I’m home. I had a whirlwind ten days in Toronto with family and friends, doing all things wedding. I’m happy to say that not only did I survive my best friend’s Big Day, I also had a blast! The bride was beautiful, the groom was giddy, my dress fit (hey, who needs to breathe?), my speech didn’t suck, and we danced till we dropped. The whole event reaffirmed why I believe in soul mates. It was a happy, joyous day all around.
But I’m happy to be home. BECAUSE…
I woke up this morning to the best UPS delivery ever. Today was better than Christmas morning.
The doorbell rang at 9 a.m. The UPS man left a padded envelope on the doorstep. It was from Natasha, my editor’s assistant in New York. What could be inside? I honestly had no idea. I was too tired this morning to wonder, so I ripped it open.
I believe my exact words were, “Holy shit, Steve! I made a book!” I can’t even lie – it looks and feels about a thousand times more amazing than I imagined. The cover is embossed. EMBOSSED! You can actually feel the title, my name, and the handcuffs. WOW.
The title page. Look, another pair of handcuffs!
The back jacket flap. There’s my author photo! IT FREAKED ME OUT to see it there, even though that’s where it’s supposed to be.
The back cover contains an excerpt. What’s crazy is that I still remember the day I wrote this page, sometime back in November 2008. The scene takes place in a tuxedo shop and I had to close my eyes for about twenty minutes to visualize it. And now here it is, on the back of my book.
Aw, my little CREEP family! I thought the ARC (on the left) looked pretty damned good… until today. Now, sitting next to the Real Thing, the ARC sort of looks like the “still cute but slightly less good-looking” twin sister. That stack of papers to the right are my first and second-pass page edits from last fall and winter.
Viewer discretion is advised. You might want to avert your eyes, because this is what CREEP looks like naked! I’m sorry, but I just had to undress it. I was curious to see what it looked like without the cover. It’s cute without clothes!
Where’s Waldo CREEP? I organize my books alphabetically by author (but not by author and title – I’m way too lazy for that). And look where it gets to sit. Smack dab between Joe Hill (an author I love, and who also happens to be the son of *cough cough* Stephen King *cough cough*) and my friend, David Hilton, whose debut novel KINGS OF COLORADO just came out this past January. Not bad company to keep!
Holy cow, guys.
I MADE A BOOK.
It really happened. I am so happy. (insert big, goofy, slightly teary grin here)
* * *
*Squee!* Sorry, this is just so awesome that it's squee-worthy! Congratulations!
I love the photo shoot! Creep from every possible angle! You're a star! Congratulations! Can't wait to get my copy and start reading!
Teri
OHMYGAWD THIS IS THE COOLEST THING.
This is holy shizzle and you gracing the back flap, um..wowzer!
AHHHHHH that is so cool! can't wait to check it out! the book looks great 🙂
Woooooohoooooo! It's beyond GORGEOUS. The red title against the gray/white background makes it really pop from the shelves. You can tell that a lot of thought was put into every detail of the jacket. It's REALLY happening, my friend! Soak it all in!!! 🙂
Wow, I am so freakin excited for you! That must be the best feeling in the world, holding your book baby in your hands.
Go you!
That is absolutely freaking awesome!!! :o) So happy for you. Loved seeing all the pics – that's something I'd do cos I'm like that! Treasure the moment, you earned it. Congratulations, can't wait to read it.
It is beautiful!!! Congratulations 🙂
WOO!!! HOO!!! Congratulations!!!
I love everything about the look of the book…and the excerpt draws you right in. Can't wait to get my hands on your baby.
That is very cool. Congratulations!
mood
Moody Writing
@mooderino
Yaaaaaayyyyyyy!!!!!!
Looks like a million and a half bucks Jennifer 🙂
So much awesomeness!! Can a book be called beautiful? And…embossed letters? I love it! Congratulations!
Only a few more weeks to go! July will be here before we know it. 🙂
omg, i'm so happy for you Jen, i could cry. srsly. congrats a bajillion times! what a high you must be on right now! *mwa* if you ever come to ny you better look me up, girl (well if you come sometimes this summer cause after that i'll be living in Puerto Rico…WOOT!)
congrats again!!!
Congratulations! That is totally awesome. And how cute does it look naked? Just want to nibble on it's wittle corner.
Glad you had such a great time at the wedding. Now get back to work and write another book.
Very cool. I'm glad you documented the moment. Holding that first book has got to feel good. Congrats!!
