I recently discovered your substack through Liv Strat and am really enjoying your writing! Looking forward to getting a copy of your book -- though I wish I would’ve in 2021, of course! (I blame the publishing “algorithm” but also I had a newborn in 2021 so it could’ve been my fault for missing it!)
As I go through a lengthy bout of writer's block, I find myself thinking about the reasons for writing. Most of my writing over the last 5+ years has been fan fiction, poetry and essays. I tend to write for myself, because it is how I express myself best, and the end product is merely words on a screen, perhaps downloaded or printed out by my audience. It has never been a dream of mine to self-publish in book form, or by a publishing house. The act of writing has been enough usually, and I found that bringing a thought or story to completion was all I needed to feel I succeeded. Of course, I wish for my work to be read, and appreciated, but in this culture where we produce so many works, my need to produce work to be consumed has been lost. I believe the words, hopefully sooner than later, will return and I will carry on.
On another note, I am so very pleased and excited for you, enjoy whatever joy you experience from this event in your life. :)
I recently discovered your substack through Liv Strat and am really enjoying your writing! Looking forward to getting a copy of your book -- though I wish I would’ve in 2021, of course! (I blame the publishing “algorithm” but also I had a newborn in 2021 so it could’ve been my fault for missing it!)
Liv Stratman* :)
I am so happy to hear this!! Liv is the best. Hope you enjoy Portrait—the great thing about books is they don’t expire :)
As I go through a lengthy bout of writer's block, I find myself thinking about the reasons for writing. Most of my writing over the last 5+ years has been fan fiction, poetry and essays. I tend to write for myself, because it is how I express myself best, and the end product is merely words on a screen, perhaps downloaded or printed out by my audience. It has never been a dream of mine to self-publish in book form, or by a publishing house. The act of writing has been enough usually, and I found that bringing a thought or story to completion was all I needed to feel I succeeded. Of course, I wish for my work to be read, and appreciated, but in this culture where we produce so many works, my need to produce work to be consumed has been lost. I believe the words, hopefully sooner than later, will return and I will carry on.
On another note, I am so very pleased and excited for you, enjoy whatever joy you experience from this event in your life. :)
The name of your novel and the idea of recursion, almost reminded me of Narcissus' tale.
Btw, do you have plans for releasing paperbacks in India?
That's the idea, lol.
Paperback publishes May 10, 2022 in the US, but not sure about India. Looks like both the Kindle & Hardcover editions are available from Amazon.in now, though: https://www.amazon.in/Portrait-Mirror-Novel-Natasha-Joukovsky-ebook/dp/B08KHNYR3Q/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1631037679&sr=8-1
Oh. I see. All the best for this project!