The galley for Pericles Commission

Look what arrived in the mail!

It's a book. A real book!

This is the galley, or ARC -- Advance Reader Copy -- for The Pericles Commission. It's a very small print run destined for advance reviewers. Whereas the the final book will be hardcover, this is trade paper format.

The white blobby thing on the cover says Advance Uncorrected Proofs. This was printed after the copyedit review, but before we checked the final pages, in which we found a few things that had been missed. The back cover of this issue is precisely the page from the St Martin's catalog of books, in black system font on a white background (there's a picture below).

It's a totally surreal experience to open a book and see your own words. Words I've only ever seen on a screen, or printed on A4, were there inside, as if they were part of a real book.

You've seen the picture on the left in a previous post. It's the copyedit of the first page. I scanned the first page of the real book and put it alongside:




It's also perfect for hiding behind inconspicuously.



42 comments:

Lucas Darr said...

Awesome! Congratulations!

Gary Corby said...

Thanks Anthony!

Joseph Frankmor said...

I'm really looking forward to reading this~

Stephanie Thornton said...

Wow, Gary! That is totally, totally awesome! I'm seriously doing an Egyptian Happy Dance for you!

Gary Corby said...

Thanks Jorgh. I'd love to know what you think when you're finished. Seriously!

Gary Corby said...

Thanks Stephanie. Do we get to see a video of you doing the Egyptian Happy Dance?

You realize, don't you, that your turn will come?

Amalia Dillin said...

Congratulations!!! What a great moment!! Thanks for sharing this with us! I can't wait for your book to hit the shelves!

RWMG said...

Oh wow. Publication is getting really close now, isn't it.

Gary Corby said...

It is indeed getting close. I've become slightly frantic between getting ready for the first book and writing the third. (As poor Janet could tell you since from time to time she has to remind me to be sane). The second book, thank the Gods, is in abeyance for me at the moment while the editors read it.

Unknown said...

WOOHOO

Looks so exciting !!! congratulations :)

Gary Corby said...

Thanks Kosmos!

Gary Corby said...

Amalia, looks like blogger ate my reply to you, so trying again...

Thanks! I'm looking forward one day to doing a signing event with you.

RWMG said...

BTW,have you decided on the author photo for the book yet?

Tricia J. O'Brien said...

So exciting! A book. A real book. Can't wait to read it.:D

Gary Corby said...

The jacket photo will be a black and white version of the head shot in the sidebar.

No, not the blue shark, the one above it.

The head shot was taken by the highly talented Vicki Skarratt, who photographs famous actors for a living and very kindly offered to do mine when she heard the book had sold. Vicki and my wife are friends from school days.

I'd never realized before how much skill it took to take a great photo. It was actually lots of fun doing the shoot.

RWMG said...

I was going to say that one looks much better than the one of you holding the book.

Gary Corby said...

Thanks Tricia!

Gary Corby said...

Robert, that's the difference between a professional's work, and an 11 year old girl working with poor light in the 5 minutes before she has to go to school!

Though having said that, the one of me peering over the top has its attractions...

Lexi said...

Woot!

And it's such a nice cover...

Gary Corby said...

Thanks Lexi! I hope I get to see you holding your cover some time soon.

Carrie Clevenger said...

Beautiful. It's been a fun journey with you Gary.

Gary Corby said...

Thanks Carrie, I can see you're starting to chug along too.

Nighfala said...

Wow, wow, WOW! Celebrating with you, and dreaming of that day for myself.

Too bad Janet doesn't like fantasy or I'd try querying her badly, too. (wink)

Gary Corby said...

Thanks Christine!

Your logic is excellent, but I absolutely would not recommend anyone manage their query the way I did! Otherwise, like me, you'll need the sort of luck normally associated with winning the Irish sweepstakes.

Matthew Delman said...

That is 100 different kinds of cool, Gary. I can't wait to get my copy of the book this fall, or to have you sign the sucker on your tour.

Very awesome, sir.

Gary Corby said...

You're very kind, Matt. I'm really looking forward to meeting you at last.

DeadlyAccurate said...

Yay! I'm excited for you.

Susan Kaye Quinn said...

So awesome and exciting! The transformation to solid form must really feel good. Congrats again!

Gary Corby said...

Thanks Susan and Carla. You're right Susan, the conversion to solid form makes a *big* difference. Which is a little odd because, technically, it should make no difference at all.

Anne Frasier said...

very exciting, gary!!

Susan Kaye Quinn said...

The difference is between the optimistic hopefulness of this, and what you're holding in your hands. Lurve it for all it's worth! :)

Gary Corby said...

Thanks Anne. And congratulations yourself on selling your memoir. Wonderful news!

Gary Corby said...

It okay Susan, I'm lurving it.

The optimistic hopefulness of creating one's own book cover is an interesting way to gather inspiration. Just don't mention it in a query! Approximately the only two mistakes I did not make in my query were saying I'd designed a cover, and asking could they get me on Oprah.

Loretta Ross said...

Gary, that's totally awesome! I'm so looking forward to seeing this in stores (and on the best seller lists!) and asking people, "oh, have you seen my friend's book yet?" *G*

Gary Corby said...

You're very kind, Loretta!

I must to be honest defenestrate any idea of bestseller-hood. Ancient mysteries are not the kind of books to make their way onto bestseller lists. Very happy to be wrong though.

Loretta Ross said...

You know what the Oracle of Delphi would say?

"When The Pericles Commission hits the stands, there will be a new book on the best seller lists." ;)

Gary Corby said...

I thought the Oracle would say Nothing In Excess?

Clearly I don't know myself.

Loretta Ross said...

I thought the Oracle would say Nothing In Excess?

I'm sorry, I think you've gone over my head. I don't get it?

Gary Corby said...

Sorry, Loretta. My own obscure joke. Written above the entrance to Delphi were two pieces of advice:

Know Thyself; and
Nothing In Excess (in this case, sales)

Bill Kirton said...

At last Gary. Many congratulations. The nearest we poor men can get to producing a baby.

Anneke said...

I'm so impressed and proud, here at the other side of the world! Can't wait to get a copy. I'll send you the picture!

And Bill, a child, all made of dead trees and ink, no crying, no sounds, no toys all over the floor. That's my kind of baby.

Gary Corby said...

Thanks Bill and Anneke! Most especially for all your support and help.

I'm not so sure about this childbirth analogy. They both seem to take about 9 months.