The Lord has done great things for us,
And we are glad.
—Psalm 126:3
Something very exciting happened.
I received the author copies* of my book!
I’ve been anticipating their delivery for about a week, since my publisher, Post Hill Press, emailed me to ask for a good mailing address. Over the past few days, every time a package landed on my porch, I snatched it up and eagerly looked at the recipient’s name. Thus far, all of them had my husband’s name, not mine.
So, when a tidy little box with my name on it arrived the other day, my breath caught in my throat.
As many of you know, I’ve worked in publishing, in some capacity, for over two decades. When I was a senior editor at HarperCollins, I worked closely with our cover designers, interior designers, and production team. We wanted to ensure that all details regarding the book’s design and the materials suited the content—from the font style, running heads, end papers, case color, paper weight and color, etc. But even when we had all these details in order, you could never be 100 percent sure how the finished product would turn out.
When each book arrived, I’d eagerly inspect every element. Thankfully, I was more often delighted than disappointed.
I’ve been on video calls with many of my authors when they received their book copies. Seeing their joy—sometimes accompanied by happy tears—always compelled met to give thanks and praise to God for my job and my small role in helping authors’ dreams come true.
Though I’ve been on this journey with many authors over the years, publishing my own book has been an entirely unique experience.
Anyway, back to my box of books, which I couldn’t open fast enough.
*You might be wondering, What are “author copies”? I’m glad you asked! Author copies are the number of free books authors receive from the publisher. They’re sometimes referred to as “comp copies.” The number of books is usually stated in the publishing contract and can be negotiated.
I lifted out the bubble wrap and saw my cover for the first time. I’d looked at the cover hundreds of times on my computer screen, but in person, the bright color scheme and warmth of the gold tones invited me in.
Then I turned the book every which way, admiring the printed case, from the gold color of the spine to the extension of the lovely blues and greens on the back. I loved the soft feel of the finish used on the cover, and the small size was just as I’d imagined: compact and easy to tuck into a purse or bag.
But what about the interior?
For starters, I was thrilled that my publisher selected a white paper with a bit more heft than what’s typically used for a black-and-white trade nonfiction book. The whole design turned out even better than it looked in the PDF, especially the pages with hymn stanzas, which are gray and pull in the star elements from the cover. And even though I didn’t request a lay-flat binding, the book does lie pretty flat, which is helpful for the journaling pages. (My publisher graciously added however many lines would fit on the page. I’m praying that if the book performs well enough that a companion journal might be released in the future.)
One of the best things about a new book? The smell. That satisfying combination of earthy paper and tart ink. Ahh…
It’s wild to think that less than a year ago, I didn’t even have a publishing contract. In fact, I hadn’t even written a proposal! All I had was an intro drafted on my vintage electronic Smith-Corona typewriter, two handwritten devotional drafts, and a spreadsheet full of potential Bible verses to include.
Holding my book in my hands for the first time was both exhilarating and humbling. Many people have poured themselves into this book, and I have so much gratitude for everyone who made this dream of mine come true.
Glory to God in the highest!
I can’t wait for everyone who’s preordered to receive their copy! And I pray that it blesses you.
With love in Christ,
Amanda
xoxo
P.S. Shout-out to my cat, Phoebe, who happily jumped up on the window sill to pose with the books. Though she generally seemed more interested in marking them as “hers,” I did manage to snap a couple great shots of her!
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