Here's the link to Smashwords for the Epub version of Incendiary (Apple iPad/iBooks, Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo, and most e-reading apps including Stanza, Aldiko, Adobe Digital Editions, others):  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/262605

Here is the link to the UK Kindle eBook of Incendiary: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Incendiary-Premonition-Series-Volume-ebook/dp/B00AI5F6C4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1354903721&sr=1-1

Here is the link to the US Kindle eBook of Incendiary: http://www.amazon.com/Incendiary-Premonition-Series-Volume-ebook/dp/B00AI5F6C4/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1354847795&sr=1-5&keywords=amy+bartol+incendiary

I can't wait to break this silence! Secrets...

I didn't know for sure if the book that is up on Amazon would be the right one (correct file) because I gambled and published it before I received the final physical proof in the mail.  Yesterday afternoon (the 28th), I went out to my car in the garage and found a package on the hood of it: the Incendiary proof.  With shaky fingers, I opened it and found that it was as close to perfect as one can expect from an imperfect person (me).  Translation:  CreateSpace made all of my changes, so anything you find that is incorrect while reading it is my fault.

I had to go to soccer practice right after I found the proof so I shoved it in my bag. It's a relief to have that part finished, but it's a little bittersweet to have it out in just paperback.  Most of my sales come from eBooks, so I can't really judge how it's doing until it's out.  I've ordered the eBook conversion through CreateSpace.  I'm hoping that it will release before December 7th on Amazon, but I don't know if that will happen.  We'll have to wait and see. 

There is less than a day left to enter to win the SIGNED COPY OF INCENDIARY! The Rafflecopter drawing is tomorrow, December 30, 2012.  Here is a link to that post so that you can enter to WIN IT!!!
http://www.amyabartol.com/1/post/2012/10/happy-birthday-evie-win-a-copy-of-incendiary.html

So, this is it!!  Home stretch, right?  I want to thank you for supporting me, not only through this process, but also as a author in general.  I'm immensely grateful. 

Just for fun, I took some pictures of the Incendiary proof so you can see what one looks like if you're thinking of publishing a book.  I chose 6" x 9" trim size with cream-colored paper. The chapter heading and font style/sizes are: Century Gothic Bold Caps 14 point/ Blackadder 46 point.  The body font is New Baskerville size: 11 point. (I had to go 11 point because the book is so long. You may want to use 12 point when you publish.) And then I went with full justification.

I tried to write this blog yesterday, like I'd promised, but I just couldn't post it.  Instead, I wallowed in denial and self-pity (it was ugly). <--Truly ugly.

Now, I have to make a decision as to whether I approve the book for release without reviewing the final physical copy if I want to make the deadline of Nov. 30th.  I still have a chance.  Once I approve the proof, it usually takes 24 to 48 hours to build the site on Amazon.  So it's decision time: wait or gamble.  Control my destiny or let it go...

Here's the situation as it stands right now.  I was sent the corrected interior format PDF for Incendiary last week on Wednesday, Nov. 21st.  (The day before Thanksgiving).  That means the publisher made the corrections to the proof and is going to send me a second printed copy of Incendiary for me to approve. 

The problem is, I'm not sure that they shipped that proof yet because I haven't received it.  It should've arrived yesterday, which was Saturday.  It could just be delayed because of the Thanksgiving holiday, but I'm nervous because I didn't get a confirmation email stating that it shipped. 

Why is this a problem? 

The proof takes around 3 days to ship.  If it already shipped and arrives tomorrow (Monday) then I'm GOLDEN!! If it ships on Monday, then I'll get it Thursday.  That only gives the publisher one business day to put it on Amazon to make my deadline, which is not going to happen--trust me, they couldn't pull it off. 

Here are my options: 

I can gamble and approve the proof before I get the physical copy (if they let me). 

Why is that a gamble? 

You may be thinking that since I have the PDF, I have confirmation enough that the changes were made.  I would've thought that too, but that didn't happen on my last book, Indebted.  The second proof of Indebted that came in the mail was exactly the same as the first proof because they made a mistake and didn't print the revised file. 

The same thing could happen again. 

What are the odds?

I don't know.  I'd hate to find out that the wrong version got sent to Amazon because I didn't wait to check it. 

So either I get the proof tomorrow or I have to decide to gamble and approve it to make my date. OR I wait for the proof to come and miss my publishing deadline. 

