The Daily News

LFCA Latest Issue: Friday, September 25, 2009.

Latest Post on BlogHer: Parenting after Infertility.

My Status: Fed Josh's almonds to the squirrels. They needed them very badly.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Galley Ho!

Along with scoring $40 worth of toiletries for $21 yesterday, my other huge accomplishment was receiving the galleys for the book in the mail. Introducing the plain-cover-version-because-we-don't-have-the-cover-art-finished-yet copy of Navigating the Land of If: Understanding Infertility and Exploring Your Choices.

It is pretty damn trippy to hold a copy of your book. I mean, sure, I've held a construction paper covered and stapled copy of the novel I wrote as a four-year-old: Miss Piggy Sings A Lot of Songs on Tuesday Morning. But I guess it's different when it has a real binding and cool graphics and can be purchased at the local bookstore rather than "rented" from my makeshift "library bookshelf" in my bedroom. With an old address label as the "bar code."

Obviously I knew that the book was going to be coming in bound form at some point, but I decided to bring it over to my parent's house and surprise them. I handed it over and said, "I found this really cool book at the bookstore today."

I know--how fucking lame can I get with announcements? Seriously, I did something equally lame for when we told them about the twins. It's like I have announcement anemia. My announcements are so anemic that they only elicit a confused, "what?"


Here is a random page so you can see how cool it looks on the inside. While I'd love to do a side-by-side comparison with my Miss Piggy book, I believe that it is currently being housed in a drawer at my mother's house.

This random page has a text box on what to do when you hit a blood vessel during an injection and whether the drugs still work at full potency if you reinject them (they do--you get a bruise, but you save $50 without having to throw away that shot of Gonal-F) which is something I always wondered and I've never seen covered in a book. And while the nurse that I asked thought the question was strange and needed to go do research herself to answer it, she agreed that it was sound information to have. The other text book is why bruising occurs at all and how to minimize it. Shazaaaaaaam!

This is what I didn't know about galleys--they are essentially the butt-ugly, quick version of getting the book into bound-form so you can send it out for blurbs, medical vetting, and the like. Most of the time, galleys are not even produced in-house. It is only going to get better from here and I already love the layout.

So, that's the update on the book. Galleys are in. I'll post the cover as long as the publisher says it's okay when I have that in hand. The bound version that I'll use for the final edit will be sent around January. And um...that's it. Oh--and there's a message to all of you on page 286. That's just me being a tease--you'll have to wait until May to find out what it says. I sure hope they don't change the page numbering now that I've said that.

95 comments:

bleu said...

CONGRATS CONGRATS CONGRATS

THAT IS SOOOOO AWESOME MEL!!!!!!!


I am so excited for you.

RBandRC said...

That is SO exciting! Congratulations!!! :)

Soapchick said...

Awesome! I can't wait to read it next year! Congrats Ms. Author!

Io said...

I have to wait until MAY to buy your book?
All this waiting...
(Yippee! I am so freaking excited for you!)

JW Moxie said...

There is seriously a thrilling chill of excitement coursing through my veins now.

Congratulations, and I can't wait to buy your book!

nancy said...

I seriously don't know what is cooler. The book's arrival or your use of the word "fucking" in this post. :)

How trippy it must be to see your name in print. Well, not just in print, but in print as the AUTHOR of a honest to goodness BOOK.

And check out that hair-do! Hubba hubba.

Busted said...

Wow! I'm super impressed, this is so exciting! I may buy the book even if I consider myself an IF expert, just because I "know" the author.

loribeth said...

How totally cool is that?? You must be so thrilled! (I sure would be!) Congratulations, Mel -- I cannot wait to read it!

Bella said...

That is so cool!!!! I'm so prund if you! I sure hope to be PG before May, but I will still by the book becasue it's by you! ;)

Heidi said...

It is beautiful!!!

xxoo

AnotherDreamer said...

OOOOOOHHHHHH, HOW COOL!

Congratulations! I can not wait to get my hands on your book.

I can only imagine the feeling. The only thing I get published are articles in the school magazine, and some stuff in our campus literary journal. A book, now that's a league of its own.

annacyclopedia said...

Congratulations! That's so wonderful to see it taking shape so tangibly. Can't wait to stroll into my local bookstore and order a copy. Well, actually, I'll probably tell them to order in a huge number of copies, and then I'll buy at least one!

luna said...

hooray hooray! so very exciting. mighty congratulations!

now if we could just get you out here again for a book signing...

Cricket said...

Wow, new book...new short hair...which do I like the most?

