Back to Business: The Cover Reveal Story & a Question

So, here's a funny story. After weeks of back-and-forth with my exceedingly patient editor, we finally settled on a cover--and not a moment too soon. The galleys needed to be printed. The Penguin Winter 2014 catalog was being designed. Translation: We were under the wire.

What I didn't know last Monday was that the cover was slated to go up on Amazon at the end of the week.

(Interesting factoid: They give you a multi-day window during which the cover will go online so, though it could have been as early as Thursday, might not be up until today.) Next translation: No time to have any fun with the cover reveal...or was there?

In a panic, I emailed a few close writer friends who in no time put together a fun plan, donated awesome swag and, come Thursday morning, the interwebs were plastered with THE SOUND OF LETTING GO. More than amazed and delighted, I was so very deeply touched by the support of my friends--and of the entire book-loving internet community. Third translation: I've teared up quite often these last few days.

This morning, I felt a sudden pressure to write an amazing blog post for all my new followers and friends of TSoLG. But the only words I really want to say today are...THANK YOU.

Final translation: Everyone reading this post today is awesome and wonderful and amazing. My gratitude is boundless. My heart is full.

NOW, THE QUESTION. And it's a BIG one (okay, more than one):

• What does is mean to be a writer-blogger today versus when I began in 2007 (here are my first two posts) before the economic debacle of 2008...before the implosion of Borders and before the explosion of self-publishing?
• What does it mean to be a midlist writer (like me) who doesn't get a huge publicity/marketing budget from her traditional publisher and who is also an avid Tweeter/Blogger with awesome friends in these online book worlds?
• In the wake of all this cover-love gratitude, how can I pay it forward and remain true to my own book and business aesthetics?
• Are there changes to be made?

Please share your thoughts by commenting on this post and I'll include some of your insights in a"trying to answer some big questions" post next Monday. Meanwhile. Again. Thank you!