Well, this is nothing like I thought it would be.
It feels a little bit like I'm about to embark on an overseas trip and I'm racing towards the airport feeling a little discombobulated, and a little unsure of where I'm staying once I get there, and only knowing three words in the native language (and one of those words is "peanuts" which probably won't be something I need to use at all). I am patting my bags and trying to remember where or if I have my passport (one time, when going to Norway, I didn't and had to go all the way back home to get it). And I've forgotten my camera and I'm really upset about that but I've remembered to pack my journal.
That's a little bit what it's like.
Actually, you know what it feels like? At my Hebrew school graduation, I wore this new white skort--see, I've always been highly fashionable--and it was too big, but we didn't have time to fix it so my mum pinned it on the side. As I was running down the aisle to join my classmates in our group picture in the sanctuary before the graduation ceremony, my skort fell off. As in, the pin snapped, the skort fell, and I stood in the aisle in my silky navy blue top with my skort around my ankles laughing while the rabbi flipped the fuck out. He literally didn't know what to do with himself. And what the book coming out feels like is if you could combine the discombobulated discomfort and anxiety of the rabbi with my fifteen-year-old, very embarrassed but laughing self, you'd get a good approximation of how this week feels.
I am eternally grateful to everyone who has mentioned that they've already ordered a copy or are planning to read it. I hope I did the community proud. I do have one reading set up in DC for July, but I should know more of a touring schedule by mid-June. I hope to come to a lot of cities to give readings so I can meet everyone. I am a whore for meeting other bloggers. So I will post all of that information once it is cemented.
If you want to help, there is something you can do without even reading the book (though...um...please read the book and tell me what you think). You can place a badge on your sidebar, email it out to friends and family, or even send it along to your local Resolve or clinic. You can get the code for the badge right here. Simply cut and paste and voila, news of the book is out there. If you do put up the badge, please let me know because I don't want to miss thanking anyone. I've been keeping a haphazard list, but I'm always worried that there are things I read about and then forget to write down.
Another thing you can do is add a review online--either on your blog or on the Amazon site or (even better) in both places at the same time. It makes a big difference to have a blurb from your blog post up on the Amazon site. I'm not sure why, but I've been told this enough times that I believe it and am passing on this idea as gospel. Again, you do not need to write a second original post; it can be a blurb from your blog post.
I've decided to spread out the thanking because...well...there's a lot of thanking to do.
So the ones I'm doing today are Lori from Weebles Wobblog who designed a badge (and Kristen from Dragondreamer's Lair who helped her with the code). She has been cheering on the book online since January and many people have the button on their sidebar including (and I hope I didn't miss anyone!):
The Sweet Life
Okaasan Mommy and More
Building Heavenly Bridges
I'm a Smart One
An Unwanted Path
Raggedy Ann
Dragondreamer's Lair
Weebles Wobblog
Baby, Borneo or Bust
Parenthood for Me
Mrs. Spock
ISO the Golden Egg
Okaasan Mommy and More
Building Heavenly Bridges
I'm a Smart One
An Unwanted Path
Raggedy Ann
Dragondreamer's Lair
Weebles Wobblog
Baby, Borneo or Bust
Parenthood for Me
Mrs. Spock
ISO the Golden Egg
I hope, hope, hope that I didn't miss anyone and my largest apologies if I did. I first met Lori at Teaism in D.C. and it was the perfect setting. She is peace incarnate--she carries peace with it, but she induces peace in others. She is simply a beautiful person and I'm lucky to know her.
The next is Julie from A Little Pregnant who is orchestrating online activities including a giveaway and a virtual book party. Her post made me all kinds of weepy. The winners of her giveaway will be chosen this Wednesday.
And lastly, thank you to people like Dora at ISO the Golden Egg, who bought a copy for a friend (she got a copy for Kristen as a birthday present back in the winter that is being sent now) or a blog reader or someone else. And wrote about it.
More thank yous coming soon. It's a trippy week and I'm trying to take the advice I received at my wedding to take a step back from everyone in the room and observe the scene for a moment. Josh and I had a moment where we backed ourselves into the corner by the cake and just stood and watched everyone for a full minute. And then we both said, "holy shit. We're at our wedding." And that's sort of what this time period feels like too.
Barren Advice returns tomorrow from its vacation-induced vacation.
42 comments:
Congratulations again!
I bought your book on Amazon this AM (can't wait to get it), and heck yeah, I added your badge for the book to my blog.
Thank YOU for always being such an advocate for all of us.
Congratulations! Let us know if you come to metro Detroit for a book reading - there are a ton of bloggers around here.
If only you'd combined the skort with the long underwear.
Mazel tov!
I just bought your book and Pamela Jeanne's book on Amazon. I'm curious to see what Amazon will suggest for me to read now!
Congratulations! I've ordered it through a local independent bookstore. I live in west Michigan, but I'll drive all the way to Detroit or Ann Arbor if you do a reading there! I'm so excited for you, and I cannot wait to read this book! I'll add the badge to my blog too. Thank you so much for everything that you do for this community!
Yay! I've got it! Started reading my copy today and am donating the other copy I bought to my library tonight. I'm so proud of you sweetie!
Oh, I posted the badge on my blog and will post a review as soon as I'm done reading. Work is such a fingerboard; wish I could go read now.
Congratulations! I'm so happy for you. What an exciting ride!
I pre-ordered your book weeks ago, and last week I got the Amazon notice that it was being shipped. The arrival date is TODAY, so I'm hoping that when I get home it will be there to greet me.
