I’m Published!
The cover of Brave on the Page, edited by Laura Stanfill.
Ok, it’s just a flash essay, but I’m excited none the less.
Laura Stanfill, a writer whose work I love to read and someone I am proud to count as my friend, published a book about writing. Brave on the Page: Oregon Writers on Craft and the Creative Life.
It is a book of interviews with amazing writers, using the Seven Questions format from her blog, and essays on the craft of writing. I’m in a book with writers whose books I love. I have been in the audience for their readings and signings. And now I’m in a book with them!
Writers like Yuvi Zalkow, whose novel A Brilliant Novel In The Works was so good I read it in three days. I stayed up late at night and then got up early, just to keep reading. And now I’m in a book with him.
My essay is “Wherever I am” and it’s about learning how to write regardless of my surroundings.
There are other essays about writing and the writing life, mostly by published writers. People with articles, essays, short stories, and novels out in the world. And an essay by one of the funnies people I know, Steve Denniston. His writing is so hilarious I still remember lines I read three and four years ago. Literally, word for word. And I still laugh when I remember them. He’s not published yet, but I enjoy reading his tweets until then.
The book is the first Laura has published with her new small press, Forest Avenue Press. She used the Espresso Book Machine and blogged all about the experience here, here, here, and here.
I can’t wait to see what she does next with Forest Avenue Press.
Brave on the Page is available in paperback at an Espresso Book Machine, with locations around the country and online at ondemandbooks.com. I found an Espresso Book Machine in Raleigh, at the local university, NC State.
It is a feeling that is so exciting it’s hard to describe. A book with something I wrote inside. Holding it in my hands, smelling the fresh ink and hot paper. All I can say is amazing.
If you are already published, how did that first time feel? Have you ever been a part of a collection? I’d love to hear other stories. And, of course, I’d love for you to check out the book. Laura will be having some promotional activities over at her blog, and one of the prizes is a critique by her. That alone is worth much more than the price of the book. I know I’m entering. 
Big congrats, Emma! There’s nothing like the feeling of holding your book in your hand, whether it’s a paper book or on my smartphone. So cool that you’re putting your life experiences to work helpin and inspiring others!
Thanks! It is pretty cool. It’s also nice to read the work of other writers I admire. I can’t imagine how cool it’ll be, though, to see a book with my name on the front cover…
Congratulations Emma! It’s a great feeling to hold a physical copy of your writing. I’ve only had my articles published in small, local hobby papers and opinion pieces in newspapers but it’s such a thrill, every time.
Having anything published is a big deal! Local is just as cool. I’m working towards that happening, too.
That’s where most of my printed pieces have appeared, Reetta! It’s a great feeling to see your byline, isn’t it? It’s funny, though; I rarely read my work once it has appeared in print. I guess I’m paranoid about finding a typo or something. Or maybe I’ve written, read, revised and rewritten so many times I don’t want to read it again and decide I wish I had changed something!
How exciting, Emma! The Espresso Book Machine amazes me, and it must be a thrill to get your work “hot off the presses.”
It is pretty amazing. And I kept thinking how cool it would be for a field trip. Or for high school teachers who wanted to put together books of student work. It reminded me of a giant Swatch watch, seeing the insides do the work.
It is very cool technology, Pat! I’m so inspired by it that I launched Forest Avenue Press because of the Espresso machines. I hope you get to check one out in person. It’s great fun to watch every aspect of the book printing, then see the final product tumble down the chute, still warm and ready to read.
And I hope Emma posts about her adventure getting her book printed!
Congratulations! So proud of you!!! This is just the beginning. And oh what a feeling!!!
How exciting! Congratulations, Emma! Woot! When are we celebrating?
I just love the Espresso Book Machine deal Laura arranged.
The Espresso machines are so amazing, Debra. They open up all sorts of possibilities for publishing, and I love that they are all in independent bookstores or universities or libraries. I’m excited to keep using them for my new small press (micro press, really) because of the distribution options. I can tell my friend in Vermont about my book, for instance, and she can go buy it locally, avoiding shipping charges while supporting a local business right there in her community, and supporting my small press here in Oregon.
If you live near one, go check it out! More are being installed all the time–another 40 by the end of 2012, I heard. Here’s the list of locations: http://ondemandbooks.com/ebm_locations_list.php
What do you mean, “just a flash essay”? That’s something to be proud of, girl! Congratulations!
And it’s an amazing essay! No “just” about it.
Congratulations, Emma. So cool to be in a book full of your favorites. First publication is so exciting. Enjoy it!
[...] And this just in last night! A big congrats to Emma Burcart on the publication of her short essay, “Wherever I am,” in Brave on the Page: Oregon Writers on Craft and the Creative Life. The book is a collection of essays about writing and the writing life. Emma’s contribution deals with teaching herself to get the words down, no matter where she is – something she blogged about not too long ago. More info at: http://www.emmaburcart.com/2012/10/im-published/ [...]
There’s no “just” about it. This is something you should be very proud of! Congratulations, and keep up the good work
Aw, thanks, Marcy! That makes me feel great.
[...] beautiful writing room and had to adapt to writing other places. She wrote a wonderful blog post, “I’m Published!” to celebrate the book [...]