{"id":456,"date":"2014-01-16T09:03:23","date_gmt":"2014-01-16T14:03:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stevenparlato.com\/?p=456"},"modified":"2021-07-17T18:08:59","modified_gmt":"2021-07-17T22:08:59","slug":"some-thoughts-on-my-year-in-print","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/stevenparlato.com\/?p=456","title":{"rendered":"Some Thoughts on My Year in Print"},"content":{"rendered":"

Post first appeared on Uncommon YA<\/a>, 1\/15\/14.<\/em>
\nHollywood has not come calling. I have not been mobbed on the street by eager readers. I have yet to churn out\u2014in the words of Publishers Weekly<\/em>\u2014my next \u201csolidly woven … well-executed plot.\u201d Hopefully, this doesn\u2019t mean I\u2019m no longer a \u201cname to watch\u201d (Thanks, PW!); just that watchers will need a little patience. So those are the disappointments of THE NAMESAKE<\/em>\u2019s year in print. Rather minor, eh? And clearly tied to unrealistic expectations (on my part, not those of Publishers Weekly<\/em>).<\/p>\n

THE NAMESAKE<\/em> follows Evan Galloway\u2019s exploration of his family\u2019s past as he attempts to solve the puzzle of his father\u2019s suicide. While the secrets he uncovers are as dark as a Death Eater\u2019s cloak, THE NAMESAKE<\/em> is clearly no HARRY POTTER<\/em>. Dang, if I\u2019d only added wands! So I guess that explains Hollywood\u2019s reticence, chuckle. And a throng of readers would probably be frightening for someone who\u2019s fairly shy at the core.<\/p>\n

But seriously, the path to publication was long, filled with arduous work, multiple wrong turns, and plenty of frustrations. So I guess I made the (admittedly foolish) assumption that once THE NAMESAKE<\/em> was actually released, all would be smooth sailing and accolades. I\u2019ve learned a lot. About writing. About publishing. About accolades (and critical disses). And about myself. Minor disappointments aside, it\u2019s been one amazing year.<\/p>\n

Some highlights include:
\nWalking into several bookstores and libraries to find a novel that started out as an idea in my head on a shelf in front of me. Never gets old!<\/p>\n

\"Barnes<\/a>

Barnes & Noble, Waterbury, CT<\/p><\/div>\n

Having an It\u2019s a Wonderful Life<\/em> experience at my book launch on January 18, 2013. People from every stage of my life came out to support me. Truly amazing and humbling!<\/p>\n

\"Namesake<\/a>

Namesake Cake!<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Book<\/a>

Book Launch Friends<\/p><\/div>\n

Making appearances at several libraries and bookstore events. Whether running a writing workshop or having the honor to sit on a panel of authors, it\u2019s always special to talk about my writing with readers and fellow writers.<\/p>\n

\"Prospect<\/a>

Prospect Library Workshop<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Byrd's<\/a>

Byrd’s Books, Bethel, CT<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"B&N<\/a>

B&N YA Night with Liz Barone (L) & T.L. Costa (R)<\/p><\/div>\n

Doing interviews and guest blogs on sites like Jean Book Nerd<\/em><\/a> and Dear Teen Me<\/em><\/a> to promote the book and having the opportunity to correspond with folks around the globe who have been touched by Evan\u2019s story.<\/p>\n

Each of these opportunities has been a gift, so my first year in print has actually been like a solid twelve months of Christmases and birthdays. As for the disappointments, those are small potatoes in the face of all the joys of this experience. Besides, those Hollywood folks might just be taking their time.<\/p>\n

And as THE NAMESAKE<\/em>\u2019s official birthday nears, I\u2019d like to thank a few people for making this year a truly special one. To my agent, Victoria Marini, and my editor, Jackie Mitchard (and everyone at Merit Press), I\u2019m so grateful for your guidance and faith in a rookie author with a challenging story to tell. To my friends and family, especially my wonderful wife, Janet, a million thanks for support and belief. To my Uncommon YA<\/a> friends, thank you for making the writing and promotion process far less solitary. And finally, to my readers\u2014past, current and future\u2014I can\u2019t thank you enough for embracing THE NAMESAKE<\/em>. Hang in there; I\u2019m hard at work on the next one! It\u2019s a YA about a girl named Teddi Alder, her boozy mother, two guys with potential, and of course, some dark, twisty secrets. Stay tuned!<\/p>\n

Sample Reviews:
\nPublishers Weekly <\/a>praised my novel as \u201can introspective debut.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kirkus Reviews<\/a> called the book \u201ca memorable, disturbing story, carefully wrought.\u201d<\/p>\n

Book blogger, The Subtle Chronicler<\/a>, said, \u201cThe characters were all perfectly laid out. I was able to connect with each and every one of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Book Blogger, Dayla F.M. at Book Addict 24\/7<\/a> chose THE NAMESAKE<\/em> as one of her top ten reads of the year, calling the book \u201cheartbreakingly real.\u201d<\/p>\n

Find Me Online:
\nLike my author page on Facebook<\/a>!
\nFollow me on Twitter<\/a> and check out THE NAMESAKE<\/em> on Goodreads<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Buy the Book:
\nPurchase THE NAMESAKE<\/em> on Amazon<\/a>, Barnes & Noble.com<\/a> or find it on Indiebound<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Leave a comment here by noon on Wednesday, 1\/22\/14–Evan’s birthday–for a chance to win some NAMESAKE<\/em> swag (swag to be determined)!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Post first appeared on Uncommon YA, 1\/15\/14. Hollywood has not come calling. I have not been mobbed on the street by eager readers. I have yet to churn out\u2014in the words of Publishers Weekly\u2014my next \u201csolidly woven … well-executed plot.\u201d Hopefully, this doesn\u2019t mean I\u2019m no longer a \u201cname to watch\u201d (Thanks, PW!); just that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9,10,4,37],"tags":[38,46,51,47,30,31,41,14,11,12,29,36,17,15,33,50,45,28,44],"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/stevenparlato.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/456"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/stevenparlato.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/stevenparlato.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/stevenparlato.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/stevenparlato.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=456"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"http:\/\/stevenparlato.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/456\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":749,"href":"http:\/\/stevenparlato.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/456\/revisions\/749"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/stevenparlato.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=456"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/stevenparlato.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=456"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/stevenparlato.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=456"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}