It will never feel quite like this again

I remember getting ready to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens back in December 2015. It had been 10 years since we last had a mainstream Star Wars release. Additionally, it was a direct follow-up to the original Star Wars trilogy movies, set 30 years after The Return of the Jedi, a movie that was released the same year I was born (1983).

The hype was palpable, and it didn't stop there. George Lucas had recently sold the rights to Star Wars to Disney, and that meant new, fresh content on a mainstream level from a franchise that had been dormant in movie theaters.

To say I was excited is putting it simply. I could feel the energy surging in my body like Sith lightning. On release day, I recall reading an article (I read so many in anticipation of the film) about cherishing this moment because it will never feel like this again. The article stated that we were on the cusp of receiving an abundance of new, mainstream Star Wars content, and we should take a moment to enjoy it. Because there will never be a time when we have a direct sequel to the original trilogy of the Star Wars movies. We had the prequels, but nothing ever came after the first trilogy...until 2015.

What does this analogy have to do with me or my debut novel or anything writing-related? Because, as of writing this, Legend Has It is two weeks away from release. This is my first novel, which is the completion of a lifelong dream. It won't be my last, but I will never again be in this position. That is, I'll never be able to experience this particular feeling again, even if I publish dozens of novels.

That's not to say I won't experience the joy of publishing a novel in the future, but it won't be like this. There's so much uncharted territory that I'm exploring as this process unfolds. I was elated when I told my friends and family about signing my contract with Rowan Prose. I beamed when I went to a book fair (shoutout to Spooky Frog) and told them I have a novel coming out next year. I smiled every time I told someone new about my novel and watched them react with enthusiasm.

This process has been a fun journey. It's been more work than I expected, but it doesn't feel laborious when it's something you love and believe in. I wake up excited about all the new opportunities that exist for Legend Has It, be it social media posts, interviews and events. As I've learned, there's always something to do when you're marketing a novel and planning your next one.

When I think about getting ready to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens, it reminds me of that feeling you get on Christmas Eve. The anticipation of what's to come. That giddy excitement that's so hard to contain. I equate it to catching magic. I've felt that feeling a few times in my life at various points, be it those days when everything is going right or when you're moments away from discovering if you won an award. I've found it after curtain calls. I've experienced it on special occasions. I've even channeled it in little moments with close friends.

But Christmas Eve will come again. As will future curtain calls and special occasions. And I'll publish more novels. But I won't be in this spot again, waiting eagerly for my debut novel to release. The anticipation has been overwhelming at times, but now it's so close. I wonder what it will feel like. I wonder how everyone will view this special story. I wonder what the meet-and-greets will be like. I wonder how beautiful it will be when I greet someone who tells me how much they enjoyed this story.

Yes, there will be more stories from me, but waiting for them to release won't have this feeling behind them. Don't get me wrong. They'll be special and I'll be excited about each one of them. But it won't be like this, when the feeling is brand new.

I'll do what I've always done when a beautiful moment is unfolding. I'll take it in and cherish it.