Getting the Tree

On the slippery nature of bookish "success"

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As a book publisher and author, writers often come to me for advice. A few years ago, I met one for coffee. He had an excellent concept and grand plans for his literary career. His journey, from writing to having written, from dreamer to best-selling author, was just beginning. 

With joy and encouragement, I told him, “You should aim for the sky. But it’s okay if you get the tree.”

A spindly specimen waved its branches outside the coffee shop window. I gestured at it as a way to talk about art and commerce. To find a gentle, safe way to suggest that we, as creative beings, can wish for everything, while also being glad for what does roll our way. Sure, reach for the sky! But the tree is great too. Yay trees!

If we want X for our literary careers, and get Y, we often find ourselves trussed up in jealousy, frustration, and not-getting-X panic. To insert specific values into this equation, let’s say an author wants a review in The New York Times (the sky!) but gets The Washington Post (the tree, to this author’s way of thinking).

Those of us who have earned reviews in neither the Times nor the Post might shake our heads and think about how lucky the author is. How successful. How stellar this publicist must be! How special this book! But the author wishing for the Times and not getting it decries the miss. Feels the loss. He cannot appreciate the tree in front of him: the excellent coverage that did manifest.

Often the tree is something small—an interview with the local paper or a sweet podcast appearance or a friend sending a text about staying up late to finish your book. These achievements count too! Because they do. We must decide they count, because when we let those good small moments flow through our fingers while wanting more, we are apt to find ourselves empty-handed.

I don’t think it’s greed that causes this situation of always wanting more; writers are always wondering and our imaginations are apt to run into traffic. By traffic I mean difficult emotions: anxiety and jealousy and self-doubt and desire. Sales and major reviews are fantastic, but there are a lot of other beautiful, attainable goals out there. One of my favorite pieces of advice to debut authors is this: keep a list of everything good. That way, when you’re not on an awards shortlist, or your royalty statement doesn’t match your expectations, you have a physical object to ground you. A reminder that lots of great moments have happened because of your book. And they all count. Every single one of them.

This thinking informs the why behind my forthcoming book, Imagine a Door: A Writer's Guide to Unlocking Your Story, Choosing a Publishing Path, and Honoring the Creative Journey, due out from Forest Avenue on April 3, 2025. I sent the manuscript out for copyedits last week, so I’m shaking off the bleary deadline mindset and catching up on email in my back yard hammock. Pre-orders will be available later this summer.

Besides setting a publication date for Imagine a Door, which I started writing way back in 2016, a lot of other great things have been happening!

Chicano Frankenstein

Author Daniel A. Olivas was interviewed on NPR’s Code Switch! You can listen here. We’re also celebrating going back to press for a second print run. Chicano Frankenstein came out in May; a Spanish language edition is forthcoming from Planeta USA.

The Queen of Steeplechase Park

The long-awaited novel by David Ciminello, loosely based on his great-aunt’s real-life story, came out in May to a starred Kirkus review. You can also check out his New York City appearance with Blair Fell (The Sign for Home) on YouTube.

Oregon Country Fair

I’m moderating a panel of writers, featuring Reggie Watts and Laini Taylor among others, at the Fair this year. I’m a bit starstruck! If you’re going to Eugene, Oregon, for this annual magical experience, come see us on Saturday, July 13, at 2:30 at the Front Porch Stage.

Powell’s Books

 I have two Powell’s City of Books events coming up at the flagship store on Burnside in Portland, Oregon.

7 p.m. Tuesday, July 16: Dian Greenwood, author of Forever Blackbirds, will appear in conversation with me and designer Gigi Little. I’m reading this novel now and it’s gorgeous.

7 p.m. Sunday, September 8: Joyce Maynard will be at Powell’s for the release of her new novel, How the Light Gets In, a sequel to the magnificent Count the Ways. I’ll be in conversation with Joyce. I’m saving reading the novel until August, so I can savor the anticipation for a few more weeks!

YOUR INVITATION: Have you struggled with writer friendships? How about with being fulfilled and proud of your work earning praise? Why do we always want more? How can we reframe our relationship with our writing community to be one of nourishment and support instead of trying to use our friends as mirrors or ladders?

Feel free to leave a comment! I started this newsletter to create an intimate but accessible conversation space about creativity, publishing, and the societal reset that the pandemic has offered creatives like us. You can reply to this email to have a conversation just with me, or you can comment on the post to connect with other readers too.