I am not sure whether it’s that my brain has been frizzled into a gray matter lardon or what, but I have been trying to post something here since Monday and failing, again and again.
Maybe it’s because I want to be able to write a straightforward FIN! HOORAY! DEADLINE VANQUISHED! sort of entry, but I am just not feeling it yet, and suspect I won’t be for another week, when the editing is complete. Right now I’m still terrified by the state of my manuscript, and fighting the urge to don a trenchcoat, scarf, and sunglasses before leaving the country entirely, leaving a trail of sweat and vomit in my wake. After I pressed ‘send’ Monday night, I surprised myself by bursting into tears. Some of that was probably just my emotional spit valve, releasing the stress that had been building for six months (and isn’t THAT a lovely metaphor!) but much of it was plain old sorrow that my book wasn’t ready and fear that it won’t be in time and that the best part about it will be the (oh so lovely) cover. And look at that, I’ve mentioned four distinct bodily fluids in one paragraph.
I shall defer my FIN! HOORAY! DEADLINE VANQUISHED! celebration for another day, but I do have something else to celebrate instead. Let’s call this the OMFG celebration, as it concerns the news that landed in my inbox this morning, the news that my book is officially available for pre-order on Amazon. Look over in the sidebar, if you don’t believe me (you have to look waaay down, because for some reason my sidebar is getting uppity with me when I try to edit it). My book has an ISBN and everything, and seeing the title in type other than my own is enough to make me believe that this will happen, my editing will be finished and my book will be a physical thing, with that delicious, familiar, book-y smell.
(Do they make air-freshener in New (or Old!) Book Smell? If not, they should. Someone get on that).
The best part of all is that after the book’s title on the Amazon page is my name, and after that, in parentheses, it says Author.
Hand to god, you guys. AUTHOR.
THIS is enough to make me believe in just about anything. Unicorns, a satisfactory outcome to the health care debacle, a race of helpful badgers inhabiting dressing rooms in order to offer scrupulously honest opinions upon your ass in those jeans: anything is possible. Butterfly in the skyyy, I can fly twice as hiiigh—I’ve got the world on a string, and it pulled me deliriously back here to tell you about it.
While I was busy working I kept this insane notebook full of things For After. Things to do, things to write about, pages and pages of notes and lists and reminders. Now, alas, I don’t know where to start, and am so sick of myself after six months of memoir-writing that I can’t imagine my thoughts about Aaron Sorkin’s weird Platonic fixation on male friendship, or my latest beauty discoveries, or my ANYTHING, being of the slightest interest to anyone.
A few months ago I signed up for formspring, and then realized that if I didn’t have time to wash my hair I certainly didn’t need another online writing venue, but now I think it will be a perfect way to ease back into this blogging thing after my long absence. You can ask me any question you like, and I will either answer on formspring or write about it here and leave a link to the post. Here is my formspring page.
(I reserve the right against self-incrimination, though I am unlikely to actually exercise said right.)
I missed you! I am so glad to be back!
{ 50 comments… read them below or add one }
The PRE-ORDER. Isn’t it the best thing ever? I can’t imagine how you feel, when I nearly DIED when I was only listed as a CONTRIBUTOR.
Tell me you’ve checked Goodreads. Have you checked Goodreads? I’ll bet you ANY MONEY you now have an AUTHOR PAGE. For me, that was better than AMAZON. Alexa, I’ll bet you have a WHOLE AUTHOR PAGE.
Congratulations on this milestone! It’s HUGE! I cannot wait to read your book, dude. I cannot. I am so proud of you.
a million bazillion congrats. i totally want to buy you a celebratory cocktail. you like greyhounds, right?
Pre-order placed! Congratulations. I like that the top two suggested tags were “memoir” and “meat.” Though I’m disappointed “goat abduction” didn’t make the tag suggestion list.
And we are glad to have you back! Yay! You did it!
And it’s totally okay to start celebrating with just washing your hair or sitting down in a chair without doing ANYTHING and not feeling guilty about it! The ability for celebration requires having energy for it first!
But seriously, OMG! YOU WROTE A BOOK!
(Wow, I really made sure that first exclamation mark didn’t feel lonely up there, didn’t I? :)
You’re also listed at the Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9780762439461/Half-Baked (I order everything from there, free shipping worldwide! Amazon shipping to Australia is HIDEOUS. )
Congratulations!!!
Congratulations!! Can’t wait to read it!
I just poured myself a glass of wine in your honor. It probably won’t genuinely feel good for awhile, because you’re so used to having it hanging over your head. But I’m hoping you’ll get to the lighter feelings soon enough. I’ve sworn off buying books online for the year, but….oh, I guess I’ll have to make an exception (unless you have an in on local booksellers in Madison who will likely carry the book right away…)
Yes! You’re on Goodreads! I am thrilled to bits for you.
Yay! You’re alive! Have missed you greatly!
I am falling asleep as I type but I HAD to write that I have nothing but 100% confidence in your book. You have never written crap. And I have seen a TON of crap get published. But YOU don’t write crap. Your book is going to be amazing. I would tell you if I didn’t think so.
