ARCS!
ARCS are advance reading copies. They have nothing to do with Narcs. Or arks.
They are exciting things because they go to reviewers and they are the first proof that in fact one is not dreaming and that there is really a book coming.
Today I received a box from a courier.
I live in a small town and nothing arrives by courier unless it is important.
I will apologize now for dragging this out for a long time, and you will please forgive me.
Here is the box:
You cannot tell but it is heavy. And it came from NYC.
You also do not know that my digital camera battery was dead so I had to wait until it had charged before I proceeded with the box. I did not cheat and open it from the bottom. Instead I went and made an apple crisp for 30 minutes and ignored the box.
Here is the opened box:
Notice how shiny and orderly they look, all lined up. Note my name is spelled correctly. I think I checked it- oh about a hundred times on the draft. If you start obsessing over your name, it begins to look very strange and not right. I had to ask my husband because it was giving me a headache.
And finally (drum roll), here are the copies I intend to sleep with for the next 6 months. I don’t care if they are uncomfortable. If I could I would affix them to my torso and wear them like armor. And I would frolic and dance the whole day long.
I just love how the cover art wraps around to the back.
OK, off for some more fawning and sighing.
Ahhh! Ahhh! Ahhh! (I will hyperventilate for you, since you appear to be keeping yourself in check much better than expected.) I’ve experienced the same problems after having written one word too many times, too: memorable examples in the past have included “bamboo” and “Christmas.”
And where can I sign up for one of those gorgeous ARCs?
What a great holiday present!
Hi Steph, thanks for commenting. Your 2010 book review list is pretty fabulous by the way. I checked a bunch of books I must now read including Nothing, Hush, and Birthmarked. I’ll pass your info onto the Scholastic publicity department. Thanks again!
OOOOOOhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy. Guess I’ll have to travel east to get an autograph.
So proud and happy for you Jo.
Jo, this is so exciting! I don’t blame you for taking photos of your box of freshly-minted copies of YOUR BOOK and the stages in which they are revealed unto the world. Major congratulations! Have you designated who will receive your extra copies? I would have a hard time figuring that out. 😉
Thanks Di-fi!
Ara, I’m thinking I’ll have an ARC contest sometime in early 2011. Check back for details!
I have been waiting for your book ever since I read a two sentence description a few months ago. I’m so excited to read it! Love the shiny, pretty pile of ARC’s! I’ll have to get in touch with Scholastic, I would love to review a copy on my blog! Congrats!
Thanks Tara! Hope you enjoy it!