Can you say: "rock and a hard place?"

I'll know tomorrow.  I'll call the publisher and see if it shipped, and if so, when.  If it hasn't shipped, I believe that it will make me scream.  And then...I'll have to decide if I feel lucky. 

The printed proof of Incendiary arrived at my office in the afternoon on Thursday (the 9th).  I hadn't even realized it had shipped.  When I figured out what it was that I was holding in my hand, it was a heart-pounding moment for me.  It's strange knowing that it's the only copy--that it belongs to me.  As I thumbed through it, my hands were shaky from a mixture of fear and excitement.  It's heavy.  It's a serious book. 

I know I said I was going to submit my changes right away, but I'm more of a perfectionist than I thought.  I had to look it over again.  I took the weekend to do that and then I turned in my changes on Monday (yesterday). 

Here's what will happen now: they have 5-7 business days to make the changes--the latest date for that is around the 21st.  Then they'll ship me the new proof.  Approximately 2-3 days to ship so the latest date is the 24th (which is a Saturday.).  I'll approve the proof immediately (barring any huge debacles).  I'll have to wait until Monday for them to be in the office to acknowledge the approval.  From there, they'll build the site on Amazon.  So it could show up on Amazon anytime between Nov. 28-30!!  (or sooner!!)  You know I'll post that it's there the second it shows up!  I'll be the town crier! 

After the print book posts, I'll initiate the eBook conversion.  We're looking at Dec. 7th right now, but I'll know more soon.  I can't wait for you to read this book.  I really want to share it with you. 

I'm leaving in the morning to go to the book signing in Baton Rouge!  I'm looking forward to it.  I hope I see you there!

When CreateSpace ships the proof of Incendiary, they'll then allow me to submit the changes I have for the interior.  I'll do that immediately and then they'll have 5-7 business days to make said changes and then ship a second proof.  I'll scan the proof, and if they have made all the changes, then I can approve it. After that, they'll start building the site for Incendiary on Amazon.com.  It takes anywhere from 2-5 days to build the site on Amazon, usually more like 2 rather than 5.  Once it's built, Incendiary will go live!

The tentative RELEASE DATE for the PAPERBACK of Incendiary is NOVEMBER 30th.  I expect it to release sooner (by about a week), but the 30th is my "safe" date. The tentative RELEASE DATE for the Incendiary EBOOK is Dec. 7th.  Again, I expect it to release sooner (by about a week).  I'll keep you updated.

The INCENDIARY COVER REVEAL IS NOVEMBER 7TH!  Check out my website to see it after midnight tonight (around one o'clock a.m. EST). 

I posted a teaser on Facebook a couple of weeks ago.  Many of you didn't see it, so I'm going to post it below for you.  It's Evie and Russell--I know, sorry Reed and Brennus fans!

TEASERTEASERTEASERTEASERTEASERTEASERTEASERTEASERTEASE
TEASERTEASERTEASERTEASERTEASERTEASERTEASERTEASERTEASE
TEASERTEASERTEASERTEASERTEASERTEASERTEASERTEASERTEASE
TEASERTEASERTEASERTEASERTEASERTEASERTEASERTEASERTEASE

“But, that still doesn’t account for you takin’ this mission,” he says.
“I wish I knew, Russell, but I’m in the dark just as much as you are,” I reply.
“I just…if I did somethin’ to you…somethin’ that made you have to get away…I’m sorry,” Russell says, his voice sounding strained.
“Don’t…we don’t know what happened. I’m sure it’s not you—it couldn’t be you,” I say, feeling awful.
“I don’t remember anythin’ ‘bout Paradise…I remember the life before this one,” he says.
“You do?” I ask, seeing the lightning outside illuminate his face. He’s starting to look a little better, not as swollen as he was earlier.
“Uh huh, it was sorta tragic…we were French,” he says with a grin. 

NOT ENOUGH NOT ENOUGH NOT ENOUGH NOT ENOUGH
NOT ENOUGH NOT ENOUGH NOT ENOUGH NOT ENOUGH
NOT ENOUGH NOT ENOUGH NOT ENOUGH NOT ENOUGH

NOT ENOUGH????  I know!  Here is something different to appease you.  There is a DELETED SCENE from INESCAPABLE I recently released.  It's available at Big Book Little Book!  Find it at this link:  http://www.bigbooklittlebook.com/2012/11/self-published-sunday-inescapable-bonus-scene/

Just as a reminder, my next book signing is the Indie Chicks Book Tour in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on November 15, 2012 at 4 p.m.  I'm going to be with my favorite authors: Georgia Cates, Shelly Crane, M. Leighton, and Rachel Higginson!! I. CAN'T. WAIT!!

