Today is my book’s secret birthday! That special day when authors receive their very first copy of their new book. I knew what it was as soon as I saw the envelope. I could feel the hard cover inside the padding as soon as I picked it up. I carried it around the house and debated where to sit when I opened it and, for a moment, whether to wait until my husband got home late tonight from his week long business trip. No. There would be no waiting. It had been a rough week. (I haven’t even told y’all the story of my broken glass all over the kitchen.) So I plopped down on the couch and pulled the tab on the back of the envelope. I pulled hard. Too hard. Gobs of gray glitter came flying out. Wait. No, it wasn’t glitter. It was just the packing material from the envelope. Sigh.
It was shrinkwrapped. Whew! No gray gunk to stick to the cover. I’ve never had a book come to me shrinkwrapped before. I stroked the plastic front and back before using my fingernail along the top edge to slice through the plastic and slip it out the book. I held it up to my nose and sniffed. Chelsie (my dog) thought I had food so she demanded to sniff it too. I flipped the pages. Sniffed some more. Showed the insides to Chelsie then pulled it away before she started to drool on it.
It’s a book. A real book. It’s not my first book but it feels so different. It’s a NOVEL, not a picture book, not an easy reader, not an educational anything. It’s a verse novel. It’s poetry. Omigosh…it POETRY. (That still sort of freaks me out.)
It’s beautiful. I have seen all the elements that went into the book, the design, the font, the cover, the flap copy and the author info but this, seeing it in its altogether, well it is just the sweetest thing. (Cue up some U2, will you please?)
And when I turned it over there was that blurb, that wonderfully almost unbelievable blurb from a poet whom I admire tremendously. (Someone remind me later to post about how my editor actually first told me about the blurb.)
Yes, Lee Bennett Hopkins blurbed my book!!! Now you know my blurb-secret I’ve been keeping.
In case the image doesn’t come through, here’s the text of the blurb that my editor said I could now share.
“Brown creates a poignant work dealing with a topic rare in children’s literature. In spare, poetic prose, the pain and angst of a young girl whose bipolar mother leaves, never to return, is detailed. The heart of the story is the growing relationship between Rachel and her father – a rock with soft spots – and how they must learn to live, love, cope – go on with their lives – together. Readers will hug this book. I did.”
Let me tell you, Lee writing a blurb really rocked (pun intended) my world!
Official pub date is September 1st! You have called your local independent bookstore and asked them to order you a copy, haven’t you? No? Well go ahead and do that right now. I can wait. I’ll just be flipping through the pages, rereading my book, while you’re gone.
PS to someone, I can’t remember whose blog it was (sorry) who asked for a jacket photo of poet who was smiling. This is me raising my hand. I’m smiling in the pic on the jacket flap for Hugging the Rock.
Oh, wow. It’s beautiful, the blurb is magnificent, and I can’t imagine a more wonderful thing to celebrate this holiday weekend.
ENJOY THE RIDE!
Thank you. It’s really nice when dreams live up to all their expectations as did this finished book.
Gorgeous, exciting and congratulations!
Belated thanks!
CONGRATULATIONS!!! IT IS BEAUTIFUL!! And a great blurb!!
BASK in the GLORY!!!
I did. I did. Thank you! (sorry for the delay.)
What a wonderful, special event! I can’t wait to read your book – and I’ll be sure to have a box of puffy Kleenex on hand, as it sounds as though this is a for-sure weepie and I’ll need plenty!
Thanks and yes, I do recommend keeping some Kleenex handy. I STILL cry at a couple of places.
It’s real! It’s real!
It’s real! It’s real! What an exciting day! Congrats on an excellent blurb!
Re: It’s real! It’s real!
It IS real even if it feels SURREAL! Thanks.
Yay! Thanks for sharing your joy. 🙂
Thanks for letting me share. 🙂
Oh, it’s so beautiful I have tears in my eyes!!! I’m so proud to know you and this book. {{{HUG}}}
Thanks, Brandie. That means a lot. Hugs right back at ya!
I heart Lee Bennett Hopkins. How wonderful!!
Me too, Kelly! I couldn’t believe it when I first heard the blurb. Heck, I still almost don’t believe it.
Congratulations on your newest arrival! Lovely blurb
Very cool……can I purchase this book here in Ohio?
Thank you. I love that your icon always makes me smile! (sorry for the belated thanks)
Beautiful! Gorgeous! Stunning!!!!!!!
Thanks!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU SUSAN AND THE HUGGING OF THE ROCK!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks, Meg. Hugs to you on all the computer crazies of late.
It’s gorgeous!
And what a nice blurb.
Congratulations!
Thanks! I think my co-workers think I’m a little nuts as I have it posted everywhere at work. LOL
Wow!
I’m all tingly, Susan! This is so exciting!!!
Thanks – it made me go all tingly too. It’s so weird, how different each book is and how emotionally tied you can be to some and others, well, not as much. This book has a lasso around my heart, that’s for sure.
Oh, LOVELY! Congratulations!!!
Belated thanks, Cindy. Love the dancer!
It’s beautiful.
Congrats!
Belated thanks to you!
It’s super, Susan. How exciting to have such an outstanding commentator. I know you are flying high! Go girl!!
Thank you. It’s quite a thrill ride, that’s for sure.
… well it is just the sweetest thing. (Cue up some U2, will you please?)
You got it:
Hallelujah, Here She Comes!
Glooooria … G-L-O-R-I-A!
You make me feel like I could fly, so high, ELEVATION!
It’s a Beautiful Day!
I KNEW you would find the perfect songs for me. Belated thanks for just the right words.
That is one nice cover and one fabulous blurb!!
Congrats. Enjoy. I’ll call the bookstore.
Thanks so much. I’m glad to hear others like the looks of the book as much as I do. I have to admit, I wasn’t so sure when I first saw his portfolio but then, oh my goodness.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Congrats on the great blurb from LBH. The man knows his poetry.
And don’t forget to tell us how your editor told you about the blurb.
Thanks, Kristy. LBH rocks! In so many ways and I am so honored that he blurbed the book.
Oh and thanks for the reminder of the story. Must make a note of that.
Happy new book!
I’ve just placed an order at my local indie–looking forward to it!
Thank you, Janni. I hope yours is flying off the shelves!
I raise a glass to you! It looks beautiful. Congratulations and many sales!
Thank you. (clinks glasses)
How exciting! I’m so happy for you.
Don, DevasT
Thanks, Don! We need to ride the highs in this business when we can, don’t we?
It’s stunning, Susan. Can’t wait to get mine.
Thank you. It’s so much fun to share it with folks who can get excited with you.
Hugging your awesome blurb!
Hi Susan,
Happy BOOK-day and congrats on the well-deserved (and well placed) blurb! That’s better than fireworks on the 4th of July!
Best,
Erin Dealey
http://www.erindealey.com
Re: Hugging your awesome blurb!
Thanks, Erin!
So exciting
Congrats, Susan! And to be blurbbed by Lee Bennett Hopkins is huge. Well-deserved and huge!
Re: So exciting
Huge is right. I couldn’t stop crying for hours after I first heard it. Thanks!
lovely
Thank you.
WOW. This is exceptional news and a wonderful day for an author! How monumental for you! I hope the joy lingers — I imagine it will — for a long time.
It’s one of those dreamy times when everything is beautiful. Thank you for sharing in it with me.
thank you. I am. And the view is great from up here.
Thank you. Funny thing, I never get tired of looking at it. LOL