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:
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:
42 comments:
Awesome! Congratulations!
Thanks Anthony!
I'm really looking forward to reading this~
Wow, Gary! That is totally, totally awesome! I'm seriously doing an Egyptian Happy Dance for you!
Thanks Jorgh. I'd love to know what you think when you're finished. Seriously!
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?
Congratulations!!! What a great moment!! Thanks for sharing this with us! I can't wait for your book to hit the shelves!
Oh wow. Publication is getting really close now, isn't it.
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.
WOOHOO
Looks so exciting !!! congratulations :)
Thanks Kosmos!
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.
BTW,have you decided on the author photo for the book yet?
So exciting! A book. A real book. Can't wait to read it.:D
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.
I was going to say that one looks much better than the one of you holding the book.
Thanks Tricia!
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...
Woot!
And it's such a nice cover...
Thanks Lexi! I hope I get to see you holding your cover some time soon.
Beautiful. It's been a fun journey with you Gary.
Thanks Carrie, I can see you're starting to chug along too.
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)
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.
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.
You're very kind, Matt. I'm really looking forward to meeting you at last.
Yay! I'm excited for you.
So awesome and exciting! The transformation to solid form must really feel good. Congrats again!
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.
very exciting, gary!!
The difference is between the optimistic hopefulness of this, and what you're holding in your hands. Lurve it for all it's worth! :)
Thanks Anne. And congratulations yourself on selling your memoir. Wonderful news!
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.
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*
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.
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." ;)
I thought the Oracle would say Nothing In Excess?
Clearly I don't know myself.
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?
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)
At last Gary. Many congratulations. The nearest we poor men can get to producing a baby.
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.
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.
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