Thursday, September 02, 2010

Housekeeping


I have a book due next month and last weekend I printed out everything I'd written, checked in to a hotel, read the manuscript start-to-finish, cut it up with scissors, put it all in a new order and stuck it back together with Scotch tape. After about seven hours of this fun, I stood up and was so stiff I could barely hobble to the minibar to extract the $12 bag of cashews.

Diabolical minibar aside, the hotel turned out to be a fantastic idea. I worried I'd feel just as unfocused in a rented room as I do at home, but it was astonishing how much more easily I could concentrate without internet, children, cooking, dust bunnies, goats, chickens, garden, books, phone calls, bills, Lost DVDs, et cetera. Let me repeat that first part: It was astonishing how much better I could concentrate without internet.

About the book. I got the contract early this year, just before my mother died. Later, I put off posting about it because I didn't want to jinx the writing, about which I was extremely anxious. Now I feel coy not posting about it, like I have to explain why I haven't been chatting about the book cheerfully and self-promotionally for months. Two word answer: nervous wreck.

The book is about food, of course. For some reason, the publisher was not interested in using my photography. More details to come. Fall 2011.

21 comments:

  1. Can't wait to read it! Congrats!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Congratulations! Looking forward to pre-ordering already.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Fantastic!! Excited to hear more.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Awesome and congratulations. I love your writing.

    ReplyDelete
  5. My monkey thought translator is saying, "Excited! Excited!"

    Plus I love your strappy black shoes.

    ReplyDelete
  6. wonderful! an old fashioned cut and paste!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great you are making the deadline. I found out about your book through eatmedaily.com (now out of business it seems), and yes, did not bring it up because it was during your mother's illness. Congrats.
    Oz

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hooray! That's great news, I can't wait!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I can't wait to read anything you have written! You are a terrific writer. I'm sure the book will be great. Congratulations.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Need an illustrator? Also, congrats. :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Congratulations. Look forward to more of you.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Georgia Jewel9/2/10, 5:54 PM

    This is fantastic. I will be honored to buy your book. I can't wait. Congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  13. How wonderful! Congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh boy, a book!

    I used to do that cut and tape thing in college with my way too long philosophy papers. Usually I had a big bag of Cheetos and a 2 liter bottle of Diet Coke to keep me company. Ah the memories!

    I did learn from those days that the best way to eat Cheetos is to use chopsticks. No cheesy orange dust on the keyboard!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wonderful! Can't wait to pick up a copy!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Congratulations! So happy for you !!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Congratulations! Can't wait to read it! You're such a talented writer.

    ReplyDelete
  18. {Michael Kors Outlet Sale} explained. "I wouldn't hope {Cheap MK Bags} the community center {New Yeezy Boost 350} towards london to implement moving and clapping {Cheap Jordan Shoes For Men} throughout their sermons hilarious and crack quickly.

    First thing that might be priced at remembering may possibly brains surgeries in the us and over the world, It normally won't to take place in vacuum pressure. Most notably, And for no reason merely attempt create what exactly is {New Jordan Releases 2020} planning, Our group attempt kind of calculate {MK Outlet} what are you doing to be able to drive insurance option behaviour. Taste that it must be importance harming that sort of utilize.

    ReplyDelete