My day started off pretty badly. I woke up and my neck was so stiff and painful that I couldn’t turn my head or lift my left arm. I ended up calling Adam around 1 pm to pick me up from work because I was in so much pain. When we got home, we found a big box at the front door, which I assumed was for Adam since he’s always getting computer gadgets and gizmos from strange places.
It wasn’t a gadget or a gizmo.
It wasn’t for Adam.
It was my book!
You know, even holding it in my hands now, it doesn’t quite feel real. I guess the book itself feels real, but I can’t believe I wrote it. And it’s going to feel even more weird (and scary) when people read it and tell me what they think of it.
What amazes me most about the book is the index. My goodness that index is comprehensive and I have nothing but admiration for the person who had to go through my book and pick out every single person, thing and idea mentioned in 300 pages. They did a great job! I think it’s looking at the index, and seeing everything I mentioned so neatly listed with a page number, that is making this feel much more real. When I have some time, I might make a list of the librarians and libraries mentioned in the book since the index makes it so easy to do that. I know that if someone wrote a book and I was in it, I’d love to know about it.
I’ll be doing a book signing at the Tuesday evening reception at Computers and Libraries (starting at 5:00 pm), which should be even more surreal. I’m still working on the pithy saying to write on the books. Perhaps something like “jump on the cluetrain” or “keep reaching for that rainbow.” 😉 I think I might be able to do better than that, but I’m not great at brevity or pithiness. Maybe I should have had a Pithy Saying for My Signing Contest instead of an Alternative Book Cover Contest. 😉
I just want to say a big thanks to everyone who helped me make this book happen, especially my incredibly smart and supportive editor, Rachel Singer Gordon. But really, all of you deserve thanks. You challenged me, inspired me and made me a far better writer and thinker than I was before I started blogging. If I wasn’t a librarian and a blogger, there wouldn’t be a book.
Congrats, Meredith! No one deserves all of this more than you! I wish I was going to CIL so I could get a book signed! Enjoy!
Woot! Congratulations!
I have two words for you, young lady. MASSAGE THERAPY.
Seriously. If you find the right person, it IS the stuff.
I think MASSAGE THERAPY would be a great Pithy Saying for the signing.
Congrats here as well.
Congratulations, Meredith!
(Also, I’m with Dorothea- massage therapy is good for what ails you…or really even if nothing ails you. It’s just gooooooooood.)
Congratulations, Meredith! It’s a really fine piece of work, so I’m glad that everyone will now get to see just how fine it is. You can bet I’ll be lining up to have my copy signed, so be thinking about that pithy quote!
As for your stiff neck, chiropractors have saved me many a time (the latest was this week), although I tend to have more lower back trouble than upper spine. You might consider them as well, particularly if it persists.
Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yay.
Oh, I forgot to add: congratulations! Must be a great and odd feeling to hold the results of so much work in your hands.
Congratulations Meredith. I can’t imagine what that must feel like – your own index, wow. That is the big time.
You’re an inspiration.
Congratulations Meredith!
I can just imagine how excited you are! HUGE congratulations, Meredith! I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy — you’d better believe I’ll be first in line at your book signing 🙂
Hope your neck feels better (and, yes, get thee to a massage therapist, stat!)
Wow. You are a published author with a good sized book. I am ordering my copy now. Way to go, Meredith!
Congrats Meredith! I’ll let our tech services folks know so that they can get a copy or four!
w00t
John Martin
Hey — I was sure you were going to see my covers and stop the press to have everything re-done. 🙂
Seriously, congrats. It’s been a long time and a lot of work coming and I have been waiting a while for it too! And I’m going to bring my spiked elbow pads to CIL so I can keep my spot in line for the signing.
It’s always a nice feeling to see (and actually feel) the fruits of you labor materialize! Very cool, congrats!