A Thing I Have Waited For, Literally, All My Life.

(NOTE: Based on time elapsed since the posting of this entry, the BS-o-meter calculates this is 12.06% likely to be something that Ferrett now regrets.)

So this happened yesterday:

If you’ll recall, it took me decades to write a novel good enough to sell.  I literally wrote seven terrible novels before finally uncorking this good one.  And so to have it in my hands, was…
Like touching a dream.
A box of me.
So this box sits on the counter, and Gini, who is usually Not A Fan of clutter, has said not a word about it, as she is as proud as I am.  Eventually it’ll go in a closet somewhere.  I have books to sign (and I plan to number the books I sign, a little personalized hashtag, just to see how many I do), and I know Gini gets my first signed book, and then I gotta figure out who gets the rest.
And yes, I know I’m being slightly ridiculous about all this, but it’s my first novel.  My absurdity extends to feeling a strange kinship with Brenda K, who so kindly packed these books for me. But I only get this opportunity once, so I’ll run wild through the fields of the Lord and I promise you when The Flux comes out in October, I’ll be more subdued.
Probably.
Then there’s the dedication page:
It's here. In my hands. My debut novel FLEX, turned to paper.
Those of you new here probably know about Rebecca, my goddaughter.  But it occurs to me that most of you don’t know my Uncle Tommy, who passed on in 2005.  Which is a shame.  He was my best friend and savior when I was a troubled teen.  He had a basement full of books he let me read.  He was a frail hemophiliac who taught me how to be fearless.  He gave me Stephen King, and Dune, and the Belgariad, and Stephen R. Donaldson, and all the worlds within Flex would never exist if it were not for him.
I know Gini gets signed book #1.  But I think Uncle Tommy gets signed book #2.  I’ll keep it for him. On my bookshelf.
I really think he’d be proud of me.

4 Comments

  1. Mishell Baker
    Feb 26, 2015

    *sobs uncontrollably*

  2. Sandra
    Feb 26, 2015

    That’s the sweetest dedication note ever.
    I’m going to have to buy another copy so that you can sign one for me! 🙂

  3. Eric
    Feb 26, 2015

    By the way you’re talking about him, he definetly would, regardless of whether you were published or not, but he would share all of your happiness. Congratulations!

  4. Gayle
    Feb 26, 2015

    Tommy was your biggest fan before you ever wrote a book – he would be more thrilled than you are.

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