In the meantime, I sit on pins and needles waiting to hold it!
So much love and belief and excitement,
Amanda
preordered! i can’t wait. and also, i’m really glad you’re back.
Congratulations!!!
I missed you too!
Dude, I’m totally ordering your book for the bookstore I work in – yay!
Every cell in my body is TOTALLY EXCITED (like Prom-excited when I was 16, uh, eons ago) for you! I have pre-ordered my book and want to and meet you for coffee and a yummy brownie (’cause they’re my favorite) and have you sign it. Or, maybe, you will do a book tour?
Yay! Congratulations! OMG BOOK! That’s so awesome!
Now, the bigger question… Will I be able to get your book on my Kindle?
Wow! Congratulations!!
Oh gosh, I can’t wait to feel all that terrible anticipation and horrible humility that you have right now. Don’t forget, you’re miles ahead of most of us and for every page you wrote there’s a thousand of us wishing we wrote it.
Congrats! I’m also drinking wine. Let’s just say it’s for you…
I want the info on the book tour!
Consider yourself pre-ordered! Congratulations on getting the manuscript in on time. I know it will be great.
LOVE the title. Glad you’re back.
HIP HIP! Congratulations! That is all.
I have dutifully added your book to my wish list.
Does this mean we can go have Chinese now?
OMFG congratulations! I went to Amazon just to see the title and author in web-print! I just need to know – how many times did you usen “usen” in the book?
I can’t wait!!!
Please tell me this book will be available on Kindle! But if not, I’ll buy it anyway. :)
So when’s the book tour? :-)
Congrats and well deserved. I can’t wait to read it.
“half baked”… i like the title already. CONGRATULATIONS!
I am still holding out hopes for a signing session in Waterstones, Stratford Upon Avon!
Delurking to say how happy I am for you!
And, I’m really glad you’re back. Yours is one of my very favorite blogs.
off to pre-order one now! fabulous!
oh, and if demeter offers scents of ‘laundromat’ and ‘riding crop’ I bet you can find a booky-sort of smell there, but nothing beats the real thing :)
http://www.demeterfragrance.com/
Congratulations! Can’t wait to read it!
By the way, I’d also love to read your thoughts on Aaron Sorkin’s fascination with platonic male friendship. Please share! :)
the same people who have looked at your book on Amazon have also looked at the multi-voice changer. Hmmm . . .
Congratulations!
pre-order placed! congratulations!
Love your title! Have pre-ordered…just wish it was available yesterday!
This is *way* cool, Alexa. You are very much an inspiration.
Oh YEAH! Congratulations!
::raises a glass (of water, because my boyfriend will begin to judge me if I pour a glass wine at 3 PM)::
I’m so, so happy for you!! I can’t wait to read your book – I know it will be witty and wonderful, just like everything I’ve read here. Congratulations.
Best. Timing Ever. The BF just came in to the kitchen with a glass of red for me. We’re /both/ drinking to you and your book!
Your book is wonderful. I’m just worried about your sanity. :-) Only a little kidding. I am very proud of you and I only know you through your blog. I can only imagine how your mom is feeling. I can’t wait to read your book! And welcome back to the blogosphere – I’ve missed you.
Hooray! And thank you for singing the Reading Rainbow theme at the top of your lungs. Now I’m stuck on that.
Dear Alexa, I am so excited to hear your news. (And heading over to Amazon right after this!) I can imagine the riot of emotions you’re going through right now, but I hope it soon gives way to a proud and happy buzz. You so deserve it.
Fin! Hooray! Pre-ordered!
Thrilled for you. Can’t wait.
New York City – surely you’ll make it to NYC on a book tour? Should I preorder or wait and buy my copy at the book signing?
I often say the best thing about a grant or brief or whatever writing task comes up at work is the deadline. Because I NEVER think its done and its only because the deadline is upon me and I have to call it quits that I am ever done. I have every confidence the same is true of your book – a week from now you’ll read it and be proud of it. We are already very proud of you.
Hooray! You’re back! Can’t wait to see more from you on your blog. And also can’t wait to preorder your book. :D
Congratulations! So glad you’re back–can’t wait to see your new posts more regularly.
Many congratulations! You know there really is a perfume/room spray that smells of old books
http://www.finebooksmagazine.com/fine_books_blog/2009/12/smell-like-old-books.phtml)but yours will have that lovely new book smell. So excited for you!
I’d like to hear your views on Aaron Sorkin and his weird Platonic male friendship fixation too. Maybe I’ll formspring you!
I just very happily pre-ordered your book! I am one of the many you supported through their own infertilty and heartaches by so candidly sharing your own. I ultimately gave up after 6 years and much money, but I often turned to this blog during sad and dark times, and it never failed to lift me up. So I am happy to buy your book. I know it will be wonderful. Congratulations! :)
Okay, look, anyone who can conjure up that badger in the dressing room image needs to know that if you want to write about Aaron Sorkin’s obsession with bromance, it’s going to be worth reading – so please write it.
Congrats on your book.