Monday, January 25, 2010

Speaking of Feeling Feelings...

Today, my doorbell rang, and I heard the tell-tale *thump* of a package being dropped off. On Friday, Editor Jen emailed me to let me know that a couple of copies of HEX HALL were on their way to me and Agent Holly. When Agent Holly got hers later that afternoon (what with being in NYC and all), she called me and raved about how gorgeous it was in person, and sent me a picture of it sitting on her shelf.

So when my copies showed up this morning, I thought I was prepared.

I was not.

Despite making my living by, you know, using words, I have no words to describe the feeling as I opened that box. There were shaky knees, and trembling hands, and Tummy Butterflies, of course, but it was more than that. I won't get into the Sturm and Drang that surrounded me writing HEX HALL (although you can read about it here and here if you're so inclined!), but I will say that for me, this is a lot more than a book. It came out of a time when everything felt hopeless screwed up and Full of Bad, and in a lot of ways, that story was my life preserver. It represents not only me trying to achieve a dream, but also my family's faith in me, that I could write a book, that I would get an agent, that this story should be in print.

And now here it is. The real thing. And I feel excited, and humbled, and nervous, and so, so grateful.

Now enough of the sap! On to the pictures!


HEX HALL on my "research" shelf. Notice all the vampire/weird stuff/unsolved mysteries books!



Love, love, LOVE the font on the spine!


Gorgeous back, with AMAZING blurb from Becca Fitzpatrick AND an excerpt!


"Love, look at the two of us...strangers in many ways...we've got a lifetime to share..." Yes, I just quoted The Carpenters in my blog. Deal.



9 comments:

Crystal said...

The book looks beautiful! Can't wait to add it to my bookshelf in the next couple of weeks

Jess said...

Congratulations! I can't wait to read it.

Dani. said...

Soooo pretty! Glad its gonna look so beautiful on my own shelf! :]

Amelia said...

Wow! Congratulations! That's so awesome! I can only imagine what the feeling would be like. I sure hope to experience it one day. :)

It looks fabulous on your shelf. :)

My shelf is not worthy of such a complimentary book, so once I get a copy, it'll have to stay on my desk. :) I can use it for inspiration, that it is so entirely possible for me to get published as well. :)

Congrats again!

Dallas said...

IT'S BEAUTIFUL!!

Alix said...

Congratulations. It looks really stunning!

The inside is living up to the promise of the outside btw :)

JESSJORDAN said...

Ooooh, how lovely. Congrats, Rachel!

Jessica Love said...

Congratulations, Rachel! This is such an accomplishment!!

Shelli (srjohannes) said...

so happy for you :)