WORTH THE WAIT
ANTICIPATION. Years ago, the Heinz company promoted their ketchup using that theme song. The lyrics went like this:
"Anticipation is making me wait...keeping me waiting." The message formed in the listener's mind reinforced the notion that the product was so thick and rich that pouring it on your food required a great deal of patience. It was effective.
I have been involved in an exercise requiring patience. When a writer self publishes a book, that writer has control over the schedule. When the text is formatted and the cover completed and made to fit the projected dimensions of the copy, printing can begin and the finished product immediately goes into production and on sale. I have previously authored six books, two short story collections, three novels and a collection of stories for kid's. Each time I determined the production schedule and the release date.
My newest novel is in the final stages of a process that has tried my patience. The text has been through three edits by professionals who follow a strict protocol, something called the Chicago Manual of Style. It's very demanding and I'm certain that the finished product will be far more professional than any of my previously published works. When it has passed inspection, it then goes to the formatting experts who prepare a copy displaying exactly what the novel will be like.
The final step is developing ideas for the cover designers. They are very adept at taking an author's thoughts and producing a book that will be attractive and catch the attention of shoppers. That is where my new release is at the moment. I will soon have a copy or copies to inspect. When I am satisfied, the marketing department will release promotional materials and the book will go on sale.
Can I with any certainty announce the date of release? Not a chance. But some of you have been curious enough to inquire so I'll swing for the fences and say sometime in late April. Early reviews from a sample group of readers are encouraging...Heck they are glowing! Here's what The Dark Side of the Dune will look like.
Remember the Heinz jingle. It's worth the wait.
