Riding the High and Hitting the Crash: My First Book Event

Last weekend was a whirlwind. My new book, Blood on the Ferns, was launching, and I was about to make my first-ever public appearance as an author. I’d been hyped for weeks, promoting, preparing, and basically vibrating with excitement.

The day itself? Amazing. I sold books, met incredible readers and authors, and even had a few people show up who’d travelled far just to cheer me on. I made it through the whole thing without crying or throwing up—huge win in my book. I came home buzzing, riding that adrenaline high for days.

And then… life happened. Back to the day job, back to the grind. Book sales slowed. The post-event glow faded. And then the doubts started: Did the day really go as well as I thought? Were people buying my book out of pity? What if, what if, what if…

It was brutal.

But here’s the thing—I realised I wasn’t failing. I was just back in “normal” mode. Calmer, slower, different, not worse.

And there were moments I’ll never forget: every book I sold at Bookfest, I got to sign. I wrote cheeky notes all over the pages, adding to the ones my sister had left earlier. They’re ridiculous, but I love them. It made each book feel like a story in itself.

So yeah—events are incredible, but the aftermath? Rough. But now I know. Next time, I’ll ride the high, survive the crash, and do it all over again… eventually.