Jeri Smith-Ready

HAPPY

Hey, thanks for stopping by! Just wanted to let you know to keep an eye on this space for SHINE release stuff like:

• How SHINE Happened But Almost Didn't (a post half-written while half-asleep--it's completely incoherent)
• SHINE soundtrack notes (fully written while fully awake, yet still somewhat incoherent) - I'm waiting until next week to post this, after more people have read the book, because the notes are full of spoilers like "This song goes with that one scene where _________. Wasn't that horrible?" The SHINE soundtrack itself is up on the SHADEboys tumblr.
• The Surprise SHINE celebration thing I mentioned in this post (not even started, since I have to email a bunch of people, and we all know how paralyzed I am in that area)
• "Ask Jeri" mass reader interview of me. I've started working on the questions, which are, in a word, FABULOUS. You guys came up with some very creative, insightful queries that have really made me think. I think I can manage to have 10 finished today so that Kilt and Keeley can post them tomorrow or next Monday.

All this stuff is a little late because I underestimated the lifeforce-sucking power of a sinus infection that first knocked on my head and politely requested entry about a month ago. I was sick before I went to the RT Booklovers Convention, got slightly better during it, but by the time I came home I got worse (took the train home from Chicago instead of flying, for fear of rupturing an eardrum--smartest move ever, because the Amtrak roommette was amazing!!) Then I was healthy for approximately 100 hours until last Friday. Then I stayed up almost all night Monday for a midnight release party.

Now I'm just trying to get through each day with a few hours' work on the book due at the end of the month while accomplishing One SHINE-related Thing (especially since I have two booksignings, a bridal shower, and two mothers visiting for the weekend).

Yesterday, the Thing was the SHINE soundtrack and the #SHADEboys dance party (it looks like two things, but really I did most of the soundtrack on Sunday and just tweaked it for the next two days).

Today, this post is That One Thing. Sorry.

But I want you know that despite being sick on deadline, this has been an amazing week, more than I ever dreamed it could be, and it's all thanks to you.

I'm not just blowing smoke. Some authors get big tours, some get big ads, some get big displays in bookstores. While it'd be nice to have those things, if given the choice between that and having a close relationship with the crazy, fun readers that have followed me for months or years, I'd take you guys ANY DAY.

So this song is for you. The words aren't mine, but I mean every one of them.

Labels: Contests, music, SHINE birthday, ZOGAN

• posted by Jeri @ 2:37 PM
• 8 comments