Friday, October 29, 2010

Counting Down the Days


It feels so weird to be writing this on Thursday night. It has been a week of last minute preparations for the release of You Better Knot Die. My website needed to be updated, which meant I had to take photographs of the crochet projects. It wasn’t just procrastination that had kept me from doing it. I wanted to take them outside and we’ve been having a freaky October. Usually we have bone dry winds and hot sun, but this year it has been all about gloom and drizzly rain with some actual showers thrown in. My flowers have been perked up by the weather and the bald spots on my lawn are green again, but flat light and gray skies aren’t good for outdoor photographs.

Finally last Sunday I noticed some patches of blue sky in the morning and the sun breaking through. I should have seized the moment, but I thought it would just get brighter as the day progressed. It didn’t. By afternoon the sky was white again, but I went ahead with the photos anyway. I’m glad I didn’t wait until later in the day. The next thing I knew it was drizzling - again. I had expected it to be a day without rain and had hung laundry outside. I only use a dryer as a last resort. I think it cooks your clothes.

When the drizzle turned to actual rain, I had to pull in all the laundry and hanging it on every available spot inside.

I finished all the stuff for my website and turned it over to my webmaster to work his magic.

My editor contacted me about a question and answer thing for the Berkley website. Of course, I said yes. Since they needed it back by Wednesday, I’m guessing it will be up soon.

You Better Knot Die comes out on Tuesday and my plan is to hit as many bookstores as possible and sign stock. Then Wednesday I go to Chicago with a similar plan.

So all my ducks are in a row now. Now I’m going to cross my fingers and hope for the best.

The other big preparation this week is for Halloween. If it is like past years, we'll have around 300 trick or treaters. I might have bought the candy too early this year. I noticed a lot of it has disappeared. Still time to get to Costco and get another one of those gigantic bags. I haven't decorated yet, but there are still a few days and everything will be on sale at Target now.

What are you doing for Halloween?

10 comments:

Linda O. Johnston said...

Congratulations on the release of You Better Knot Die, Betty. Love the cover! I look forward to reading it.

Terri Thayer said...

Great cover! Congrats on the hardback. Way to go!

Betty Hechtman said...

Thank you for the good wishes, Linda and Terri.

Monica Ferris said...

Congratulations on the publication of You Better Knot Die! I like the cover, very intriguing -- and the dog is a nice touch. I hope it does well.

Mason Canyon said...

Congratulations on your upcoming release. Looking forward to reading it. Have a Happy Halloween.

Mason
Thoughts in Progress

Betty Hechtman said...

Thank you,Monica. I'm glad they put the dog on the cover. I based the character of Spike on a real toy fox terrier whose name actually is Spke.

Betty Hechtman said...

Mason, thanks for the good wishes. I hope you have a happy Halloween, too.

Planner said...

Betty, 300 trick-or-treaters is an incredibly high number! There must be a lot of children (and dentists) in your area.

My local bookstore surprised me by putting You Better Knot Die out early, so I am happily reading it. Love the twists and turns!

Betty Hechtman said...

Planner, I'm glad you're enjoying You Better Knot Die.

As for the 300 trick or treaters - my son insists we're getting repeaters. All I know is sometimes there are ten kids on the porch when I open the door. Last year we had some adults with bags and no they weren't with kids.

I've seen vans drop out a mob of kids. Maybe we're part of the some Halloween tour.

Georgia Mist said...

WOW! I had NO idea anyone was writing Crochet mysteries! I am so happy -- I can't wait to find your books!

Terri