Yesterday afternoon I saved my WIP to a flash drive and shut down my desktop computer at the first sign of thunder. My fully-charged laptop waited for me downstairs. I figured I could squeeze in more writing time on the battery while the storm passed overhead.The thunder stopped and the clouds wandered aimlessly out to the eastern plains before I had a chance to get downstairs.
As often happens, that interruption led to a series of additional interruptions that eventually led to the real news in this post. However, one step at a time:
1. The drier had completed its cycle so I folded clothes, reloaded the drier, and started a new load in the washer.
2. Hunger pangs struck (this never would have happened if I’d still been upstairs writing), so I slathered cream cheese and lox on five Triscuits and left the plate by my laptop.
3. It was almost 4:00 so it was time to get the mail. I walked outside and found my hubby had forgotten to disconnect the ham radio antenna from the house before he left. I looked at the sky. Still some dark clouds around. I disconnected the antenna and went back into the house.
4. There was something I forgot to do. I stood in the middle of the kitchen until I remembered. Get the mail.
5. I walked back outside and around the corner to the block of mailboxes. Inside the small box with the usual junk mail was a key to one of the big boxes. I hadn’t ordered anything new. Maybe something for my hubby. I opened the big mailbox to find a good-sized cardboard box inside. Stamped “media mail.” My heart started beating faster. Could it be? Already? The copies of the new book? The box was sure heavy enough. I struggled to get the box out and then lugged it back around the corner, through the gate, in the door, and onto the kitchen table. Opened box, pulled out stuffing at the top.
And I finally held a copy of The Desert Hedge Murders with its gorgeous cover (designed by Christopher Wait at ENC Graphic Services–thanks, Christopher). Turned the book over, and for the first time realized the background of the back cover resembles a rattlesnake’s skin. How cool is that? Thumbed through the pages. Checked out my author photo on the inside back flap. Hmmm. Pretty big photo. Shows a few wrinkles. Pretend I didn’t tell you that.
Eventally I stopped walking around, grinning, with the book in my hands, doing the little Happy Dance, because it was time to go to another author’s booksigning. Where, of course, I bought more books. Oh, forgot to mention that I must have eaten the Triscuits because next time I looked, the plate was empty.
Hi, Patricia. I love this story (mostly because it reminds me of how my best laid plans often go awry). Congrats on the new book. And thanks for stopping by Write Out Loud and commenting on my interview with Alexis.
Wow — Love the new header on your blog!! It looks really great. Colors go really well with your background!
Patricia;
Yes, I caught it, but decided that discretion was the better part of valor in this instance!
This is too funny. Usually my detours lead to nothing, but yours had the pot of gold at the end. Congratulations. I can’t wait to see and read it.
My happy dance on YouTube? I wonder if it would sell books.
By the way, why didn’t any of you authors catch me on my typo (in the title, for Pete’s sake)? Too late. I fixed it.
Congrats! on your milestone. Next time you do that little dance, videotape it and put it on Youtube. I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say I’d love to see it.
Stephen Tremp
The graphic is a photo I took about 9 years ago right up here in Northern Colorado, not much more than twenty minutes from where I live. Is it any wonder I love this part of the country?
If your new header graphic came from being off schedule, then I’d say it was worth the distraction. Sometimes the best things are happy accidents.
Many congratulations on the new book! I think every time something nice arrives unexpectedly in the mail we all revert to 7 year old children on our birthdays. The unrestrained joy of a surprise is a wonderful emotion!
The new graphic is lovely.
Elspeth
Thanks everyone. After staying up late last night to get that photo the right size and try to remember everything Carolyn taught me last week, I was a lazy slug-a-bed this morning. Now off to grab my first cup of coffee.
Enjoyed reading the build up to your wonderful surprise. Nice to know someone else is as easily distracted as I am! The cover looks good! Oh, and I like the new graphic, too.
Patricia, so happy for you. I love the image of you doing a little happy dance. And, like, Galen, I think the new graphic at the top is wonderful. Best of luck with your new book!
Karen
P.S. Really like the new header graphic.
Oooooh. A new book…and a surprise delivery at that! It doesn’t get much better. Sounds like its design is very much what you’d hoped for. That makes a big difference. If you’re kinda ashamed of, or, not too happy with, the cover…it’s hard to “push” it at stores and signings. You sorta reluctantly hand it over while looking the other way. Some print runs of my first book, the cover didn’t come out exactly perfect. So, I’ve experienced this. Sigh.
Best Regards, Galen
Imagineering Fiction Blog
Congratulations on getting your books! Glad you remembered to get your mail (I have days like that, too…)
Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder
So great that you got your books. That’s a legitimate distraction.
Although if I had to shut down and disconnect every time there was a thunderstorm, I’d never get any writing done. We live in the lightning strike capital of the planet, I think. 4000 strikes in an afternoon isn’t unusual. We have very good surge protection, both on the entire house and on each of our computers.
Good luck with the new book. I’ve had the pleasure of reading it already.