The plan so far

I was in touch with Nick at Oberon yesterday and now have a rough idea of what will be going on the next few months. Contract is forthcoming shortly, and the proofs will be along sometime later (that will be weird). The books should be back from the printers by mid-October, but he warned me that it's best not to plan a launch until November in case of a backlog with the printer. Having a launch with no books would be a very bad thing, so November it is.

Now I guess the next step is to get in touch with the manager at Memorial Park library (I worked for her years ago, as it happens) and find a date in November that works for us. Then I can get Owl's Nest on board. Exciting, but it does still seem quite far off at this point.

Nick also said I should take a holiday after doing all that revision. Good idea, I think I will.

Geezerpalooza

While the James Muretich Rock 'n' Roll Circus event that took place Sunday night at Old Flames Central doesn't really have anything to do with either of my books, directly, it was a good promo event. And an opportunity to catch up with some of the punk gang from ye olden days. Holy. Saw The Smokin' 45s, Blacktop Five and Forbidden Dimension but took a miss on The Von Zippers. I'm afraid it was too loud, my throat was getting sore from having to yell and I was tired. And I've seen The Von Zippers before anyway.

Entertainment between the musical acts was provided by the Kabuki Guns Burlesque Troupe. Crescent, ex-Virgins drummer, remarked on the fact that the female involvement in the show was limited to stripping. I'd thought the very same thing all week. She and I talked about how things haven't changed for the better in the last thirty years as far as women in rock music (and many other endeavors) go.

Ah, well, no use getting all preachy. We had a good time for the most part, even if we are all old.

Ahhh...

Just got back from Express Posting a hard copy of Love Minus Zero to Oberon Press. That feels good. It occured to me while I was printing it that I will probably never have to print it again. That also feels good, because I've printed that sucker and shipped it off quite a few times. I like the idea of not having to do it again.

Next steps: once they receive the hard copy, they tell me we will talk contract and money. I like the sound of that. I'd also like to know what the official pub date will be (imagine that will be in the contract). Once I know that, I can get a launch set up, probably at Memorial Park library, and I can get in touch with a bookseller for the event, probably Owl's Nest books, an indie who've been selling books here in Calgary for the last thirty years.

Hopefully all these details will be worked out soon. Stay tuned.