M.A. Abraham – The Journey to Publication
M.A. Abraham has consented to do a journal of her inner thoughts, as she takes the steps to publishing her first novel. M.A. has always loved to write; it was something she enjoyed doing in her spare time.
Publishing her work was the furthest thing from her mind. But her family and friends thought her work was good enough to be published. Things were set into motion, and Gabriel (her first book), is finally here. Let us follow M.A., as she starts the process that will be both scary and exciting as each day brings her closer to her release date.
M.A. Abraham – The Journal – The Beginning
This is almost how I feel at the moment… too bad this emoticon doesn’t show the action… smiley is sweating and afraid he is going get blindsided. I can emphasize with him.
Should I be doing this?
Obsessing… It is all about things that don’t come together in the time frame that you imagine or want them to… others are busy, or not feeling well, it can drive you into a screaming frenzy. Why does Murphy have to have such a firm hold on a person’s life?
Am I making a mistake?
Insecurity…People tell you the book is good, what they have read of it. The question remains; however, of whether or not it is good enough. Are your friends just giving you lip service telling you what they think you want to hear? What if they are wrong? There is only one way to find out, and the thought is scary.
I believe someone in my life somewhere, probably my mother, told me not to get talked into a bad idea by anyone… sighing… it happens to the best of us.
Secrets…..so hard to keep it to yourself
Secrets… everything is hush, hush … Not supposed to let the proverbial cat out of the bag… running around with duct tape across the mouth (this is going to hurt), I am even thinking of taping the fingers so they don’t run off the keyboard. Beginning to think of dancing around as I hum… “They’re coming to take me away… ha, ha they’re are coming to take me away ho, ho… to the funny farm, where life is beautiful all the time… and I’ll be happy to see those nice men in their clean white coats, and they’re coming to take me away.”
Ahhh…something positive
One niece who has been helping me by setting up my website and reading, complained that she did not read Elf stories… after she read this one she said it had six words that she really, really hated…. TO BE CONTINUED IN MARIOUS’ STORY.
Did the acknowledgment page today… I know at least one who is going to be thrilled to be named in there, and one that is going to think she doesn’t deserve to be on there.
Had Chinese food for supper, in my fortune cookie I found a slip of paper that said “Your friends will truly be helpful in you next month’s endeavor.” Talk about your luck of the draw there.
OMG…I’m getting closer
Finished the last edit today… went and found 2 appropriate items on YouTube… one with the penguins dancing from happy feet… the other James Brown singing “I feel good” Still insecure though… probably leaving a trail of chicken feathers wherever I go… all my friends are telling me I am being silly.
Proofreading is being done, if it goes well that means I am personally finished with Gabriel. On Friday my website is supposed to get done. Things are coming to a head.
Geez…and I thought I was done
The proof readers have come back at me… and I changed a few things… alright, probably more than they thought it needed… but I could see these things… an “s” where it was not needed… others where they were… a few typos that they missed, grammar oops (there are no end to those.) I have been told to keep my fingers off the keyboard now or someone is going to make a special trip here to slap them. I guess that means I am finished… but, am I? Something tells me I had better be or I might start damaging what I want to get right.
I’m starting to get nervous
Finished final edit today… I feel good. Now we are doing the final proof read. Still can’t believe I am going through with this…
Life has a way of tripping a person up… when all the helpers are either sick or so busy working they haven’t time to take care of anything else, so things get put onto the back burner. It also takes time to do EVERYTHING… the artist has midterms, the postal department is slow as molasses in January… someone prints things wrong, and their work needs to be corrected… Everyone you talk to has a different brand of E-reader… sighing… curling up back in bed, putting pillow over in bed.
Talked to Rebecca, she is a mass of nerves, which has nothing to do with the book… she has been putting hours in at work beyond her tolerance level… now the book has reached the point where it needs her talents… she is coming Friday. Looking to make special meal so she can store up extra energy. She will probably bring artwork with her, either way, it looks like this might be coming in on schedule after all.
Something positive #2
Alright, I have gotten THE CALL… tomorrow is “W” day… the website goes up… I think I could have placed a bet on this day happening and taken my winnings to the bank… the roads are slippery… it is snowing outside… it is one of the colder days that we have had all winter, and this winter has been unbelievably warm … my niece is coming to work on her part of the project. Big question is, can she? The highways are not supposed to be bad, but the city, where she will start from, is a nightmare.
Checked the registrar office for the copyright – it is there… bonus… another hurdle handled. Boom- chica –boom…
It’s nervous time again #2
The end of the month is looming like a shadow in the entrance to a dark alley. And yes…
We are all too aware of the time…lol. I understand that the artist liked the idea of Eden falling out of the tree into Gabriel’s arms so much that is what she drew. lol. I saw the (very) rough draft of it last night (Greek to me) but we told her to cut some of the curves on Eden. She said no problem it was a very rough draft. I guess we get to see what our General looks like together.
Alright it is March… taking deep breath, running for paper bag to put over head… WHAT HAVE I DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Part of me wonders what is going to happen… another part is afraid of what might… so, yes… it probably is nerves.
Learning the ropes on public forums is like running across the snow with loose pants at -40, you never know when you are going to be exposed to the elements.
Setting up good luck charms everywhere… didn’t know I had that many stuffed Snoopys.
The Final Days
Checked with the Copyright Registration list… IT IS THERE… doing the funky chicken dance… (um… what is the funky chicken dance?)
Sent off pdfs to be read by those who need to read ahead of time… think I will go now and woof my cookies.
Me….A Tease?
A TEASE? I HAVE BEEN CALLED A TEASE? Well I did take a course once that did say if many people were all trying to tell you the same thing, there might be something to it.
Sigh…more nervous time
It is 2 weeks before release date and the artwork still isn’t in… growling… this is not performance. Things are getting tight.
Cover is going to be the very last thing to come… am I surprised…not… and it is going to be very last minute… the suspense is building… the curtains remain closed… next week is do or die week… the drummer is aligning his instruments… getting ready to do a dramatic drumroll… is there going to be something worthwhile to see? Or shadows by a great tree?
Alright, today is the 9th of March… I did it… I uploaded the preface onto my website. Walking away with a whimper…. Mother told me there would be days like this.
Well the formatting is finished… only thing missing is… you guessed it… the artwork… repeating as I head off… after the weekend…after the weekend … after the weekend.
Tonight the artist called… what shade of silver blue is Gabriel’s eyes… shade of silver blue?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What shade of cobalt is Eden’s? Blinking in confusion…
The power of lasagna is phenomenal. Any threats of violence have disappeared, I am safe. My designers and art specialists are definitely in their comfort zone now.
The artist is having a bad hair day… probably rues the day she took on the assignment… I gather the highlights in Gabriel’s hair took her almost a full half a day… time is closing in… the book release is a week away… she is saying midweek now… the niece says it better be because she has to put the title and stuff on it… when the cover is done we are finished and she is going to put it up so everything is in place… so we are cutting it close… are we surprised? Nah, to be expected… we are going to arrive on time. Considering I am an Abraham… there is a first time for everything.
Alright… it is the 13th… someone asked me for a picture of myself… (altogether now, one, two , three… yuk, yuk, yuk, yuk) my newest picture is 10 years old, can’t even find it… pictures of me are few and far in between… have been camera shy all of my life. Special events used to be a nightmare.
Publishing day is here…………………TO BE CONTINUED
****Watch for our interview with M.A. Abraham on April 4th****
