The last look at your manuscript

Received the paperback of my collection for my final approval. Can't quite describe what it felt like to finally hold the book after seven plus years of working on it.

Back and front covers are beautifully done. Excellent design throughout. A close read of the collection again—are these stories really mine? I finished the proofing and wondered why I had written them, they seemed to have lost their luster and excitement.

I had to restrain myself from doing more revision--worrying about a “was” that should have been a “had.” I guess that’s all part of the final disconnecting process before your book is finally ready for distribution.