Hearty congrats on both.

S said...

YAY! I don't care that I'm a crusty 'ol barren bitch, I am totally buying your book!! Congrats to you (ps-LOVE the new 'do!!)

Anonymous said...

Wahoo!!!!

Can we have a book release party when it officially comes out?

Lori Lavender Luz said...

I think this calls for a Lushary celebration.

Sooooo excited for you! I have goosebumps.

Erin said...

SOOOOOOOOOOOOO COOL! Congratulations on your book!!!

Jamie said...

I am so excited for you. This is amazing!!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations -- and your hair looks great!

asheggy said...

WHOO HOO!!!
How exciting!
Im so thrilled for you!
This book will help SO MANY PEOPLE - You have done a huge service to humanity!!!

PS - Im buying copies for all of my family and friends!

AwkwardMoments said...

excellent excellent! This is going to be so good for you!

chicklet said...

How amazing is that. A book. YOUR book. Published. Woohoo!

ColourYourWorld said...

Woohoo!!! How very exciting ! Congratulations!!

battynurse said...

Whoohooo!!!!!!!!!!!
So, are you going to be signing all of our copies that you buy????

Jim and April said...

so happy for you and your book! looks great!

Denise said...

How cool!!! Can't wait to go buy the book as soon as it is available!

Geohde said...

Congratulations Mel, that's awesome :)

J

Paz said...

that is so damned exciting. so impressed, as always!

Anonymous said...

Awesome!!!

Smiling said...

wow... that is AWESOME!!! congrats!

Stacie said...

How exciting, Mel! That is just totally awesome.

I can't wait to read it!

nh said...

Wow, wow, wow! How exciting!

N said...

How awesomely fantastic!

Jen said...

Wow. Congratulations! I can't wait to buy it! :)

Anonymous said...

Fantastic!

m said...

I am SO SO SO SO SO proud of you!!!

Congratulations - can't wait to get my greasy mitts on a copy!

x

Anonymous said...

oh how exciting! Congrats!

Shauna said...

How cool is that? Your own galley!

MsPrufrock said...

And the list of accomplishments grows ever longer. Congratulations! I can't imagine how exciting this must be for you.

When you're on Oprah and shit can you give me a shout out? Maybe a subtle touch of the side of the nose? A quick pimp of Music Monday? I'll take anything.

Anonymous said...

wooooo hooooo!!
This is totally a cartwheel moment in life. SO proud of you.

(& so thankful- as I TOTALLY was a gal that freaked when she created a crime scene with a misplaced PIO injection.)

GO YOU!

Anonymous said...

Congrats on galley stage! Wouldn't I love to be the freelance proofreader for your book. : )

Baby Smiling In Back Seat said...

I knew that the book would be emotionally helpful, but I had no idea it was so practical too! Hooray for you!

The strange thing about galleys is what to do with them later. There are typos and errors and the cover is ugly, so it's not a real book, but it seems that most authors can't bring themselves to throw them away. I definitely can't imagine you throwing it away.

Did I mention Hooray for you?

Jendeis said...

How awesome! I think you should do The Daily Show in addition to Oprah.

Wordgirl said...

Hooray hooray -- now that calls for a celebration!

What a wonderful gift you've given people who struggle with IF Mel,

truly, a gift.

If we don't thank you enough -- we should...everyday.


Pam

Meghan said...

Congrats!! I'm so proud to say I know you!! can't wait to get my copy

MrsSpock said...

Squee! How terribly exciting!!

Helen said...

Where the hell is the button on my keyboard that can make a high-pitched delighted squealing noise? That's the button I want. That's the noise you deserve.

Mindy said...

Woooo Hooooo, that is awesome. I'm so excited for you, and I can't wait to get my own copy!!!

Deb said...

Hooray! So exciting for you!

Anonymous said...

well if that doesn't deserve a SQUEEEE! I don't know what does. I love galleys. One of my parents' friend is a writer of children's books. I still have some of the galleys he gave me when I was little.

Enjoy! You've earned it.

Samantha said...

That book looks awesome, even in the galley proofs! I would have loved to have read something about injection advice--there's so little of that out there!

Love the your haircut!

Lyrehca said...

Mazel tov!

Are they sending the galley out now for media reviews?

Dora said...

Woo hoo!! Can't wait to get my copy.

Love the idea of the Daily Show. I think Jon Stewart's kids are IVF babies. I could totally see the two of you coming up with a "what NOT to say" list!

Didn't get a chance to comment on the hair before. LOVE IT!!

Shinejil said...

