Author Copies Day

It’s as good as Christmas or your birthday...some might say even better. It’s the day all your hopes and dreams arrive in a big box tied with plastic tape.

It’s Author Copies Day.

Mine arrived this morning, in the hands of a fit young man in a white delivery van. Before signing for them, I jumped around a bit like a crazy thing whilst he stood by, politely not showing how weird he thought I was for getting excited over a box of books. I found a pair of my son’s rounded child-scissors and cut the tape and opened up the box.

There they were. Nestled together, protected with those little plastic air pillow things that my son loves to jump on and pop. Mine, all mine.

I do slightly odd things when my books come in the post. I’ve seen the cover before, of course, as a jpg or a cover flat, but it’s not the same as having the actual book. When I got my author copies for my first-ever book, I took photos of myself with them even though I hadn’t even brushed my hair yet. The photos are hideous, but you can tell I’m happy. I carried a book around all day.

This is my thirteenth published book, and you would have thought the excitement would pall a little, but oh no. I had to pose the book just so, so that light would reflect off the glorious, beautiful shiny bits. I’ve never had shiny bits on my books before. It’s more thrilling than I can possibly tell you.

So today, fellow Addicts, I am happy. I’ll be even happier next month, when I see the books in a shop. But meanwhile, a wish for my fellow writers: May your own Author Copies Day, when it comes, be as joyous as mine. Whether it’s your fortieth or your first.