You make the ALI community proud! Congratulations!
I was waiting for it in bookstores because I wanted the fun of driving there to buy it, but now I am jealous of everyone who already has it!
Congratulations! How exciting. I am going to put the badge on my blog right now and I will be ordering the book.
My book was delivered five minutes ago.
I am all kinds of thrilled for you.
YAY Mel!!! Congratulations on your book!!! I will be going to get your book on pay day.
Thank you for all you do for the IF community!
I was so thrilled...I came home from my weekend away and found the book here waiting for me!!! Wooohoooo! Hope the two ladies I ordered it for have gotten theirs.
We are going to do a Barren Bitches Book Brigade tour of this, yes?
Off to order . . . .
Oh, and congratulations. It's not just a book either (as if it's easy to just, you know, publish "a book"), it's an IMPORTANT book.
Congratulations!!!
I got your book today!! Already started reading it. Yay!!
Congratulations on the book being released :) I got mine in the mail I believe on Friday. I was all sorts of giddy; for myself for receiving it, for you getting it published, and for it being out there now.
LOVE it.
(I left a little review on Amazon for it too. Every little bit helps, right?)
Congrats, sweetie! I've got mine! I've been reading it and loving it.
BTW, I'm thinking of a long weekend in DC next month, maybe the 14th - 17th (if I can get a good hotel deal). Would love to get together!
Mel, I'm so happy and proud of you. I would love to write about IVF and your book in a blog post, so will definitely use the code.
How would us Aussie bloggers get our hands on it? Ordering through Amazon?
I love how you laughed at your skort falling down.
Thank you so much for everything.
Eden xox
Yay ! On my list of things to do -order Mels Book from Amazon.
Any chance of doing a book tour in Sydney ? I am sure Eden will agree that it should be on your agenda :)
First, thanks for the thanks--but seriously, the badge is one my blog, because it was the LEAST I could do after all you've done for me. It was just a tiny payment toward a giant debt of gratitude for all you've done for this community.
Second, I am PISSED that all of these people got their books before me!!! Mine just came TODAY. And I'm THRILLED. You should be proud of yourself, for publishing a book that so very much needed to be published, and for doing a bang up job of it.
Congratulations, Mel! You are an amazing person and so deserving.
I look forward to reading it!
I bought it way back and put my own code/badge on my sidebar, but that's not to make you feel guilty at all - it's to tell you I've been rooting you on too. Just not as loudly as these amazing women:-)
You rock. Go take your skort off and shake it about!!
Maybe I am just too tired to see it, but I commented today (from work) as soon the book arrived! I HAVE IT!
Congrats! This is thrilling.
I'm laughing at Cassandra's comment.
My book should be in my hands today or tomorrow -- can't wait!
Mel, the things you said, the memories of that day....thanks. Just thanks.
Ack, I'm a liar! I'd had the widget up for your book and I don't know when I removed it or why! Ack ack ack! Off to figure this out!!!
Congratulations! I've already got it on order at 'my' bookstore and I know it's going up on my staff pick shelf as soon as it comes in.
Whoo hoo! I'm happy to do whatever small part I can to spread the word. I can't wait to buy myself a copy when I'm back in the U.S. By the way, I'm sure there are TONS of people in Seattle (big BOOK town) who'd love to see you this summer or fall (hint, hint). I SO hope you'll be able to make it out to our neck of the woods. See, I'm not even asking you to come to Japan. Just cross-country :)
Congrats Mel and I can't wait to get my hands on it! I put your badge right on top of my blog and I intend to tell everyone I know!
My copy arrived in the mail yesterday. :) I'm only about 30 pages in, but so far, it reads just like the Mel we all know and love. :)
I'll definitely be reviewing it on my blog when I finish. :)
Patiently waiting for my copy to arrive (you would think Amazon.ca would be on the same shipping schedule as Amazon.com, wouldn't you??). As soon as I've read it, I will post a review! And I'll try adding the badge to my sidebar when I get home tonight. : )
That is so exciting! I ordered mine and can't wait till it gets here. I look forward to a book reading/signing!
Will def. be buying the book soon, promise int he meantime I'll widget you up on my blog. Congrats again on getting the book out and published :)
xxx
Congrats on the book!!!
ICLW
I bought the book online, and I plan to start reading it soon!
I live in Ellicott City, outside of DC, so please keep us all posted about your readings and such. I'm so close to DC, so I'd definitely come in for a reading.
I also just put up the badge to your book on my blog. I'll remember to write a review, on my blog and on Amazon.com, too.
Thank you for all you do to support the IF community!
Woo hoo - all that hard work paying off!
Badge is in place and I can't wait to read it!
Congratulations! My copy arrived last night and it was a huge distraction from everything else. Thank you so much for writing this. Even though we've been on the island for awhile, it's refreshing to have a resource that I trust!
WOO HOO! I'm so excited!!
A big big congratulations on the launch of your book! *throws confetti and passes champagne to everyone* :)
I'm sure your family and your friends are all very proud of you. You must be very proud of yourself too, your work has gotten praises from everyone. Congratulations again and more power!
Mel, I received your book in the mail on Monday! It was after a somewhat eventful day on the infertility front, and I crashed onto our comfy blue chair and started reading. And I have to say, I really, honestly, and truly felt like you were my friend through those pages. I am a rather "newer" infertile, and can say that it has already been a resource and a comfort to be this week. Thank you and well done!
Congratulations!!! I posted your badge, and will buy the book in six weeks when I return to the USA. I can' wait to read it1
I'm pwp, but i posted your badge.
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