Kari's Kave: Squee...My Author Copies Are Here!!!

Squeeeee!!!! My author copies arrived!

I cannot begin to tell you how exciting it is on the day that an author's book finally arrives in the mail.

We work so long on just writing a book. Six months, one year, whatever. It takes a lot of time to create our babies.

Then we turn the product of our labor in anywhere from 9 months to 1 year before its release date, hoping and praying our editors will like what we've written. After all, they've invested a lot in the story as well.

Then a couple of months later we have to go through anywhere from 1 to 3 rounds of edits from our editors, until we produce a product everyone is satisfied with. Plot issues, character issues, etc. They all need to be worked out just so. Once our book is "accepted," then it goes into production. A cover is made, the book is sent out to authors for blurbs, and finally we receive our copy edits from the copy editor.

Once we go through and finish the copy edits, clarify and fix any fact issues, grammar, spelliing, etc, that they found, we then move on to the next step. Page proofs. Page proofs are where get to see exactly how each page of the book will look once it's printed. It's your last chance to change any word, sentence, dedication, acknowlegment page, bio, etc.

Once you've approved the page proofs, the book goes off to the printer. This is when ARC's or Galleys are made, depending on what your publisher does. ARC's are advanced reader copies that look just like the finished book, but say advanced reader copy not for sale. Galley's are a bound book but without the finished cover. It's exciting enough just to receive a few of those to send out to reviewers, etc.

But nothing, absolutely nothing, can compare to recieving your box of finished copies in the mail about 3 to 4 weeks before your release date. To see the finished product that comes out of a year of labored production, to finally hold your baby in your hand, is truly an incredible feeling.

Joy, pride, satisfaction...they all hit you at once.

I am so very proud of this book, and cannot wait for people to read it. We don't just write books to make a living. We write them to share our stories with the world.

Positive reviews, negative reviews, it doesn't matter. I get so excited just knowing people are reading something I wrote.

In three more weeks on August 2nd Tempest in the Tea Leaves hits the shelves!

And now as I turn in Corpse in the Crystal Ball, I am starting the process all over again. So stay tuned...I should have a cover to share real soon :-)


In the meantime, happy reading! Oh, and go create a new baby of your own now that this author finally has some time to read ;)