I interviewed with Bethany Hegedus, guest lectured at Romance University, had my face in the newspaper, and my book trailer was completed. I was scheduled for not 1, not 2 but 3 booksignings for November. What more could I ask?
And then, as the saying goes, the fit hit the shan.
I bought a new purse. The strap broke after less than one week. Then I came home to find my garage door wouldn't open. And the repairman was not only late, he took royal advantage and overcharged me, knowing I was too distracted to notice until he was gone (and did he ever burn rubber hightailing it out of there).
I should have been prepared for the coup de grace, since bad things come in threes. But I was blindsided by the email from my publisher. PULL's release had to be delayed.
Somehow, the normally reliable printer had intermingled pages from another book. My 310 page opus had grown to 320 pages and could not be released. The good news, the problem was discovered before the books were shipped. The bad news - who knows how long it will be before the problem is corrected.
I had people psyched for the release. I had to tell two prizewinners they needed to wait to receive their autographed copies. I've got signings lined up Nov 8, 9 and 20, and only one of those can be moved. While there will probably be books available for the Nov. 20 signing at the National Council for Teachers of English convention, and the Nov 8 event was moved to the end of November, my local library has already advertised the Nov. 9 group. I'll be there to talk to people, sans books to provide to a crowd that's been waiting for this since I first sold and are now primed to buy.
As they say, if not for bad luck I'd have no luck at all. I can't wait for next week's catastrophes.
3 comments:
Ah my dear, this is a sad tale. But as Doctor Who once said "Everybody lived." No lives were lost - no sales either!
You now have the opportunity to tell the story about how you faced adversity and came out ahead. It adds to your mystique!
Let us know when you have a firm date for release.
I'm so sorry about your bad luck. But... better the mistake was caught than have books out there with extra pages stuck in the middle.
You will get through this - and you will be stronger!
Oh my friend, I'm so sorry. You are a beautiful example of the Unsinkable spirit, however, and I know you will not only stay afloat through this rough time, but will soon be riding that wave of success.
Hang in there, and keep paddling.
Your Unsinkable sis,
Heather
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