I submitted the finalized version of the eBook two days ago, and the paperback/hardcover this morning. It was a funny thing, every time I hit submit, I got a flutter like butterflies in my stomach. As silly as it is, I did not expect to feel that jolt of excitement this time. Of course, the publication of a second book is far from old-hat, but I still did not think it would happen.

For me, each book had its challenges. The first book…well it was my first, so the learning curve was steep. I think this was especially true because I did not intend on becoming a writer. A story came to me. I had to write that story. Rescuers From Illur was born out of inspiration and the passion to follow it. Navigating all of the publication options, editing, imposter syndrome, and the world turning up-side-down made publishing RFI a much longer and more difficult process than it should have been.

I went into writing Snare Of Illur with a confidence I probably didn’t deserve. I at least had a firm grip on the POV, tense, and actual story I wanted to tell. That being said, book 2 was partially written while waiting on agent queries to come back. I completely stopped writing while self-publishing RFI, and then came back to a story I had not seen for months. Thankfully, I fell back into it easily. Read the previous sentence with the firm knowledge that I was plagued by thoughts of what was previously written had to be terrible and I could never actually finish a second book.

Bringing this story back to the beginning, I clicked submit on Amazon with a knowledge of the horrendous amount of marketing ahead. I have been so stressed about completing the editing process and making this an amazing follow-up to the first book. The little flutter of excitement in my belly was an excellent reminder that I truly did it…again. I wrote something that I am proud to put out into the world. It is really important to take those small moments to recognize the astounding accomplishments we make, even if there seems to be a mountain ahead.