Nervous ARCs

It’s March 8 and I’m about two weeks away from seeing my ARCs. ARCs are Advanced Reader Copies of a book. I don’t know if it will be hard or soft cover but I know it will be one step away from the actual book. The copy will be just about perfect – though I’ll give it yet one more proof reading (the proofing seem endless but are so important to make sure the words, every word, is right). I know the cover will not be the final cover but it will be close to what the final will look like. I know they will be used to give to reviewers, bloggers who are reviewers, pre and post-publication reviewers like Kirkus and Publisher’s Weekly. That means my first reviews are only a few weeks away. I’m a bit nervous about that part. Okay, that’s an understatement.

I’ve been reviewed as a performer (my improv career collected one especially bad review that I can still feel the knives from), as a presenter (lots and lots of evaluations from over twenty years of giving workshops), and grant proposals (usually just a big “no” with no comments). I’ve received tons of rejections from editors when I’ve submitted my work and that has always hurt. But these reviews will be personal because Open Wounds really is my baby. It’s been  a part of me for over seven years.

I can’t wait to see the ARCs.

I can’t wait to see the reviews.

Man am I nervous.