Best Mail Day Ever
Posted July 15, 2011 by
Tuesday was the best mail day ever. Greg and I got home from looking at apartments (the housing saga continues, albeit in Santa Monica now) and there was a large, very heavy box from Penguin sitting outside the front door. I got Vera to help me open it.
I already knew what was in it, had been waiting for days for it to arrive.
“What is it, Mama?” Vera asked over and over.
“It’s my book, baby. Mama wrote a book.”
“Oh!”
She was into it for about 30 more seconds after that. Well, she actually sat on the couch with me long enough to listen to me read a paragraph about her in one of the last chapters.
Then she hopped off and said, “Let’s play bubbles, Mama!” and I said, “Okay!” and we went outside in the late afternoon sunshine and blew bubbles into the warm breeze.
And while Vera chased the bubbles with a stick and Greg took a nap, I stared up into the mountains above the house and took in the idea that my book exists in physical form. I thought about how it’s only been six months since I sold it. How it’s only been four months since I finished it. And how now dozens of copies are in my living room. Dozens of copies are sitting in the Penguin offices, and other random places already. People besides my husband are actually reading it. Well, him too.
I thought most of all about my parents. I thought about all the books I’ve ever read, all the characters I’ve ever fallen in love with, the people in these books who have become part of my life somehow, and how that’s going to happen now with my parents. They will become known to so many people, maybe even loved and remembered. And how that’s more than I could have ever asked for.
Note: These are just paperback advance reader copies created mostly to send out to other authors and to media personnel. The official hardcover version will be available February 2, 2012 and is available for pre-order on Amazon.
A Brief Note on Putting Myself Out There
All This: Reflections on Atlanta
Notes from AtlantaFiled under: I Must Be Dreaming, The Rules of Inheritance by Claire Bidwell Smith
18 Comments
Bug looking so satisfied to be holding Mama-no’s book is breaking my heart right now. I can’t wait to get my hands on it! Congratulations, darling.
Comment by Lien on July 15, 2011 at 8:44 am
Thank you, dear! And thanks to you for being one of the very first people to ever read those first chapters and give me (majorly helpful) feedback. xoxox
Comment by Claire Bidwell Smith on July 15, 2011 at 8:57 am
Can’t wait to read your book. I don’t know how I came to read your blog but I have been reading for awhile now and I love your insight. I, too lost my father to cancel and took care of him. I just had to put my mother in a nursing home with dementia, we took care of her til October of last year. She has not know who I am for about 2 years. It is hard to watch your parents suffer. But I wouldn’t change the time I have had with them both. Again, Thank you and I can’t wait for the book to come out.
Comment by Karen K on July 15, 2011 at 9:17 am
Oh, thank you for such a nice comment! I’m sorry to hear about your parents but you have such a wonderful insight into feeling grateful for the time you did share together.
Comment by Claire Bidwell Smith on July 15, 2011 at 12:35 pm
I can’t tell you how happy I am for you! The little tear in my eye is recognising all your hard work and elation because it’s all tangible now. Your parents, I’m sure, will be adored by the thousands who will read your fine words. Congratulations again.
Comment by Sara M on July 15, 2011 at 8:23 pm
Congrats, congrats, congrats!! SO exciting!
Comment by Liz on July 15, 2011 at 11:46 pm
Oh, huzzah!
I’ve always really liked the way that you keep track of time regarding events in your life–I do the same thing–Matt calls me the relationship historian & it is true of all the most important events of my life.
Looking forward to reading this–and hoping someday to toast you with a champagne cocktail. Until that day, massive enormous congratulations and admiration to you.
Comment by pamela on July 16, 2011 at 2:47 pm
Aw, thanks Pamela! Now that we’re back on the same side of the coast, we really need to get together! Maybe I’ll come to Portland on book tour, or maybe we’ll just come up there specifically to visit. You’re always welcome to pop down to La-La Land too! xoxo
Comment by Claire Bidwell Smith on July 16, 2011 at 3:13 pm
Oh, that’s so sweet of you to say, Sara! Thank you!
Comment by Claire Bidwell Smith on July 16, 2011 at 3:14 pm
This makes me so happy for you! It must be very surreal but amazing all at the same time! I can’t wait to read this! Putting it on my Amazon wishlist now!!
Comment by Vanessa on July 16, 2011 at 9:58 pm
Reading your blog is as soothing and lovely as it is to hear you speak. What a banner day, and one so worthy of celebration. The photos in this blog–and every blog–also help tell the story in a beautiful way and give it such a rich texture (kudos to the photographer!). I’m so excited for you, and my copy has been pre-ordered. Perhaps when I see you after it comes out, I can arm wrestle you to sign it. (note to self: work out!) xoxo
Comment by Ron Stempkowski on July 17, 2011 at 5:44 pm
Picture of Vera reading your book struck me as so beautiful and complete. This full circle of life that keeps going round, your daughter reading the book you wrote about your parents. For so long I have been reading your words here on your blog knowing that one day I would be reading one of your books. All the hard work, the rejections, your amazing strength and perseverance. So happy for you to finally have what I fully expect will be your first of many books in print!
Comment by Wendy on July 17, 2011 at 9:53 pm
The picture of Veronica reading your book is just too perfect. I can’t imagine how exciting it is to see your own words in a book. You are a lovely writer, and often, I find myself crying in a good way after reading your words. Congratulations, Claire!
Comment by Lynne on July 18, 2011 at 6:22 am
Oh, thank you for the kind words Lynne. It’s definitely surreal to hold and read my own book. Something I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid.
Comment by Claire Bidwell Smith on July 18, 2011 at 1:01 pm
Thanks, Wendy! I hadn’t thought of it that way, in terms of the circle being kind of complete, but you’re right. Now I just want to see someone at the airport reading it. THAT would trip me out.
Comment by Claire Bidwell Smith on July 18, 2011 at 1:04 pm
Thanks, Vanessa!
Comment by Claire Bidwell Smith on July 18, 2011 at 1:07 pm
How exciting that must have been to receive your book! Congratulations!! Looking forward to reading it!
Comment by Chris on July 23, 2011 at 7:48 pm
Thanks, Chris! Yes, so, so exciting!
Comment by Claire Bidwell Smith on July 28, 2011 at 12:30 pm
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