Just a short while ago the UPS man dropped off a box containing ARCs of my next novel, Fun & Games, out this June from Mulholland Books. I cut open the box with a knife (the kitchen scissors were in the dishwasher). Carefully, I opened the flaps and just stared at them, nestled around plastic air bubble pouches, like 10 babies in synthetic afterbirth. I couldn't even bring myself to touch them, at first. The Bride was the first to reach in and pick one up. After I knew it was safe, I did, too. I checked the front, and the spine, and then the back. (Yeah, this sounds paranoid, but this happened to me once, and the I've never quite gotten over it...) Everything seemed to be in order. It was a real book, with all of its fingers and toes.
Or at least, it's just about ready to become a real book. ARC readers will find typos and such that we've caught, and I've fine-tuned a little bit here and there. But it's really amazing to hold the damned thing in my hands in bound form.
Like I said, this never, ever gets old.
10 comments:
Huge congratulations!
That's awesome, man. Great cover, too. One of my most anticipated reads of 2011. I'd love to hear about the months and weeks leading up to the publication of your debut.
I can't imagine how I'll react when I get that first box of books with my name on 'em. I might faint. I guarantee I'll probably tear up and I'm not ashamed to admit it.
Congratulations, Duane! I look forward to seeing the book.
Cheers,
Jeff
Squee!
Yah! Got to be a day maker. Looking forward to that day.
This makes me very happy.
Congrats Duane -- lookin' sharp!
Thanks for the good wishes, guys. Really appreciate it.
Peter: You'll bawl like a child, I'm sure...
Bawl like a child... yup, that sums it up. Congrats on the Edgar nomination!
Duane, I just discovered your writing. I loved THE BLONDE and now I'm working through SEVERANCE PAY. You just became my new favorite author. You're very good at what you do.
Congrats on the new book; can't wait to get my hands on that one. BTW---any chance we'll see "Mike Kowalski" pop up again in a future work? He's a classic character.
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