They’re Heeeeere!
I am expecting a furniture delivery today between 10 – 3, which is a little inconvenient , as it means I am not only missing yoga, but it drastically reduces my options to see an Iron Man matinee before the nine-too-fivers get out and swarm the theaters.
So I was all excited when the door buzzer rang at 11am. Early delivery means early iron-armored action! I ran down the steps, only to find that it wasn’t my furniture.
It was better.
That’s right, people, my Advance Read Copies (ARCs) have arrived! Two gorgeous copies that culminate a project I have been working on for seven years: The Painted Man. I sold the book almost a year ago, so I’ve known for some time that it would eventually see print, but there is a difference between knowing something in your head and holding it in your hands. When I opened up the envelope and those two pristine galleys slipped out, all was right in the world. Suddenly, all the surreal happenings of the last year solidified into something so awesome I can’t even tell you.
Eeeeeeeeeek!
Here’s me all excited opening the package.
Ahhh! That’s the sugah!
Here are some pictures using a quarter to give it scale:
Check out how fricken’ thick it is! Damn!
And look how fricken’ big my name is!
Jinx got in on the action, checking to make sure the DHL envelope was empty.
It’s a funny thing; I’ve never actually read the book. Oh, I wrote it, sure, and have totally scrutinized every chapter; every paragraph; every sentence; every word. But for all that, I’ve never read it like an actual book, without some ulterior editing motive. That is going to be my gift to myself now. The first nice day that comes along next week, I am taking an apple, a bottle of water, and and ARC and going into the park, where I will sit under a tree and read until it gets dark out.
And to think I thought Iron Man would be the highlight of my day…
Well, so far, I’m on page 30, and I have to say it’s pretty good.
Oh, who am I kidding? I’m kvelling! I’m jumping up and down! Even your unborn baby is excited, kicking at the book laying on my belly! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Poor baby has to possibly mingle with the dayworkers.. 🙂
AWESOME DUDE! That rocks! I love it. When can I read it?
So sorry I missed you guys last night, I didn’t want to take a chance on spreading my ills…
Awesome man! I’m so excited to see it in print as well, being one of the only that read that huge manuscript so long ago.
It’s a very exciting time..
WOohoooo!!!!
I call dibs!
Can I have that quarter when you’re done with it?
Okay, but that quarter had better not end up on eBay!
That’s awesome!
So when you finish your London trip in August, which you sadly won’t be able to take on either Eos or Hooter Air, will you use a 2-pound coin for purposes of establishing scale, and will that confuse all of Americans?
Ooh. Good point. I should dig some pound coins out of my international currency change jar and take pictures with those since it’s a UK book.
Congratulations! Looks good!
(Try a ha’penny.)