I'm filing for separation from imposter syndrome ❤️‍🩹

Reason for the split? Irreconcilable differences.

Happy February, everyone!

I can’t believe we’re already halfway through the month. (Happy Galentine’s and Valentine’s, to those who observe.)

My second novel, How to Keep a Husband for Ten Days, came out last Wednesday. I’ve loved seeing four- and five-star reviews from readers trickle in. A lot of them said that they saw bits of themselves in my main character, Lina, and that they would love to live in an apartment building like the one she’s trying to save. Also, thanks to a BookBub Feature, my debut novel, My Big Fake Wedding, hit the Top 50 in Women’s Fiction and the Top 100 in Romantic Comedies on Amazon’s charts! 🥳

I celebrated all this by having a fancy dinner out with one of my good friends. Then I launched into promo mode. I had a reading at a Romance Book Swap on Friday, ran a Facebook Live author event just before the Super Bowl on Sunday, and I have more events and interviews coming up this week!

This is a charming, new Italian joint in Jacksonville. PS Nothing says, "Let's celebrate your book's release," like dressing in artsy black.

More exciting than all of that is the fact that I’ve been tagged in photos of my books, which have been posted on Twitter and Instagram from all over the country. I’ve seen How to Keep a Husband in nail salons and on bookshelves hundreds, if not thousands, of miles away from where it was written, and that is so. Dang. Cool. Please feel free to send me your “Flat Stanley”-style photos of my books if you feel so inclined, but honestly what would be even more helpful is if you left a kind rating and review on Amazon.

On Breaking Up with Imposter Syndrome

I feel like my approach to being an author has changed between the publication of My Big Fake Wedding and the release of How to Keep a Husband for Ten Days. Namely, I’m filing for separation from imposter syndrome.

The reason for our split? Imposter syndrome and I just don’t see eye to eye on my writing career anymore. 🙃

In the lead-up to my debut novel’s release, I had a thing for imposter syndrome. I had it bad. I told myself, like Gollum heaping abuse on Sméagol, that nobody wanted to hear from me about my silly little books. Instead of letting others tell me this, I confirmed it for them and kept quiet. And, as such, I had a quiet launch.

But then, in November, my editor gave me the perfect pep talk. It was the right mix of encouragement and tough love. It was the shove out of the nest I needed, and since then, I’ve been gradually getting better. About respecting myself as a novelist. About not assuming others think the worst of me.

Readers distinctly NOT thinking the worst of me.

And, as part of my long-awaited split from imposter syndrome, this newsletter is changing.

The world doesn’t need yet another writing advice SubStack. At least, not from me. I kidded myself about that for so long because, as a successful freelance editor, writing advice blogs is what I know how to do and what I knew people would respect me for.

But my books deserve respect. Not only I, but dozens of Bookouture staff—professional and highly talented editors, designers, publicists, marketers, and salespeople—have worked hard on them, and I’m letting them down if I stay sheepishly quiet. There aren’t any other versions of me writing a monthly newsletter about them, so hey, this is me filling that void—not just with navel gazing about me and my anxiety hangups but also… *cue segue*… with goodies for you.

Goodie #1: A Poppy, Bookish Playlist for Your Commute 🚗 🚌

I don’t listen to music while I’m writing, but I do listen to tracks while I’m in the car or making breakfast that get me in the mindset of what I’m about to write. How to Keep a Husband for Ten Days, thanks to its “We’ve got to save the building!” subplot and the nostalgia embedded in a second-chance romance, just screams ’70s and ’80s pop to me. Check it out in the following 45-minute playlist, embedded below.

📚 Goodie #2: Books I’m Enjoying in 2023 ⭐️

I’ve also created a Bookshop list of my five-star reads this year. Yes, you can see all of the books I’ve read over on GoodReads, but this is the cream of the crop, as far as I’m concerned. There are just three on there for now, but I’m hoping I get to add to it soon… so long as the books I read are up to snuff! Check it out here and read along if you like.

I hope February is treating you kindly and bringing not just good but great reads your way. I’m looking forward to some more promotional events in Jacksonville later this month, and to sharing some news about a free short story with you soon. (Tune in around the Ides of March for that!)

XOXO,
Jessica

Where to Find My Books (Clickable)

Learn more on my website: https://www.jessicahatch.com/books.