You are good enough

November 2022

Hi friends,

Like a boomerang, awards season is upon us again. And guess who’s not going to win any? (It’s me, hi! I’m the problem, it’s me.)

Hand-in-hand with awards season is “best books of the year” round-up lists. And neither of the two books I published this year will be on any of those, either.

I struggled last year with writing this post, and then I chickened out. I didn’t want to sound like I had sour grapes or anything. And in the “fake it ’til you make it” culture of publishing, I definitely didn’t want anyone to perceive my books as failures.

Or even worse: perceive me as a failure.

While it’s not the function of the “best of” lists to make authors feel like insecure, inadequate failures, the rub is: how can you not feel like one when you’re never on them?

Nevermind the fact that I’m not eligible for most of these lists to begin with, since Case Closed 4 received zero trade reviews, and the Mythics only got two trade reviews. (Some of these lists require a starred review to even be considered.)

Nevermind that many of the books on these lists are far more literary and lyrical than the commercial, plot-driven books I write.

Nevermind that behind the appearance of an Objective List, there’s always an adult or small committee of adults with subjective viewpoints and opinions.

No. To my brain: to not make the list is a failure of mine. And mine alone. And every November I’m left with disappointment, embarrassment, and anxiety. The biggest fear of all—the worry that crawls into my thoughts at night—is that maybe they’re right about me. Maybe my books are bad.

Maybe I’m a bad writer.

It’s classic imposter syndrome creeping up on me, once a year, like clockwork. Being an author is so solitary that—like it or not, admit it or not—we depend on external factors to measure whether our work is landing with its audience. Those external factors being: awards, “best of” lists, state lists, bestseller lists, sales numbers, Amazon and Goodreads reviews, anecdotal stories from people who’ve told me they enjoyed my work.

Anecdotes. That’s what pulls me out of imposter syndrome. I think about the joy I feel when parents tell me their kids struggled to read before picking up Case Closed, and how suddenly their kids can’t put a book down. I think about the kids who excitedly tell me about solving puzzles with and without Eliza’s help—and most recently, a school visit I did last week where a girl shouted as I was starting my presentation, “The Case Closed books are my favorite!”

I think about how warm it felt to talk to a group of twenty kids who had read The Mythics as a book club—and how they were so excited tell me what they thought would happen next and which mythical beasts should be in the series. And I think of a book festival I did last month where a girl who looked just like Ember—pigtails and all—literally hugged the book to her chest when she found it.

I can pull up hundreds of emails from kids and parents who don’t care one bit about any accolades my books have or have not received; they only care if their kids enjoy the books.

And then I think about myself as a kid. Of course I loved the award-winning books. But I also loved so many more books that were not award winners. Books that were weird and silly and bizarre and hyper-commercial. And I never looked up which books were considered “best of” or not. I didn’t love my books that way. I fell deep and hard for plots and characters, high-brow and low-brow both.

Times have changed in 20 years, but not THAT much. I think kids are just looking to fall in love with stories. All types of stories.

I know this time of year can be so full of doubt and anxiety, so I want to tell you:

You are good enough.

Your writing is good enough.

Being under-recognized critically is not a reflection on the quality of your work.

And whether or not your book has accolades, someone will cherish it like it’s their own personal starshine.

You are good.

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Holiday Housekeeping

1. Every year I run a holiday giveaway for kids who need a little extra cheer this year. I’ve extended the deadline a few days. If you know a kid who can use a pick-me-up this holiday season for any reason at all, please email me asap at lauren@laurenmagaziner.com to nominate them to win a free signed + personalized copy of Case Closed or The Only Thing Worse Than Witches.

   

2. If you plan to purchase any copies of Case Closed, The Mythics, or The Only Thing Worse Than Witches for the holidays, I would love to get you a signed and personalized bookplate to go along with your purchase. If you’re interested in that, then please email me at lauren@laurenmagaziner BEFORE December 3rd.

3. Why December 3rd, you ask? Well, because on a personal note: sometimes things just suck.

   
   Sometimes you go through a really grueling surgery that basically eats your whole year (2 months of pre-surgery anxiety + 3 months of recovery + 2 months of physical therapy) only to have to go through another surgery before the end of the year.

   
   It’s part two of prophylactic bilateral mastectomy, coming for me on December 8th. I always knew this was coming, since they do the surgery in multiple phases. It will be an easier procedure and recovery than the one this spring (which wiped me all the way OUT) . . . but it still sucks to have to do another one. Mamma Mia, here we go again.

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What I’m writing

The Mythics 1 (out now): Meeting readers who have read and loved The Mythics is my new favorite hobby! Asking people which Mythic they are, or which mythical beast they’d want as a lifelong companion is basically my WHOLE personality now.

It makes a fantastic holiday present for a 6 to 10 year old. Just saying. :-)

The Mythics 2 (May 16, 2023): Guess who finally has a cover?!! It’s Hailey and the Dragon!!! Mirelle Ortega knocked it out of the park with this one. The blue and yellow is striking! I love the way she captured Hailey’s enthusiastic energy while everyone else looks apprehensive. And the pictures inside are just as adorable. Just you wait!!!

The Mythics 3 (Winter 2024): I think we’re headed off to copy edits with this book verrrry shortly! *fingers crossed* Any guesses as to which Mythic is narrating this book?

Case Closed series (out now): Hands down the best gift you can give a 7 to 12 year old this holiday. Interactive, puzzle-packed, and loads of fun—like an escape room in book form.

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What I’m reading

I recently finished The Legend of Brightblade by Ethan M. Aldridge, and I absolutely ADORED this fantasy adventure. Alto is a prince, but he wants to be a bard—and in this world where music creates magic, he sets off to write his own story and find adventure!

I read The Legend of Brightblade in one sitting; I could not put it down! The story, the world-building, the characters, the gorgeous watercolor illustrations—it was perfect. Anyone looking for a middle grade graphic novel this holiday, I highly recommend it.

I’m also in the middle of Mihi Ever After by Tae Keller and illustrated by Geraldine Rodríguez, and it is absolutely enchanting!!! As you all already know, I’m obsessed with Keller’s other books—and it’s so exciting to see her expand into a slightly younger, more commercial space too. Such versatility!

This is a portal fantasy about three girls who find the fairy tale world in their school library’s refrigerator. I am so enjoying the twists on classic fairy tales, and I love the central theme of exploring what it means to be a princess type. There is magic and danger in the front half of the book, and I’m so excited to finish this. I already know Mihi Ever After another home run for Tae Keller!

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Where to find me

Virtual Visits:
I’m booking virtual visits for World Read Aloud Day on Wednesday February 1st. If you’d like me to read to your class (The Mythics or Case Closed—your pick), please reach out to me sooner rather than later. I usually book up fast!

Social Media:
Now that Twitter is, um, being run by a billionaire who doesn’t care to regulate Nazis and whose staff quit in droves creating a fully untenable website in danger of collapse… I just wanted to remind you all where else you can find me:

Instagram: @laurenmagaziner
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurenmagazinerbooks
Hive Social: @laurenmagaziner
Email: lauren@laurenmagaziner.com
And obviously HERE! On the monthly-ish newsletter!

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Saying goodbye

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I just want to end on a note of thanks.

Thank you to everyone who has ever sent me an anecdote about enjoying one of my books. Thank you to everyone who has left me a review on Amazon and Goodreads; it really helps my books in the algorithm. Thank you to everyone who has purchased my books (and thus supported my career). Thank you for believing in me, for helping me see past impostor syndrome. Thank you for being my loving community.

I am so grateful.

This career is a rollercoaster, but I wouldn’t want to ride it with anyone other than YOU. <3
Lauren