children, though occasionally wanting of my attention, are young adults now, approximately independent, and therefore an insufficient distraction. I took my elderly dog for long walks, and when he declined to join me, I went alone.
This part of the writing life — submitting essays to literary publications — is not unlike parenting young adult children. I do my best to prepare them, carefully adjusting words here, syntax there. Then I let them go into the world, knowing I’ve done my part. They are on their own.
I received word —– an enthusiastic yes, no less —– from the editor of Modern Love on November 7th. That email from Daniel Jones was even more thrilling than getting the publishing deal for my memoir. And yet, as with all things journalism, the risk of something more timely or sensational, or someone more literary, kept me on pins and needles from then until Sunday, December 25, when The New York Times was launched from my newspaper carrier’s dark blue Ford truck and thudded on my front walk, featuring my essay in Modern Love.
