I started the countdown clock again. This time it's for the eBook release of Incendiary!!  Apparently, I can't take a break from you.  It's scary how addicted to you I am. 

I'm working on the playlists for the new characters in this book.  I. CAN'T. WAIT. FOR. YOU. TO. MEET. THEM.  The "litbrarians" of the amazing blog "The Book Hookup" recently provided me with some feedback on one of the new characters in Incendiary.  Let me just say that it SHOCKED me to find out what they thought of XAVIER!!!  We recorded a podcast wherein we discussed Incendiary in depth. There are many, many spoilers in that podcast so you may want to read the book before you listen to the interview.  It will air on The Book Hookup's website around the third week of December 2012 (soft date of Monday, December 17, 2012).  I will update you when I find out for sure.  Here is a link to their website:  http://thebookhookup.com/

*grinning and bouncing up and down*  Gahhhhhhh!  I hate waiting.  Here's a song from Xavier's Playlist I'm compiling on Spotify, it's called CAN'T PLAY DEAD by THE HEAVY.  I need you to read the book so that you can help me find some songs for him!!

*CAVEAT* The Spotify version on the playlist is a radio edit and the version below is explicit. (<--couldn't find the edited version on You Tube)

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

THE PAPERBACK OF INCENDIARY IS OUT!!   The eBook of Incendiary is due to release on December 7, 2012.  It published on Amazon.com on the evening of December 27, 2012!  Here's a link to the site: http://www.amazon.com/Incendiary-Premonition-Amy-Bartol/dp/1479207128/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354201836&sr=1-5&keywords=amy+bartol+incendiary

When I found out that Incendiary was up on Amazon, I blasted The MOWGLI'S song called SAN FRANCISCO (<--love it) and danced around the house!!! Thank you, CreateSpace, for the beautiful book that turned out perfect in the end.

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.

Okay, I learned yesterday that the final proof of Incendiary hasn't shipped yet.  They ordered the proof yesterday.  After I found out that little nugget of information, I busted out BREATHE TODAY by FLYLEAF to play to my angst.  Then I wallowed.

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...

The clock is counting down on Incendiary. I have 4 days, a few hours, and some odd seconds to get Incendiary on Amazon.  I'm praying right now to make my deadline.  It's going to be close.  I'm listening to WILD by ROYAL TEETH and I just added this song to Evie's playlist on Spotify because I love it.  This band is amazing.

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. 

We're only days away from the release of Incendiary.  The paperback edition is set to release Nov. 30th and the eBook edition will release Dec. 7th!  I'm listening to BREATHING UNDERWATER by METRIC and wondering, "Is this my life?"

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!

I just spoke to the publisher.  The first proof of Incendiary is "in the queue."  It should print within the next 48 hours and then ship to me.  When it does, I will submit my list of changes to the interior format.  After I do that, I'm going to play CHANGE by CHURCHILL really, really loud and irritate my neighbors.  

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!!