Congrats! I can't wait to check it out!

Emily said...

Congrats! That is amazing! You must be super proud!

I love the new hair, the new layout and all the newness going on around here.

You rock our worlds mel!

Anonymous said...

if i send t5he addy of the bookstore i work in, can i get a reading copy?

beagle said...

Go You!!

Unknown said...

Many congrats to you!! This is an amazing accomplishment. You must be beaming (indeed you are, as seen in your photo!). You rock.

Kristin said...

Wooohoooooo...I am definitely gonna snatch up a copy of that when its out!

Emily said...

gorgeous fabulous news! and I have to say, you and the new hair are completely gorgeous fabulous as well!!

barrenisthenewblack said...

You are a literary rockstar! I want to read it NOW!

Grad3 said...

How wonderfully AMAZING!!!!!!! Can't wait to read all about it!!!! YAY, YAY, YAY for you!!!!

IdleMindOfBeth said...

SO FREAKING AWESOME!!!

Congrats congrats CONGRATS!

So, come May, how do we go about getting our copies signed by the author? Hmmmmmmmmmm?

Kate said...

SO AWESOME! Congrats!!

JJ said...

OH HOW COOOOOOOL! Yay=) Bursting with pride for you! How can I get an autographed copy when the time comes!?

Jess said...

YAY! CONGRATS! :)

Michelle said...

Wow! That is so amazing and exciting! I can not wait until this book comes out!!

Soupy said...

*SCREAMING WITH JOY!*
OMG! MEL!! that is soooooooo amazing! I'm so damn excited to get my hands on this book! :)

ANd it's SO funny you posted this- as I was doing my hair this AM - you popped into my head and I was wondering about your book! (weird, huh?)

Waiting Amy said...

Thrilled for you! And oh so proud!

Amy said...

Congrats! That's very exciting!

Somewhat Ordinary said...

CONGRATS!! I can't wait to read it! This is exciting!

TeamWinks said...

Excellent news! Can't wait to check it out!

Caba said...

OMG! That's so exciting! A million congrats!

Cara said...

YEAH!!! Oh Melissa you give me such hope!!!!

Still waiting for a publisher to pick up the book!

fingers crossed!!! (I'd love a trippy day sometime in the next two years!)

Sarah said...

Thats just fantastic!!

Congratulations!!

Sunny said...

Congratulations!! That is quite an accomplishment, I am very impressed. Way to go!!

Aurelia said...

Congratulations my dear!

Care said...

Congratulations - what a thrill to be this-much-closer to having the final book in hand!

Amanda said...

THAT IS SOOOO FREAKING COOL!!!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! May we all make lemonade out of the lemons infertility has pelted at us!!!

HereWeGoAJen said...

This is so exciting! When can I pre-order?

Congratulations! I am so proud.

K said...

Wonderful, Mel!

Teal Marie Chimblo Fyrberg said...

I worked in publishing for many years and there is nothing more satisfying then seeing it all come together. Many congrats to you!!!

B said...

HOorah for wonderwoman aka Mel.

A big hearty congratulationis from me

Anonymous said...

Yaay! I can't wait to read it! (The infertility book, I mean. Not Miss Piggy. Although my kids might prefer Miss Piggy....)

Congratulations! I know what an omcredibly accomplishment this is!

kate said...

Yay! Cool, cool, cool! I can only imagine how that must feel to be holding a (preliminary, but still...) copy of a BOOK- one that YOU WROTE!!! Awesome.

Linda said...

WAHOOO! Congrats, Snatch! You are DA BOMB!

Billy said...

Congratulations !!!

Anonymous said...

What a HUGE accomplishment. Congrats!

Anonymous said...

That is trippy! And SO FREAKING EXCITING :)))

CONGRATS!

Jessica White said...

Congratulations! I can't even imagine the excitement you must feel holding a book that you wrote and knowing that it's published!!

CONGRATS!

ICLW

LJ said...

ZOMG! That's fantastic! And I still adore the haircut, like major love it.

Bea said...

Congratulations!

Bea

Kate said...

I'm here from blogger bingo, and I knew for this category I had to check your blog out because I love your posts and there are so many I wish I would have written. The most recent being the octo-mom one.

HOWEVER- the reason I am posting on this one is because I too am an aspiring writer and hope one day to see my idea in print. I have a wish to one day write a post just like this witrh a picture of me smiling and holding a book up and discussing the details of my first book in print :)

I'm so happy for your book Mel, like I've said in the past, I always end up stopping by at bookstores to check if they're carrying it :)