I have to admit that I messed up.  The reason the cover isn't ready yet is because I didn't make changes to the mock-up for a few days after I received it.  I was still operating under the old process.  I concentrated on doing the interior corrections because the interior takes so long to proof.  I didn't realize that they won't let me make those changes to the interior until they send me the first printed proof.  (In the old process, I could make changes to the PDF and then they'd send me the printed proof afterward.)  Now, they send the printed proof first before changes are made and they can't send me the proof because the cover isn't finished.  I think I lost at least 3 or 4 days by being stupid.  (<--Which totally kills me.)  So I'm really sorry about that; I don't think I can fix it.  I asked if they could make the interior changes that I want without sending the printed proof, but I ran up against "the process."  Apparently, "the process" was put in place to streamline, well, "the process" and nobody gets around "the process" now.  Can I go on record as stating I hate "the process's" guts?  I can?  Great.  I hate it.  (<--That is sarcasm.  I understand that it was my mistake; I don't have to like it, though.)

Here's what I'll probably do:  the minute they ship the printed proof, I'll turn around and submit my corrections (meaning: I'm not going to wait 3-4 days for the book to get here; I'm going to gamble that the only things wrong with it are the things I could see in the PDF.)  I might be able to make the time back up that way.  (I know, not smart to thwart "the process," but I think it will work out.)

So, basically, we're waiting until at least Tuesday for the cover (and cross your fingers for it to be brilliant because I don't even want to think about it not being right).  I just have to keep in mind that when it's done it'll be awesome because they make amazing products. 

Here's the hard part to discuss: I think that the earliest that I can possibly get the print book of Incendiary to release is the second week of Nov. but it's more likely that it'll be the third week of Nov. now.  The ebook follows about 2 weeks and 2 days later (that is based on my experience with the time frame for the past 3 novels).  Yes, killing me is an option, but then there will be all those nasty legal issues afterward and that seems a bit tedious.  As always, I will keep you posted. 

As compensation for having to wait longer, I'm going to do a giveaway for a signed copy of Incendiary.  I'll give away one of my first prints of Incendiary when I get my shipment.  I'll post the contest in the next couple of days on my other blog (the main page of my website).  Sorry I'm messed up!  I hope you win!

I'm going to read the proof over and listen to it on my headphones in the next two days.  I'll note any changes so that I can resubmit it. CreateSpace will be sending me a physical proof in the mail when the cover is finished. Crazy, huh? Almost there!!

And since Russell has gotten almost no action on the Incendiary updates blog so far, I'm including this song because it reminds me of him.  It's called SYMPTOMS by ATLAS GENIUS.

This next song is a teaser of sorts.  It's called HAVOC IN HEAVEN by JESCA HOOP and it is crazy!  I can hear this new character in Incendiary in it (forgive the picture, it was the only one on You Tube). I'll call this character: Character #1 because it appears first in the story (first of the new characters).  (Don't you hate how I say "it"? I know, I'm mean.)

CreateSpace has definitely upped their game to rockstar status; they sent me the interior format mock-up and the cover mock-ups yesterday and they're incredible.  I have a huge problem now: I have to decide between two amazing covers.  (That's the best problem to have.)  I'm going to take a couple of days and mull over the covers, but don't worry, I already approved the interior format mock-up. They will now format the entire book based on the two chapters I approved.

Once they format the entire book, they'll send me a full PDF and I'll do a read through to catch any errors I might have missed.  I'll be able to make up to 80 changes to the PDF for free (these are changes that I want to make, not changes due to keening errors or other errors in their formatting).  If there are more changes than that, I'd be required to fix them on my word document and then reload the file (and I think it cost something like $199 to do this, but I've never done it that way so I'm not completely sure).  So it pays to do it right the first time.  (Lesson learned the hard way, I've had 80 changes before and I don't recommend it.)  I expect to get the full PDF by next Tuesday.  Cross your fingers!