The Dog Book is a GO!

After almost exactly two years (off by 19 days) since I started writing it, we finally have a publication date for the 'Dog Book' (aka It's About the Dog: The A-to-Z Guide for Wannabe Dog Rescuers):

FI-NA-LLY! Nigh on two whole years after the fateful April A-to-Z that led to a dog rescue how-to series, which led to late-night conversations with my publisher (he's in Australia, so the 'late-night' bit only applies to me; for him it was probably like lunchtime, or something), which led to months of revisions to the original blog posts and research and interviews, both formal and informal, which produced a full manuscript, which then the publisher reviewed, which led to more revisions, which led to more changes, which then led to Proof Copy One, which led to more tweaks, which led to Proof Copy Two, which led to—

You get the idea.

A manuscript that began as a draft for a blog post and the crazy hubris of thinking that maybe non-rescuers would be curious to know more about dog rescuing. One that's been pored over (not just in content but in f*cking formatting—that nearly killed us) and reviewed and fact-checked and foot-noted and read and reread for typos and inconsistencies and repeating language and lack of clarity and unintentional condescension (the intentional kind, we agreed, is okay), and, finally, deemed ready for publication.

Proof copies One and Two

I don't want to give the impression that the last 2 years were a 24/7 non-stop editing and revision process. Part of the delay, in fact, had to do with me missing not one but two deadlines with the publisher. My publisher (Matt Potter of Bequem Publishing, which includesTruth Serum Press, Pure Slush Books, and Everytime Press among others) is a guy far beyond nice, and has been a lot more than patient with me and my subconscious boycott of every deadline that even looks my way, but... well, his project pipeline is rather full. Which meant that, once I missed the window allotted to my dog book, I had to wait until there was another opening.

And I didn't miss this window just once, mind you. I did it again, just six months ago, when you would think the manuscript would be more than ready to go. Yes, but I still had some bits to change and add and take out, some bits that didn't make me as happy as I wanted, and... Well. So instead of having a December release date, we had to wait until now.

The good news is there are no more deadlines I can miss. The manuscript has been deemed Ready, by both author and publisher. The final version has been approved. Contracts have been signed and scanned and returned. The file that will be uploaded to Lulu.com (the website Matt uses for publication) is, I hear, finished and ready to go with one click. Even the e-book version is near completion (that one always takes longer than the paperback because of different requirements at each website—Amazon likes it one way, B&N another, iBooks yet another, and so on and so forth).

The not-so-great news is that the work isn't done yet. Yes, the book is done—overdone, even, haha—but now, with publication, comes the bit that no writer likes: the marketing. The 'putting it out there'. Which, honestly, feels like shameless self-promotion. Hello! Here's my book. Take it. TAKE IT!

Yet it must be done. If we want readers, there's no two ways about it. And it really is about readers, especially in this particular case. Rescue isn't a popular subject, and it becomes even less so when the focus is to get you to do it. So back when Matt said yes to publishing this book, we agreed it was a project that would make no one even marginally more affluent. Matt's response to all my caveats and Be Warned advisories regarding what I consider to be this book's very limited audience was, "I publish books I want to publish. I want to publish this one." Over and over, he's renewed his commitment to the book, reaffirming how much he loves it (and reassuring my fragile author ego in the process).

Thank you, Matt.

So, as I count down the days to April 20th, I'm keeping busy (and attempting to keep my sanity) by trolling the web in search of dog- or rescue-related blogs and websites that might be interested in hosting me (and the book—here it is, TAKE IT!!) for a blog tour during the last ten days of April and the first two weeks or so of May. Some of my writer friends have already offered, which is most appreciated, but for many of them, the topic here really pushes the boundaries of what their audiences expect or are even interested in.

The book's back cover, featuring three more of my ever-patient dogs (you may recognize the image from the blog's cover photo), and the kind, kind words of two of the best writers I know. Thank you, Lynne and Robin!

This blog, sadly (can't blame anyone other than myself), has lost most of its audience in the two years it's been (mostly) silent, so I'm also preparing several posts here, related to rescue but not necessarily about the book (trying to balance the TAKE IT!! bit), as well as more regular posts in the foreseeable future, to try and get it back into the swing of things.

And then there is the non-web-based stuff. I'm planning a book launch party here in Curaçao, but that can't happen until the second half of June or thereabouts. It takes at least 6 weeks after I order from Lulu.com for the books to get here (it's even been 8 weeks; mail is rather unreliable here), so I have to plan enough time... Having a launch party without books might be innovative, but probably not in a good way :)

I'm also working out a way to pair the book launch with rescue organizations. Because they don't all get along with each other (see Ch. 18, Q&A on Rescue, and Ch. 27, Zealots), I'll probably end up doing several events instead of a big single one. I'm still brainstorming on this one... I'd like for it to be some kind of fundraising—goodness knows all rescue organizations can use it!—but, as the profits are not all mine to give away, and as I'll have to pay for the books upfront myself when I order, I'd end up donating only a little under a dollar (that's US) per book sold. Well, maybe it could work. And maybe, with the 'lure' of the book, I can organize other merchants to contribute, to sell their wares at the event and also donate part of their profit.

Hmm.

Anyhoo. That's where things are at on this side of the blogosphere. To close, please consider this an open invitation to join the blog tour! I'm still working out exact dates, and I'm super flexible. If you're interested, or if you know any blogs and/or bloggers who might be, leave me a comment or drop me a line via guilie (dot) quietlaughter (at) gmail (dot) com. It would be an honor for me to include you in the 'victory lap' around the web of a project that would never have come about if it hadn't been for you. For without you, this blog wouldn't exist.

Thanks for reading this far! I promise to keep future posts at more manageable lengths :)