Release day: Chains of rage

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After a little over four years, the day I had been dreaming of, the day that made my heart skip a few beats, finally arrived.

July 15th will always be remembered as the day my debut book was released into the world. The support from all my readers made me feel like a genuine author.

But enough with the positivity. To be honest, the beginning of July was a nightmare for me. I had ordered my books well in advance for the release, knowing it takes time to print over a hundred books and ship them to my location. For legal reasons, I had just started my small business as an indie author, which caused a significant delay in receiving my books. The carrier was unable to deliver them, and the necessary authorizations to validate my small business couldn't be expedited.

So, I was in a bind.

The delivery date kept getting pushed further into July, threatening to miss my release date. And I nearly did!

On July 10th, just five days before the release, I decided to take matters into my own hands and drove to the carrier facility. Conveniently, it was only a five-minute drive from where I live, which made the situation even more frustrating. The carrier had held my books for two weeks but couldn't release them through customs without clearance from the authorities.

YAY- me. Later that day, I received confirmation that my package had been cleared, and the carrier immediately called to let me know I could pick up my books the next day—so I did.

I drove there at 7 am, eager to get my books as soon as possible. The boxes were finally there. On July 12th, I had my first-ever signing, debuting as an author, so yes, I had my books just one day in advance.

After a quick inspection and assessment of the books, I delivered the requested amount to Standaard Boekhandel Hasselt, where my signing took place the next day. I would like to thank all the employees there for helping me get my book out and for their continued support of my author career.

Here are some moments we captured from my first day as an author 🖤

Luci, this is July 12th. What about the actual release day?

I had the honor of hosting a release party at the Purple Petals Bookstore in Antwerp, where guests could purchase a signed copy, receive a goodie bag, and enjoy cocktails featured in the book. Isn't that like literally an author's dream? It was mine at least.

THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR MAKING THIS DREAM COME TRUE.

Get ready for more lovely photos of readers and people that mean the world to me.