Wednesday, December 26, 2007

The galleys have arrived!

The Fed Ex man delivered a very nice gift--the galleys for I So Don't Do Mysteries.

This is the typeset copy of the book--I can see how each page will look, how each chapter will start, what the font is.

Here are my thoughts:

The font is extremely cute. I'll have to ask Editor Wendy which font it is. I like to know fonts in the same way that I like to know the catering company listed in the credits of a movie. Being serious here.

Each chapter begins with an adorable line drawng of a coffee cup with slender wisps of steam. The chapter number is on the cup. Very adorable.

There are 264 pages. I was really curious about this. My computer version (New Courier) has 282 pages (around 55,457 words).


Anyway, anyway, anyway. I have to read through the galleys, mark any changes and have them back to Editor Wendy by mid-January. This is my last chance to make changes. LAST CHANCE, folks. Kind of freaking me out. I'm going to have to trick myself into reading the galleys withOUT thinking it's my LAST CHANCE.

So... La, la, la. I think I'll sit down with a cup of tea and read the cute galleys. Just for fun. La, la, la. No big deal. No particular pressure. La, la, la.

37 comments:

  1. This is so exciting!! You have to be feeling so proud, despite the pressure. The coffee cup sounds lovely. Have a big cup of coffee, relax and enjoy your work, while you do our final look. It is really amazing, do you feel like you have to pinch yourself? Congratulations!!
    XOXOX

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  2. I'm so excited for you! I didn't know about any of that. My novel that I have been working on for about three years is online 73 pages so I will just shoot for a 282 goal! I can't wait to read your novel!

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  3. How exciting! The coffee cup sounds adorable, and I like to know fonts too--they add so much to the overall look.

    Congratulations!

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  4. Oh cool! Congratulations, Barrie! That's exciting!

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  5. Hi Eileen--Thank you for the congrats. And, yes, I do have to pinch myself. I like you coffee idea!

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  6. Kelley, I'm glad you're excited! So, do you have any New Year's goals pertaining to writing? :)

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  7. Hi Alyssa, I usually like a really round font. This is one isn't too round, but I really like it!

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  8. Hi PJ! I think every little step makes it all seem a little more real. I canNOT imagine going into a bookstore and seeing my book on a shelf though!

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  9. Thank you, Spy Scirbbler, thank you!!

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  10. Hi Barrie,

    Thanks for the kind words you left at my blog.

    Congratulations on receiving your galleys!

    Here's to an awesome 2008 :-)

    Smiles,
    Michele
    Writing the Cyber Highway

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  11. Michele, you're very welcome!

    So, I'm curious as to why you're thinking of switching to word press. Is there something I don't know??

    And, yes, let's have a GREAT 2008!

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  12. Ah, I don't know if I'll switch to WordPress or not. It's just something I'm considering. Some of my friends have moved and almost everyone voted for the move. I'm still deciding.

    I don't think there's anything you don't know. I'm just trying to decide how my blog will grow in 2008 and whether or not WordPress will be part of that growth :-)

    Smiles,
    Michele

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  13. Congratulations! I'm very excited for you and looking forward to seeing a copy myself soon! :-)

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  14. Oh my gosh, this is so exciting!!!! Have fun with it! And Congrats!!!!

    Yeah, I really need to get moving on my writing goals... You're making me uber jealous.

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  15. Oh is this exciting or what?!? Beyond exciting!!! Final changes...and to "see" what the book will look like when it is on the stands?!? Makes having Ms. Potato Head for the next one worth it!!! :)

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  16. Congrats, Barrie - great gift for this time of year - it must be feeling more real all the time!
    and the cute details with the font and chapter numbers sound
    wonderful.
    -gabe

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  17. whoa! galleys...i am sooo in awe. one day i hope to write about such things. one day...

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  18. I am so excited for you - it must feel so rewarding to see those. Congrats!

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  19. It is wonderful to read about authors who have recently sold a story and are beginning their review of the galleys. Congratulations! Your story looks very interesting from the brief description on your blog. An excellent selection for one of next year's holiday gifts.

    All the best in the new year with your writing.

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  20. Oh my goodness. I know nothing about publishing a book. But I have to think that reading the galleys is incredibly exciting. And I love knowing fonts. Drives me nuts when I don't. My 7 yr old can identify tons of fonts. He has even made up his own. SO I hear you.

    Can't wait to read your book. Thanks for finding me!

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  21. Lol, you took a picture of the envelope...you sound like my type of person.

    Anyway, don't think of it as your last chance, think it's one more step to your book being published. Hmm, I'm not sure which is scarier.

    Congrats!

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  22. Last chance?? No pressure??
    Best of luck - it's a bit like letting your child venture off in the world without you.
    But how exciting!

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  23. Very Cool Barrie!!! I am so honored to know you - a real author and can't wait to see and buy your book. See ya. Kellan

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  24. Big whoop. Galley's Schmally's. Right?

    Are you kiddin' me? I'd be a wreck as well as so excited reading through those. My hands would shake, I'd spill the hot tea... not in my lap, but onto the pages.

    This is great!!! Congrats again, Barrie.

    Now, you state 264 pages from 55,457 words. How big is the book, I mean as far as length and width of the page. Is it Harry Potter size or Wicked Lovely, which is just a bit smaller? (And, yes, this is a serious question.) In other words... details.

    Finally (I know, thank the Lord), you've obviously still got one last chance to rename a character Brian (you may leave out the Ohio).
    ;-)

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  25. la la la....HOW EXCITING!!!!! I wanna read it too!

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  26. That is absolutly fabulous! How very exciting. Congratulations. I promise to buy it.

    I will now know how many pgs I should have for my book.

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  27. You are so funny.

    How very exciting.

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  28. Barrie - hooray! One of my biggest joys was when I got Halo galleys and realized they'd done the chapter headings in my all time fav font (yes, I'm that sad that I do have one!!!!)

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  29. Barrie,
    Congratulations!!! That must've been an incredibly exciting moment :-).

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  30. I'm so excited! This is great. And I love coffee! Cute cover!

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  31. Very exciting about your book.

    I thought only my old boss was obsessed with fonts. Frutiger! Make it frutiger!

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  32. Does it feel more real, now that you have a physical book in your hands?

    What a wonderful holiday present, even if it does mean more work. And I hope you let us know when you hear what font it is. I happen to be fond of typefaces too. :)

    Happy New Year!!
    Jen

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  33. Oh how exciting........may the last chance prove to be.....um......no pressure.

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