Dear wonderful humans who believe in my book! 📚

We're T-minus 7 days until "The Memory Keepers" enters the world, and I'm experiencing emotions that I didn't know existed. Is there a word for simultaneously wanting to hide under a blanket fort AND shout from rooftops? Because that's where I'm at.

The Numbers Game

My publisher sent over the pre-order numbers yesterday, and I literally fell off my chair. (Fitzgerald was unimpressed.) We've hit 1,847 pre-orders!

For context: I was hoping for maybe 200. My editor was hoping for 500. My mom bought 12 copies, which I thought would be the bulk of sales. But YOU ALL showed up in ways I never imagined. I'm not crying, you're crying.

Behind the Launch Curtain

Want to know what launch week really looks like? Here's my actual schedule:

Monday: Panic about everything Tuesday: Record 14 podcast interviews while trying not to say "um" every three words Wednesday: Virtual launch party prep (aka teaching my dad how to use Zoom) Thursday: More panic, but fancy panic Friday: THE ACTUAL LAUNCH DAY AHHHHH Weekend: Sleep for 72 hours straight

Exclusive First Chapter

As a thank you for being here since the beginning, I'm sharing the ENTIRE first chapter with you lovely newsletter subscribers before anyone else sees it. Fair warning: it starts with a daughter discovering her mother burning family photos at 3 AM. Things escalate quickly.

Read Chapter One Here

Launch Week Events

Mark your calendars for these virtual shenanigans:

• April 15, 7 PM EST: Virtual Launch Party! There will be readings, Q&A, and probably me crying. Register for the launch party
• April 16, 3 PM EST: Instagram Live with fellow author Emma Rodriguez
• April 17, 8 PM EST: Book club kickoff – discussing first impressions

The Vulnerability Files

Real talk: I'm terrified people will hate it. I keep having nightmares where Goodreads reviewers form an angry mob outside my apartment. My therapist says this is "normal author anxiety," but I'm pretty sure she's just being nice.

But here's what keeps me going: Every time I get scared, I remember the email from Rebecca who said the preview chapter helped her call her estranged mother. Or James, who said the grandmother character reminded him to ask his own grandmother about family stories before it's too late.

This book isn't just mine anymore. It's yours too. And that's both terrifying and wonderful.

What You Can Do

If you want to help a panicking author out: 1. Tell a friend about the book (or an enemy, I'm not picky) 2. Post a photo when you get your copy (tag me so I can happy-cry) 3. Leave a review when you finish (even if it's just "This book existed and I read it") 4. Send good vibes into the universe (or coffee, I also accept coffee)

This Month's Reads

Even in launch chaos, I'm still reading because I have a problem: - "The Midnight Library" by Matt Haig – Existential crisis in the best way - "Piranesi" by Susanna Clarke – Weird and wonderful - "The House in the Cerulean Sea" by TJ Klune – Pure comfort reading

Seven more days, friends. Seven. More. Days.

If you need me, I'll be alternating between productive preparation and staring at walls while eating cheese.

Sarah Chen
Almost-published author who might throw up from nerves

P.S. – Fitzgerald has decided the book launch is the perfect time to learn how to open doors. He's now escaped three times during important phone calls. I'm choosing to see this as a metaphor for new beginnings and not just my cat being a chaos demon.

You're receiving this because you signed up at sarahchenwrites.com. Changed your mind? You can unsubscribe here, though maybe wait until after launch week? Please? 🙏