We all like to hear about the journey to publication, and hopefully other people's success stories help bolster the confidence of those still slogging through the query trenches. But what happens after that first book deal? When the honeymoon is over, you end up back where you were - sitting in front of a blank Word document with shaky hands. Except this time, there are expectations hanging over you. With this in mind, I’ve created the SNOB (Second Novel Omnipresent Blues) interview.
Today’s guest for the SNOB is Julie Carrick Dalton, author of The Last Beekeeper which releases today!
Whether you’re under contract or trying to snag another deal, you’re a professional now, with the pressures of a published novelist compounded with the still-present nagging self-doubt of the noobie. How to deal?
I had a two-book deal right out of the gate, which was wonderful. And horrible. I had the security of knowing there would definitely be another book, but I also had to deal with a tight deadline to write it while launching my debut. It took me thirteen years to write the first book. I had less than two years to write the second. My debut novel, Waiting for the Night Song, came out in January 2021, right in the middle of the pandemic. I found myself locked down at home with loads of time – but I couldn’t write. I panicked. What if the new book wasn’t as good? What if I couldn’t finish it? I don’t remember what flipped the switch, but shortly after Night Song’s launch, I was able to relax a little and write again. From that point on, having my manuscript waiting for me every day helped me cope with the anxiety of living through the pandemic. It became my retreat, my escape. In the end, having that deadline hanging over me was a good thing. It pushed me. I know some authors don’t like multi-book deals because of the pressure it creates, but for me, it works. In fact, I recently signed another two-book contract for books three and four. So now, as I’m launching The Last Beekeeper, once again, I’m facing a tight deadline. Yes, I’m panicking again, but underneath that panic is a wee bit of confidence. I’ve done this before, and I can do it again.
Is it hard to leave behind the first novel and focus on the second?
Yes! I lived in the world of Waiting for the Night Song for thirteen years. I knew what was under every rock, in every medicine cabinet. I knew those characters like old friends because they were old friends. Waiting for the Night Song is set in the mountains and forests of New Hampshire, which I know well in real life. The Last Beekeeper is set in the near future. Not only did I struggle to leave the woods of New Hampshire, but it took a while to find my footing in the imagined world of Beekeeper. In fact, after the first draft, I completely relocated the setting of one of the timelines because it wasn’t working. After I got the setting right, the characters began showing themselves to me, and oh my gosh, do I love these characters now! I’m still firmly grounded in The Last Beekeeper as I launch it into the world, but I’m also easing myself into my new book and new characters. I’m finding the transition less jarring this time.
At what point do you start diverting your energies from promoting your debut and writing / polishing / editing your second?
I never stopped promoting my debut. Most of my energy right now is focused on doing interviews, recording podcasts, and supporting the launch of The Last Beekeeper, but I still get requests to talk or write about Waiting for the Night Song. And I'm working on Book Three. I’m in deep on all fronts! Waiting for the Night Song is still out there. Folks are still reading it. I still see it on the shelves in airports and bookstores. It’s easy to get caught up in the publicity and social media, which is important. But I often need to remind myself to get back to the writing. Supporting a backlist book, promoting a launch, and writing a new book all at the same time requires focus and organization, neither of which are my strengths. I tend to throw myself into one thing for a week or two. I’ll spend all day writing for weeks and ignore social media and publicity. Or vice versa. My goal for 2023 is to be more balanced and intentional in my approach to all three books. (If anyone has any great strategies, please reach out! I have not mastered this part yet!)
Your first book landed an agent and an editor, and hopefully some fans. Who are you writing the second one for? Them, or yourself?
I love this question because no one has ever asked me this. I definitely wrote the first book for myself. I was exploring childhood memories, friendships, and agricultural issues I dealt with as a farmer. I didn’t have any expectations that it would make it into print. I just had fun with it. During the editing process, I made changes for my agent and editor, but it was still a book I’d written for myself. When I started drafting The Last Beekeeper, I definitely had my editor in mind. I thought about the feedback she had given me on Waiting for the Night Song and tried to apply it to Beekeeper preemptively. The result was a disjointed, dysfunctional first draft. My editor nudged me to change the setting to a place that would feel more natural to me, where I would be more comfortable. So I rewrote half of the book and set it in a place I love – a farm. In essence, I went back and rewrote it for myself. I hope my readers love it too!
Is there a new balance of time management to address once you’re a professional author?
Time management is NOT my strength! I feel like I have so many jobs now. All of a sudden, I was a novelist, a publicist, a public speaker, and a writing instructor. I’m also a mother of four humans and two dogs, and I ran a 100-acre farm. Shortly after my debut launched I was struggling to keep up with all of it. I had four main things to juggle: running my farm, parenting, being an author, and maintaining my sanity. It became clear one of these things had to go. I certainly wanted to maintain my mental health, I love my family, and I had finally achieved my dream of being a writer. So, sadly, last year, I sold my farm. Fifteen years ago I rescued that tract of land from being developed and I established a successful farm I’m proud of. I hated letting it go. But I sold it to someone who loves it as much as I do. It was a difficult decision, but I’m proud of myself for recognizing I couldn’t do it all. I have no regrets. And, just for the record, even without the farm, I’m still struggling to balance the demands of being an author, a speaker, and a parent. But I think I’m getting a little bit better.
What did you do differently the second time around, with the perspective of a published author?
I’m more willing to say no to requests if I feel overburdened. I also have a lot more confidence in myself as a public speaker. As I approached the launch of The Last Beekeeper, I didn’t hesitate to speak up and pitch myself to conferences, bookstores, libraries, or podcasts. I also have a different perspective on what success means. I used to gauge success in book sales and Amazon ratings. Now I judge myself on the quality of my writing. In the end, I want to be proud of the work I put out into the world.
Julie Carrick Dalton is the Boston-based author of The Last Beekeeper and Waiting for the Night Song, named a Most Anticipated 2021 novel by CNN, Newsweek, USA Today, Parade, and others, and an Amazon Editor’s pick for Best Books of the Month. A Bread Loaf, Tin House, and GrubStreet Novel Incubator alum, Julie is a frequent speaker on the topic of Fiction in the Age of Climate Crisis at universities, conferences, libraries, and museums. Her writing has appeared in Chicago Review of Books, Orion, Newsweek, The Boston Globe, Electric Literature, Lit Hub, and other publications. When she isn’t writing, you can usually find Julie digging in her garden, skiing, kayaking, or walking her dogs.