Last week I attended a book launch of a fellow “spring author.” That’s what we call ourselves, this band of writers whose books have been cultivated by SheWritesPress for spring publication. After all the work, the conference calls, the asks for help and advice, like little caterpillars, we are now unfurling our beautiful wings as our books hit the stores.
Each day, there’s news of another book launch and a quick recap of shaky nerves, mental blackouts, and sheer joy. Since it was in nearby Berkeley, I attended the launch by Jessica Levine, a novelist of great talent and impressive credentials. (I am humbled to be in this group, really).
After her agent introduces her, she says a few words and reads from her book. Before she finishes the first sentence, I’m all teary-eyed. I’m sure the person next to me was thinking, “ok, this book’s good but not that good!”
What got my tears going was the realization of what brought everything together for this perfect moment for Jessica. I was so very thrilled for her accomplishment and felt I had a special knowing because of my own experience. (For the record, I wouldn’t change a bit of it. Writing my book was an amazing experience, something that grew me as I crafted it.) Hearing Jessica’s words filled me with admiration for anyone who does this.
Suddenly, I realized that behind every book in that store was an author with something they were compelled to write. Something entirely new to be expressed by them, through them, and because of them–damn the job schedule or the housework. For every book in the store, there is the author’s story of creation. And for every book, there are thousands upon thousands that are not in the store. And for every one of them, there are thousands that are still in the works or in the author’s imagination.
The enormity of the human spirit’s natural desire for expression is what brought me to tears. I am moved by the great impetus for Life to find expression through us. I am awed by our human capacity to create something new. It’s worth tears, that something needs to be expressed though us, by us, and ultimately because of us.