Today, August 15, is supposed to be the release date for my novel, EEL’S REVERENCE. I know the day isn’t over until midnight somewhere or other, but I wanted to wake up and be all released and everything. Of course, not being on the publishing end of it, I have no idea what’s involved in getting a book released, so all I can do is have faith and patience. And a big fat pillow to punch when I get too frustrated.

I ran into the editor of our local paper and told her about the release, and she said, “Why didn’t you tell us sooner?” I just tried to look all ivory-tower, but I was thinking, “Because this is the writing biz, and there ain’t no such thing as a firm date. Deadlines, yes. Everything else is just a target.

So here I sit on the launchpad. Having counted down to zero, I’m not well into the negative numbers. Whenever the book is officially Out, I’ll announce it here and begin a contest.

Having suspected that the Official Date might not be the Actual Date, I’ve scheduled my blog book tour for the middle of September, but the contest will start right here as soon after the release as I know about it.

It will happen when it happens. We will release no book before its time. Patience, Young Skywalker, and all that jazz. It was appozabe today, but appozabe ain’tn’t iz. Maybe tomorrow. Isn’t the suspense riveting?

WRITING PROMPT: How does your main character react to waiting for a much-anticipated event?

MA