Home stretch?

Last week the designer of my publisher mentioned that, if all goes well, the book should be at the printer the week of Dec. 15th. I have learned over the years to hesitate when wanting to bombard a publisher with "when, when, when...?" So, I usually wait a couple of weeks after they say they are going to do something, to check and see if it happened.

I have not always been the best with patience, it wasn't a given virtue. This process has forced me to wait.

There are so many things I am not sure of:
1) The number of books they will print - somewhere between 3,000-5,000
2) Where will they market the book? I know Amazon.com will have it on their site.
3) When the book will be released? I know it will be sometime in Spring 2009. So that could mean March, April or May.
4) What awards will it be submitted for? I want the Caldecott!
5) Not sure how it will be priced.
6) Not sure if I should start the next book, if they are interested in another or not...

The final book will be 64 pages, hard cover, with a wrap. I am so excited and can't wait to market it everywhere I go! I want to do readings at zoos, local libraries, schools, and bookstores. I am going to send it out to: WWF, Zeb Hogan (specialist in Mekong Giant Catfish), Pi Phi, UW Madison, Henry Vilas Zoo, Vaquita Marina, Folsom Zoo, San Diego Zoo, Taranga Zoo in Australia. That is my list thus far. I am sure it will grow.

I am currently getting my applications ready for Grad school. But, another book in my series of endangered species is floating in my head. I want to see how this first book does.

So, if I think big, I will be on Oprah; have a favorable review in the NY Times; and be a key-note speaker for a WWFoundation fundraising event. I want to have 3,000 books sold by Dec. 2009. The more people that talk about Endangered Species, the more people will help them.

Here is how I wrote the poem for the Karner Blue Butterfly:

When I am a caterpiller
I eat a lupine plant.
So I'll become a butterfly
because without the plant, I can't!

In the factual informaiton, it talks about how the Karner Blue Butterfly is a specialized species and completely dependent on one kind of plant for survival.

:) Night!