I’m biting my nails. Not literally—after all, I wear acrylics—but figuratively, and if not for the acrylics, it would be literally, too. Here’s the situation:
I have a birthday coming up in a little over a week. Concurrently, I also have two new books coming out—not with Roundtable; I have several different publishers. I decided some time ago that if the books were coming out shortly before my birthday, I would combine a book launch party with my annual birthday party and make it a double celebration. “But are you sure the books will be in my hands by the day of the party, before I send out the invitations?” I asked the publisher. He assured me they would.
Once before, I had scheduled a launch party and the books’ arrival came down to the wire. Same publisher. Another nail-biter.
As I write this post, it’s Monday, September 30, though the post won’t go up until the usual Wednesday. As of this writing, one of the books is still in layout, the other not yet in layout. Therefore, obviously, neither book has gone to press. I still need to proof and approve the layouts, then proof and approve the press proof, before any actual printing happens.
And then there is the shipping. I believe the publisher intends to pay a heavy cost for expedited shipping, but even so, I’m sweating this one big-time. ARE THESE BOOKS GONNA GET HERE BEFORE THE PARTY?
It’s a good thing I have acrylics on my nails, or I’d be biting them into the quick!