The little book is chugging along...

It's dark, drizzly, and 38 degrees. We still have not had an actual frost here on my little quarter-acre, but there's been snow spatters in the upper elevations, and actual snow that sticks on the mountains nearby. We really have to spend some time this weekend getting the outdoor stuff done. The forecast for Saturday is mild, so we'll see what we can get done. At any rate, I'd like to get the outdoor furniture under cover, and clean up the bits and pieces that really ought to be headed to the dump. I live in hope. 

Behind-the-scenes busy-ness goes on apace for my little book; the actual cover has been decided on, and the postcards for preorders are (I hope) going to be printed shortly. I am thinking about in-person venues to introduce myself and my little book, too. Usually a reading takes place when you have an actual, physical book to show off and sell, but since this is pre-orders only, if I do anything that is a reading/discussion, they'll just have to trust me. 

I'm told my a friend who is with the same publisher, going through this process a month ahead of me, that I should be getting a weekly sales report, so that will help me track the required pre-sales. Like I need to add a new stressor to my list? But yes, it's a good thing to be working toward. And I do have until December 20th. I am deeply appreciative of all the support and joy I've received already! It is both humbling and gratifying, to say the least. If all goes well, the book should be out sometime around Valentine's Day. 

I find it interesting to note that the book pre-sales began on International Women Writers Day, which also happened to be Holly's birthday and Indigenous Peoples Day. My friend Dawn and another wonderful poet, Jeanne Beaumont, also launched their new books on the same day with an online reading and chat. I've just finished teaching Shakespeare's plays to my Brit Lit students, and we spent some time talking about portents and omens-- I hope these coincidences are good ones. 

At any rate, today, I have plenty of "average" stuff to keep me busy. I have a full day at work, then home to cook a somewhat pedestrian dinner and clean bathrooms. Always a gut-check, right?

Have a good one,

C