This week marks the five-year anniversary of the release of my first book, The Patch Project. Originally, it was published as part of an e-book program with print copies available on demand. I organized a local release party with a reading and some giveaways, and got to feel that glow of accomplishment and pride in something that I created.
There’s no underestimating the importance of a first book publication. I learned so much about editing, marketing, and the role of the author during that first experience, while also identifying pitfalls to avoid in the future. The road to getting the sequel published was a bit rocky, and involved changing publishers, but the journey was always worth it.
Writing the Patch Project series has been a life-changing experience. I’ve grown so much in those five years. Looking back, I can see how those shifts in myself and my life impacted what I was writing at the time. A thread throughout the trilogy is the interplay between individual autonomy and community impact. Community may be a loaded term in the series, but in the end, surviving alone isn’t enough.
I hope that I’ve made something good with the Patch Project books. I’m so grateful to everyone who has read, reviewed, or supported the series from first-draft days through post-publication. I couldn’t have done any of this without you!
I would love to hear about your memories with the Patch Project series! You can comment here or post anywhere on social media with the hashtag #ThePatchProjectSeriesYear5.
brittni in ink 
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