Aw, that's so exciting! It's beautiful–that red will definitely pop on a bookshelf. You made a book!!!
That was fun , the way you took us through the moment!
A big congratulations to you, Jenny! We all know what you went through and sacrificed for that moment.
Things are only going to get better for you.
Best-
awesome! looks great and the author picture is strangely familiar. What does the author bio say?
Congratulations! That is awesome!!! Well done, you! 🙂 I would be so jealous, but I don't write thriller fiction, so I'm not really- I am just jealous of all the people who get to read it before I do! LOL I know you are so happy!
Hi Jenn! Yep, that spot on your bookshelf IS indeed good company to keep. lol I smiled, too, when I saw your first image of the package from S&S – thinking hey, I know that shipping label!
Congrats – it's a good day. 🙂
Looks great. Congratulations! Joe Hill is one lucky dude.
CONGRATULATIONS, way to go! Love the cover. Definitely time to do the happy dance. Wishing you much success.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Freelance Editing By Mason
this is such great news! congrats!!!
PS- I wrote a post about you and your blog today!
WOO-HOO!!!!! Yippeeeee!!!! I am so elated for you 🙂 Great job! Tons of hugs and kisses, Deyana 🙂
Wow, Congratulations Jenny,
I will be looking up here in Canada to buy a copy.
We will get it won't we?
Congratulations, Jennifer! And I love the (indecent) picture of your naked Creep. 🙂
Living. The. Dream!
Holy cow, congratulations! It looks phenomenal.
I am blinded by its awesomeness. Also feeling a little teary for you (and me 'cause yes I imagining how this will feel. I'm shallow that way). It is beautiful…without any covers too. I am so happy for you!!!
Congratulations! Now you have physical proof that you are a published author! I love the cover, by the way.
So freakin' cool. Gizmo and I can't wait to read it!
Thank you so much, everyone! It's hard to put into words what it feels like to see the book (and hold it, and pose it for pictures, haha) for the first time. It's been an amazing journey so far. Thanks so much for your good wishes. 🙂
Enjoy the feeling, all that hard work shows results! So exciting.
Awesome! And your big day is swiftly approaching! Huzzah!
I'm still giggling over the naked CREEP. How will that sentence look when taken out of context??? Congrats, Jenny! I can't wait until mine comes. I'm totally reading it again – because it's hardcover!
Congrats Jen! I look forward to telling people that I know you after your book blows off the shelves and you become on the best seller list 🙂
Sanj
ARGHHHHHHHH!!!! This is so so so so epicly amazingly awesome!! I'm so excited for Creep's release, I pre-ordered it on the Book Depository and everything! Then you have to do a very official tour next May/June when I'm visiting the US, and I'll track you down (like a CREEP…er) and get you to sign it, because you'll be a super famous author by then.
I'm so happy for you, Jennifer! 😀
This is EXCELLENT! So can't wait to get my hands on a copy, too.
Congrats, Jen!
Congratulations! You must have been super excited and I can just hear you saying "holy shit I made a book" that sounds like something I would say lol
I couldn't be anymore happy for you!!! I loved the book! I loved it so much that I know I'm going to have to have an ARC family too! I want to be able to choose whether or not my book wants to be naked!
Jennifer you deserved this! You're a beautiful writer and I'm looking forward to having several more of your books grace my shelves!
WOW!! I can't even imagine how awesome that must feel, the sense of accomplishment that must have completely overwhelmed you. Congratulations, Jennifer, and revel in the moment!! I hope I get there someday.
Woohoo!! I'm waiting to have my blog contest until your book is released. I can't wait to give away a copy!
YAY YAY YAY!! Congrats!!! Can't wait to hold it in my hands too. 🙂
OMG, it looks so pretty!!! YAY!!
YOU MADE A BOOK!
Proud of you <3
Ohmygosh Ohmygosh Ohmygosh!
I am SO excited for you!
A massive congrats for MAKING A BOOK! How wonderful and exciting and cool!
hey went throught lots of your writings and found them interesting…..great….
Can't even imagine how awesome that must feel 🙂 Congrats!
Lorena read this out loud to me at my kitchen table while I teared up. I'm sitting here shaking my head. Hard to imagine what the moment will actually feel like but you've captured it very, very well.
Sincerest congratulations. You've earned it and you deserve it.
SO COOL.
I can't believe I'm related to a famous person.
🙂
Smelly