So, didja miss the camels? Well, they're ba-aack!
Today's camel seems entirely appropriate to me:
Because, yes, April ate my head. At least, that's what it felt like. Ugh. Ever have one of those months?
But it's over, and I'm determined to make May a much better month. It's already off to a promising start, because something came in the mail yesterday.
I couldn't wait to dig into the package ...
... and this is what I found:
My Advance Reader Copies!
[For those of you not in the publishing biz, ARCs are the first printing of a book by the publishing house. They're not in absolute final form, but pretty close. These are the copies sent to reviewers (ack! *bites knuckle*) in advance of the official publication date, which, in my case, is September 4.]
Of course, I had to speed read one right away:
All right, all right. I wasn't really speed reading it. I was just fondling it a little bit. Because, yanno, it's a real book!!
I have to tell you, holding your own book for the first time, after the very long journey from writing it to publication, is a very odd feeling. You realize this thing is a separate entity from you, that it will be going out into the world and having a life of its own, with readers you don't even know, without you there to hold its hand.
Er, not to anthropomorphize overly much or anything ...
Still, it's WAY COOL. So, yeah, today I haz a happy. :)
How have you guys been? Anything exciting happen while I've been scarce?
Yay! I'm so happy for you. It looks amazing! *drools just a little bit*
ReplyDeleteThat's so great, Linda! I can't imagine how big that happy was when you held your baby for the first time. I hope you are enjoying it. Congrats!! PS I'll send a Sam's size jar of m-cherries for the celebratory Manhattans;)
ReplyDeleteOh that is so cool. What a great way to start off the month. All I got was rain. Rain. And more rain.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful feeling it must be to hold your book in your hands. Congrats! Hopefully, someday I'll experience this first hand. And I'm with you, April exhausted me. May is kind of starting out the same but I have hopes for improvement.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting to have the ARCs - hope the reviewers all love it.
ReplyDeleteI missed the camels so much I went to Egypt to see some.
Woohoooo! ARCs! And camels! But mostly, ARCs! Congratulations and welcome back. So happy for you! (Exclamation points!!!)
ReplyDeleteYAY! *does happy dance* Admit it, you slept surrounded by every book in that box, didn't you?
ReplyDeleteYay!!! So excited and happy for you and your ARC babies. And to have the camels back. All very good things. : )
ReplyDeleteHanna -- Thanks! *hands you a napkin for the drool*
ReplyDeleteMichele -- LOL! I'm sure you'd be shocked at how fast I could go through a Sam's size of those cherries. ;)
Stina -- Boo, rain! Well, too much of it, anyway. A little of it is good, because it's fun to stay indoors and read when it's raining. :)
Maery -- It IS a great feeling! Hang in there--your time will come. :)
Patsy -- Wow! Maybe you should do a Hump Day guest post for me. ;)
Delia -- Thank you!!!! :)
Patty -- Pssst...*whispers* Naked!
Kerry -- Thanks so much! And I'm chuffed to made your Wednesday Writer spot, too. :)
oohh, pretty :)
ReplyDeleteand yeah, i did miss the camels. here's to hoping that may treats you better than april did!
April was a pretty cruel month all around. May is always better (and not just because it contains my birthday and my anniversary, but it helps.)
ReplyDeleteYay, ARCs!!! They're so, so pretty! And I can't wait to read In a Fix in September!
I am so happy for you. I can't wait to read your book and add it to my "writing friends" bookshelf. ;)
ReplyDeleteI think I already told you, but I LOVE that cover!! And I'm so happy you got ARCs!!!
ReplyDeletePS: that camel picture is a little scary! lol
Doing a little happy dance for you but wearing green for envy.
ReplyDeleteSo glad they finally came!!! Aren't they pretty??? And thanks for passing me that camel. Totally has me swallowed at the moment--the plague!!!!
ReplyDeleteKarla -- Thanks. *crosses fingers*
ReplyDeleteSummer -- Thanks. I'm rather partial to the cover myself. :) My DD's birthday is in May, too. It's a great month for birthdays!
Monica -- Thanks again! You can never get too much cover love. *grin* And, yeah, that is kind of a scary camel pic, huh? I'm assuming the kid is okay.
LD -- Thanks! Fortunately, you look good in green. ;)
K-pop -- Ugh. No fun. Hope that plague leaves you soon!
ReplyDeletei hope may regurgitates your head back in fine fashion.
ReplyDeleteand CONGRATS on the ARCs! they look very lovely and very deserving of a proper fondle.
Abby -- LOL! Now, there's an image. *grin*
ReplyDeleteYahhhhoooooo! That is so awesome. I can't even imagine. I would probably sleep with mine, hug it, hold it....okay I will stop now. :-) Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! Congrats on your ARCs!!! That's huge. April ate my head, too--but so far May's been awesome :)
ReplyDeleteOhmygoodness. I laughed at that camel picture for like half an hour.
ReplyDeleteAND OMG IT'S IN A FIX!
I had to explain to Hubs yesterday ARCs and why they're so fancy. I also told him about your shirtless visitor. YOU'RE WELCOME.
Tracy Jo -- LOL! And thanks. :)
ReplyDeleteSara -- May May be doubly awesome for you. (Tee-hee. Get it?)
Jen -- Ha! You've almost convinced ME he was shirtless. ;)
Gotta say THIS is the most exciting thing in May so far, bb!!
ReplyDelete*Squees*
I cannot wait to hold a copy. Am so darn excited.
<333 Suze
Thanks, Suzerooni! It wouldn't be there without your help. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, wow! A simple "congratulations" doesn't even begin to cover it! To actually hold your very own book in your very own hands ... MEGA moment! September will be here before ya know it... (And I KNOW the reviewers will love your book.)
ReplyDeleteWooohooo! Congratulations... and oh, you tease! I can't believe I have to wait until September to read it.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you're back - hope you get April's camel spit out of your hair soon. :-)
Susan -- It IS kind of MEGA at that. I'm terrified I'm going to blink and September will be here. Yikes.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for your vote of confidence about the reviewers. Now, if only we can convince them... ;)
Diane -- No worries. Camel spit is an excellent conditioner. And September will be here before you know it! :)
ReplyDeleteWow! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteAnthropomorphize all you like.
Good to see the camels back!
Were there no camels in April? Just as well I was on hiatus, then. Love that picture, and I needed a laugh today.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your beautiful ARCs! And what a generous amount you received! Awesome!!!
*happy dance* *happy dance*
ReplyDeleteIt's so easy to be happy for you, Linda, because you always are so supportive of everyone else! Well deserved, my friend! Can't wait to read! :)
Al -- Thanks! And glad you enjoy the camels. :)
ReplyDeleteDianne -- Thanks! :) I was mostly on a blog break during April. Too much crazy stuff going on, and I really needed to put a dent in Book 2 besides.
Jessica -- Thank you! :)
Your book sure is purty Miss Linda. A'int you the lucky one.
ReplyDeleteI wrote one third of my wip in April. Nothing else happening.
LINDAAAAA!!!! Congratulations!!!! I am so happy for you. Can't wait till it's released!
ReplyDeleteSrsly, lady, that's awesome.:)
YAYAYAYAYYAYAYAY!!!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! This is fantastic. I cannot wait to read it.
Dawn -- Thank you so much! :)
ReplyDeleteAnne -- And thank you, too! :)
Wow, wow, wow. How totally thrilling. I can only imagine what it's like. One day, though...
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, much happy dancing for you. :)