First Pass
The really embarrassing thing about first-time authorhood is that agents, editors, and publicists throw around basic publishing terms in conversation -- and you have no idea what they're talking about. For example, late last week I heard the term "first pass pages," which I presumed to be pages of material from the book that the editor had chosen to "pass" on. As in, THIS STORY ABOUT YOUR UNEVEN NIPPLES REALLY SUCKS AND WE'RE GOING TO PASS ON IT! DELETE!
I got a FedEx package this morning and learned definitively that "first pass pages" are actually unbound mock-ups of the book as it will appear in print. Basically, it's a print-out of the final book design.
I have made a concerted effort to write less about the book here on DGM because the whole thing is like an evil inside joke: I know the book, know what's going on behind the scenes, am privvy to all of the ups and downs, but you all won't have access to it for more than three months. Were I you, I'd be bored of the topic by now.
That said, things are moving at a more exciting pace right now. Some amazing authors have read the book and endorsed it. I'm beginning to think this thing may actually be published.
The other really embarrassing thing about first-time authorhood is that you have to learn to beg -- to be a bigger whore than a hooker when the rent is due. In lieu of offering sexual favors, I'll simply say this: RAGE is available for pre-order right now and you should probably buy it before we're invaded by a foreign country whose ruler banishes the purchase of books that talk about dry-humping Neil Diamond in the first paragraph.
i'm on it! all over it! promoting the shit out of you and whoring you out like a pimp on speed.
I think the big difference is that hookers don't always use websites to promote and beg. This is much classier. Much.
I have been following your book journey and all I can say is, give me more. I want to hear everything about the process because sometimes the process is what makes the "book". This is not to say that your book will suck- just that everything is always better with behind the scenes gossip... Congrats.
Count me in! I already preordered your book last month when I checked out your site for the first time (Thank you to Good Housekeeping and Grandmas that pass along their old magazines). I can't wait for RAGE to come out but......No pressure dude...seriously! BREATH!
You have a gift and talent for seeing (and laughing at) yourself and life that inspires many. I can hardly wait because I know it will be awesome.
*sigh* If only my 401k looked as promising!
Now.....find me a way to wade through the archives in date order without having to go page by page backwards from each months face page. I was already 6 months down before I realized I was missing the 1st half of each month due to it being invisibly back logged.
Okay, but only if you promise to publish a picture of you dressed up like a hooker dry humping the leg of a Neil Diamond impersonator. :)
Have I mentioned lately how excited I am to get my copy in my grubby little hands?? :)
No way are we getting sick of it! I know I'm looking forward to receiving my copy of "Rage", and I enjoy all the details leading up to it. It's like foreplay before good sex. It makes the book even better!
I read the first page and I immediately pre-ordered. Can't wait! And no, we're nowhere near sick of you... yet. :)
Any word if it will be available on the Amazon Kindle?
Wow! You got props from John Elder Robinson! Looking forward to reading it and leaving it laying around for my husband...
Looking forward to it! I'm definitely in for a copy.
Dude - if begging is what it takes - then beg. I only wish I had a book to pimp and then I would gladly work through my issues and slap on the fishnets and hit the streets. Congratulations - I am sure you'll look great in a boa. See ya later - got to go pre-order a book.
You dry-humped Neil Diamond????! Holy crap! I have to buy the book now!!
I always wanted to write a book. Never could figure out how to or where to start. lol
So I totally had a failed attempt at a blogger-lead bookclub of sorts but I want you to know that we're gonna try again with your book and I'm TOTALLY pumped. Your book better kickass.
No pressure or anything!
Surely such a country could never exist!
And this kind of behind-the-scenes post is really interesting, while the others are the ones that are teasers reminding us of how long it will be until we can read this book.
Danny! Congrats! I've read a lot of those authors recently.
I think I might love you (in a 'I totally don't really, but love your blog, and you always make me smile' kinda way), I hope that's alright. Thanks for the insider info, I hope I have a time and place to make use of it some time soon.
Oh and, does this mean the section about your uneven nipples is still in? 'cause I was really intrigued...
I'm not sure a world where I can't read about dry-humping neil diamond without having to turn a page is a world worth living in. Better start building that rocket to the moon now...but don't worry I'll take a copy of Rage with me.
LilSass, I hope you are referring to our "Teach Jordan Catalano to Read" book club because, I would LOVE to read this book for that. Or, fuck Jordan, you and I should just read it together!
So excited for your book to come out. Congratulations, DGM!!
After SXSW I got some highfalutin idea I would write a book, but -really- thank god you are chronicling your experience cause I think I would honestly kill myself, or at least eat ice cream for breakfast lunch or dinner.
I'm loving hearing about your book publishing experiences . . . don't stop! I can live vicariously!
OK.... so this comment is really nothing to do with this particular post (although I love hearing all the info on the book because someday, I dream of writing one myself. And if your humiliation can save me some of my own, then hey... I'll milk that for all its worth) but have you seen the new sitcome starring Bob Saget called Surviving Suburbia? Something about the way you write and this show.... I picture you in these scenarios and imagine you would react much the same as Saget's character. Am I wrong here?
i think it is great that you have written a book...i think a lot of us get into blogging with the dream...that you have made reality. I am definitely good for promoting your book to my friends...so consider the Midwest Soccer Mom demographic locked in.
You don't have to beg Danny, this book is gonna be a hit.
For a lot of us, hearing about your book is a way for us to know what it would be like to write a book and try to get it published ourselves. So, please, keep sharing.
Danny,
I pre-ordered my copy from Amazon last week...get off my ass already, would ya?! Oh yeah...speaking of groveling and begging, if I send you the book will you sign it for me? I mean, you'll have to send it back of course but I will SO totally send you a stamp or whatever. The book can't be THAT heavy, can it? Well, anyway...congrats!
Already preordered my copy! Love hearing about how it's going. Never realized what a process getting a book published really is!
You've gotten an impressive list of blurbs there. Congratulations!
Let me know as soon as you're at the galley stage - the next step in the process.
Just delurking to say that I love how you've made the book publishing thing a little less mysterious through your adventure. Congratulations on the book and I definitely don't mind hearing about it on your blog.