Question: What is the best part of having your first book published?

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That’s hard to say. When I got my first actual copy of the book, actually held it in my hands, I sat down on the floor and started crying. It took me more than eight years of constant effort (and rejection) to get that far, and when I’d finally done it, I hardly knew how to handle it. Nothing had really prepared me for actual success--I had handling rejection down to an art, but this was way new.

After the initial shock was over, I think the best part of having the book published is that I can keep a copy right next to my computer. Then when I need to look up a detail that hasn’t stuck in my head, like what colors Harry’s car is, I can just grab it and find out. :)

The second best part is a small degree of confidence that the stuff I’m producing now will actually get published (and read). :) Believe me, it’s much easier to sit down at the keyboard and plunk away at a story when I’m really tired if I am fairly sure I’ll actually see a degree of success from it. That added security (tiny though it may be) has really helped me out


Source: WizardsHarry.com - Interview with Jim Butcher
Date: April 6, 2001 (?) (Earliest Archive Date)