Another blurb!

A couple months ago, I'd written to author Piers Anthony to ask if he'd be willing to read my novel and, if he likes it, write a short blurb for the cover. He responded that he was too busy with his WIP, trying to meet a deadline, to do it right then, but if early December would work, he could do it then.

So, I wrote him about the middle of the month and asked if it was a good time. He replied that yes, he could read it now. Now my heart really began to race. Oh boy! But... what if he hates it? What if he thinks it's dumb? But I couldn't back out now, so I sent him the PDF galley (mistakes and all), and held my breath.

He replied on Christmas eve with a very nice letter pointing out a few errors and made some positive comments about the story. Apparently, he liked it! I forwarded his email to my publisher, who exerpted the quote for my book's web page. The letter started off with:

"The Kinshield Legacy is a rousing good fantasy tale, with nice characterization and some ferocious action. These days I read primarily for business rather than pleasure, but I found myself eager to return to this novel."

Woot! Woot! Woot!

It's official!

My novel was officially published today. A free sample (the first six chapters) is available at ArcheBooks.com

The eBook is available for purchase now at ArcheBooks.com

The hardcover will be available for purchse on Dec 30, 2005 from ArcheBooks.com at a 25% discount, and on 1/20/06 from amazon.com and bn.com (at full retail). It will appear in the book distributors' catalogs at the end of the year for order by bookstores. You can request it from your local bookseller by the ISBN number: 1-59507-116-4

It's a dreamy, surrealistic feeling to know I'm actually a published novelist now. I can't wait until I hold in my hands my bound, printed book with real pages and words inside. And a cover! Something I wrote and someone else believed in enough to spend his company's hard-earned money to edit, format, bind, print and advertise.

I think I'm swooning.

Done. Now I wait.

I finished proofing my galleys and sent the list of changes off to my editor. He returns from vacation on Tuesday, at which time he'll implement my changes and send the corrected document off to the format-person for the final "book-block."

My book's cover

I got the first draft of my book's cover from the publisher today. Because I don't much care for most of the cover art on their books, I opened the PDF file with great trepidation, certain I wouldn't like it.
But I do!
The colors, the artwork, the layout -- it just appeals to me! They did a fantastic job, IMO, and I'm really happy with it. Yippeeeeeeeeeeee!
He also asked for my author's bio, so I sent the paragraph I'd prepared a while back. Basic stuff about where I came from, where I am now, what I do, etc. And my dogs, of course. Can't forget the dogs.
I'm on page 205 of my book, as far as proofing goes. I won't get it done before my editor goes out of town, but that just means I'll have time this weekend to go through it once more to catch anything I didn't catch the first time through. Doesn't mean it'll be error free, of course. :)

Galleys Out!

The galleys are here! On Saturday afternoon, I received the PDF file from my publisher/editor, Bob, formatted like it will appear in print. I'd provided him a basic JPG map of The Kingdom of Thendylath, which he "transformed into a vision of beauty and antiquity." Seriously, it's quite nice, and even has runes around the edges! I like what he did with it.

So my job is to proofread it and return a corrections list to him, preferably by Wednesday. Seeing as how today is Monday and our company Christmas party is tonight, and I've only done about 110 pages out of 389, I don't think I'm going to make it. He's going out of town, which is why he'd like to get it before he leaves. Will the world end if it takes another week? Probably not. We've already missed Christmas, so another week won't matter.

I must say, I'm pleased and a little surprised at how few changes he suggested in my story. So far, the changes are good, and I've only one minor disagreement. He said he thought the manuscript was exceptionally clean. Actually, he said a lot of very nice things, but since it would seem like bragging or tooting my own horn to quote them, I won't. I'll just summarize by saying he REALLY liked the novel, and made a comment I've heard again and again: he didn't want it to end. That bright glow to the west? That's me beaming. :)