So last week was the “launch week” for THE CAGED GRAVES, although the launch party itself only happened last night. (And I’m writing this on Saturday, so I can’t see into the future to tell you how it went.) But this was what happened last week:
MONDAY:
I had editorial revisions due to HarperCollins, but no sweat on that. I had already sent them in on Sunday night. I was more worried about the bridal shower we were throwing for my co-worker after school. I don’t think we fooled her. She saw through our ploy for getting her out of the way while we set up, and she told me afterwards that I didn’t look her in the eye or speak to her all day. But she was happy and excited anyway, and she loved the money tree we made for her honeymoon fund.TUESDAY:
Release day for THE CAGED GRAVES, which I celebrated by … going to work, just like any other day. Really, Tuesday was ridiculously normal, except for the dozens of congratulatory Tweets that lit up my phone all day. Thanks, everyone!
Oh — and there was also an astonishing sight at recess duty: something that looked like a rainbow ring around the sun. After one of my co-workers googled it on his phone and assured us it was NOT a sign of the apocalypse, kids and teachers all enjoyed the beauty of it.
Phew. It would stink if the world ended on my release day.
WEDNESDAY:
A special treat from HarperCollins arrived in my in-box – a sneak peek at the proposed cover for THE EIGHTH DAY. I had asked if I could share it with my class, since they have been following the development of this book from the first day of school. Both reading classes were over-the-top excited at this preview and were literally shouting over one another, trying to give me feedback for the HarperCollins design team. And the design team was thrilled by their enthusiastic response.
No, I can’t show you the cover yet. Sorry. 😀
THURSDAY:
Reviews for THE CAGED GRAVES have been appearing all week on various blogs. By Thursday, some of my favorites can be found at Read My Breath Away, Books Take You Places, and MissPrint.Sorcia goes to the vet for an infected cut that she won’t stop picking at and comes home with a battery of antibiotics, steroids, disinfectants, and the Cone of Shame.
FRIDAY:
I panic right before I have to leave for work. Sorcia is listless, and I realize she can’t even get a drink of water with that stupid cone on her head. The day is supposed to be hot, and I’m afraid she’ll be dehydrated. I impose on my brother-in-law, Larry, to check on her during the day, and I go to work unhappy and miserable, wondering if I should’ve taken a sick day to stay home and watch the dog sleep.
I feel guilty for the better part of the day, until my husband arrives home from his business trip and texts me that the dog is perfectly fine. She actually CAN drink out of the swimming pool (just like always), and he suggests that her listlessness in the morning was a big ol’ act – a sulk-fest because she didn’t like the cone. He might have been right, or maybe the steroids had perked her up in the meantime.
So, that was my glamorous week. How was yours?
Wow, that is quite a week! I hope your party was a blast, and that Sorcia is feeling better. 🙂
What a week…
Sorry to hear about your dog… Hope she’s better by now.
How exciting about the cover! YAY… Congrats again on Caged Graves. I am reading it now and hope to post the review with your interview.
Such fun…
Did you want me to send some questions, or did you want to handle it? Usually the author does, but if you’d like I can to. I was thinking about a twist. I should email it to you….
Sounds like a busy week!
Congratulations on the launch if your book and I hope your dog is feeling a bit better now.
sounds like a great week.
hope she gets rid of the infection.
You had such an amazing week. So happy for you! Well, except for poor Sorcia. I love the photo, though. I’ll have to post the one we have of your little pooch. She was all coned up last week, too!
Poor Sorcia, dogs so hate the cone of shame. Well. I should say intelligent dogs hate the cone of shame. Not so intelligent dogs (like mine for example) run around like always and ram into things – including you – like they couldn’t care less.
Dude, seriously, even excluding the book release, your week was way more glamorous than mine. I’ve been waiting on the signing of a deal for a month now, I can’t quite get a hold of my WIP idea, and the TV is just showing reruns. I think I’ll indulge in a big ol’ sulk-fest just like Sorcia…
I expect my release day would be like yours and I’d be having a normal, work day. Sounds like it was a great week though and awesome you’re getting reviews.
So sorry about your dog. Our new puppy has mange and has cost us over $400 in 2 months. We have plenty of antibiotics, sprays, shampoo, and other medicine to give her. But she’s worth it and getting better. Hope yours is too.
I missed out on sending you congratulatory tweets! Darn!! But congratulations anyway. We’re on chapter 2 of We Hear the Dead and the kids LOVE IT!
I’m not sure about glamorous, but it was certainly eventful. I am a dog lover, and I’m happy the pooch is okay.
Sounds like a good week, minus Sorcia’s cone! I don’t think I gave you an official congratulations so here it is: CONGRATULATIONS LADY!!! Yaaay. So excited for The Caged Graves to take on the world.
So excited to read your book. It’s taking a fast track to the top of my TBR list once I finish some other commitments. Congrats!
So what you’re say, Dianne, is that if James Bond was ever to interview you, you wouldn’t last 30 seconds before he would figure out all your secrets? 😀
Congrats on your book launch. Hopefully we get to see pictures next week from the party!!!
Not as glamorous as YOURS! But we’re going to the north GA mountains tomorrow to celebrate our anniversary for a few days. Would you believe we’re gonna pan for gold? Different, huh? (Okay, so not exactly glamorous… but it’ll be fun!)
It sounds pretty exciting to me!! 😀 Sorry about your poor doggie though. 🙁
Sounds like a great week! Congrats on the launch 🙂
Gosh, Dianne, I would have felt the exact same way leaving my doggie!
And how cool that you got to share that cover with them–special!
Some highs, some lows–such is life, right?
XO
I love it, Dianne! I love how absolutely normal and down-to-earth you are through a release week! You are awesome. Congratulations!
Sorry abou your doggie! So…I was just at the library 20 minutes ago and there it was…THE CAGED GRAVES and I almost grabbed it and ran away, but the librarian caught me and I couldn’t get it because it didn’t have a silly clear cover or check-out slippy thing inside so I’ll have to break into the library TONIGHT and steal it when she’s not there…or wait until Tuesday when the library is open again and hope no one else grabbed it. Or stole it. So excited. I know you! Kind of. Anyway, congrats 🙂
Congratulations on your launch! You handled it and everything that came with it with grace and awesomeness. I should be getting Caged Graves in the mail soon … 🙂
Glamorous indeed!!! I loved hearing about your launch week. I cannot wait to read your book, Dianne. It sounds fantastic and just what I’m in the reading mood for. Congrats on everything! And I hope your pup is feeling much better.