Wednesday, August 22, 2007

It's in the Mail!

Yes, sports fans, the book is in the mail! My baby is winging her way to the publisher, hopefully even as we speak. (Only we're not speaking. Hmm. Problematical, that is.)

Anyway, I polished stacked librarian's edits while under the influence of way too much coffee to be prudent and must now take full responsibility to what results. From a cold, harsh, practical viewpoint, I know that the larger world won't know (and wouldn't care if they did) how much hard work went into this project. Even more difficult to accept is that most people don't "get" this project - they get excited when I tell them I wrote a book (I wrote a book! Sorry - it's still sinking in and it's real tonight, since the book is in the mail and all), then they visibly deflate when I explain that it's about faith and belief in the works of Joss Whedon. Buffy the Vampire Slayer with footnotes. I swear, it's as if they're mentally patting me on the head like a kindergartner who's showing off finger-painting.

Well, pooh on them, I say! It's solid work (mighty fine finger-painting, to my way of thinking) and I have to believe it'll find the audience it's meant to find. And I wish I had the energy to celebrate in some outrageous way - preferably involving drizzled chocolate - but I'm just too bloody tired.

And what else is in Mockingbird's mail? Oh, look - the Collector's Edition of Serenity!! Well, isn't that rather like kismet, considering everything with this started back with that? (Although I'm too bushed to watch it tonight - classes stop for no author.) But it is a pleasant coincidence. Serendipitous and Serenity - I like that. The Little Movie That Could. I'm sure that, somewhere, there's a Fox executive sobbing at his desk: "I don't understand it! We did our best to kill it, and it just keeps coming back!" I must say, this is shiny packaging - miles better than the first DVD, the packaging of which was just a dismal mess.

Happy now. Also tired, but mostly happy. And a little hungry. But still mostly happy.

9 comments:

Librarian Who said...

Well I, for one, am very proud of your accomplishment. I vote we celebrate in style this Saturday, perhaps at Outback so that we can obtain the necessary item for "Spike" to sign.
Incidentally, there is a lovely interveiw with James at www.ew.com that you really should read.
What say you Mockingbird? Are you up for a blooming onion?

Claudia / PVS said...

I'm not telling anyone you guys had this conversation.

Hi Mockingbird and Stacked,

I've just discovered your blog, M, and it's wonderful. I'm writing a book about vampire slaying, too, although it's not strictly Buffy stuff, which I'm kind of gathering yours is?? Love to know more about your book! I have a blog Ask The Slayer (http://practicalslayer.blogspot.com) although my website is under reconstruction for now...

Anyway, I'll be checking in a lot to see how things are going with you and when I can buy your book.

Best Wishes from Montana!
Claudia

Dale Guffey said...

Glad to meet you, Shorewood! In brief, no, the book isn't all about Buffy. In fact, she's only mentioned in passing. The focus is on Joss Whedon's work and how he portrays faith, acceptance, belief and the consequences of choice. It was especially interesting to me, since Whedon's adamant about being an atheist. Yet his characters have faith. In spades. Just not necessarily religious faith. Hopefully, we'll talk more. As for when the book will be available, I'm guessing early 2008 - that's the publisher's call and they haven't had a chance to really review the manuscript yet.

Check back soon!

Claudia / PVS said...

Eeek! This is really exciting!!

Absolutely not "religious faith" -- I agree. I didn't start watching BTVS until long after I started my book, which is based on the "invitation principle" with vampires, i.e. that a vampire (or our troubles) have to be invited in before they can feed on us. Also that we have to "revoke" our invitations...my whole book is based on spiritual principles and when I finally got around to watching BTVS I was amazed and really excited to find how spiritual all the ideas were. Whedon is a real peach. Fabulous talent.

Mockingbird, I would love to post a link to your blog on mine...is that okay with you?

Thanks!!!

Claudia

practicalslayer@yahoo.com

amnbdad said...

Good show ol' chap. Can't wait to get a autographed copy of your book. I've not seen much of Whedon's work but I love to philosophize on faith and belief so I know it'll be very interesting finger paintings indeed.

Dale Guffey said...

Yes, amnbdad, I'll probably hang my "finger painting" on the fridge. It'll take quite a magnet!

Akin said...

AAAHHHH!!!!! You're DONE!!! This is so awesome... I know, I know, we've been talking about this on the phone all the time but still AAAHHHHH!!! You're an AUTHOR!

Can I get your autograph?

:-p

Seriously... I am so happy and proud of you, as silly as that might sound. I can't wait to see the book...

Speaking of seeing... I'll be seeing YOU soon, and I just can't wait! Four days and some hours now...

sandman96 said...

Congratulations on finishing the book. I bet you can't contain your excitement. And to think one day in the near future, i'll be able to say I was directed by a famous author. We were looking for you at Shakespeare last night, I hate you missed it. We must chat about the many differences in the two shows.

Matthew Heuett said...

First of all, congratulations on finishing your manuscript! No matter what reception the book itself gets, completing it is the sort of accomplishment every writer seriously considers having chiseled into his or her headstone.

I discovered this blog through Claudia's mention of it, and I must say I rather like it here. Nice to meet you, Mockingbird. I'll enjoy coming back periodically to see what you've been up to.