[openrtm-users 02643] I chose my paper for the pages the way someone chooses wedding dresses

[abbotter ＠ live.com]

All the clichs come to mind. The runner crosses the finish line, a ribbon
billows from either side of her chest. A mountain climber smiles for a
picture at the summit. A painter, who after applying his last stroke, steps
back to see the completed artwork.
My finish line is close; my mountain peak is in view. For me it's holding my
book in my hands. For two years I have been working on self-publishing "My
Laundry Museum & Other Messy Gifts of Motherhood," a collection of essays
originating from my Mom's Voice columns. The process has been exhilarating,
scary and filled with obstacles. When I first started on this journey, I set
up a meeting with the owner of the paper I used to write for. I prepared a
little Power Point presentation to show him, sharing my goal, asking if he
would like to be involved.
"Who told you this was good?" he asked. Following up with, "How do you know
it will sell?" I didn't want to be rude and point out that the contents of
the book were already appearing in his paper each week, but I did make a
gentle allusion, to which he replied, "Just because it's good as a column,
doesn't mean it's good as a book."
And then his final zinger, "How would you feel if you only sold one copy?" My
response was from the heart, "I would feel great, because this is a passion
project for me, a personal goal."  "Just to hold the book in my hands will
make me very happy," I explained.
The meeting concluded. His words of wisdom: find someone who is "real" to
tell me if my work is good or not, figure out if I have something that will
sell, and before that, don't assume anyone will help me.
I walked out of his office with a thank you and a smile. I got in my car,
pulled onto PCH in Laguna Beach and cried all the way back to Costa Mesa. My
tears were not because I believed anything he told me, but because I wasn't
prepared for the shadow of doubt he attempted to cast over my dream. I cried
simply because he hurt my feelings.
I knew I wouldn't take any of his advice. I believed in my goal and would
proceed.
And proceed is exactly what I did. One thing I did right the following two
years was surround myself with a group of the most wonderful, positive and
talented people I knew. I built a team. At the center of the team were my
loyal readers who support me each week. I remember the day my friend Marrie,
a brilliant writer, sat with me. My work was spread all over my dining room
table as she began to help me find a shape to the book, looking for the
thread that connected the pieces, ditching ones that didn't belong. From
there we went through multiple rounds of edits. She helped me to sharpen my
work and improve my craft in unexpected ways. My friend Shannon, a phenomenal
photographer, came over one day with her camera equipment and helped make my
visions of the cover photo materialize. My brother-in-law Kevin, a gifted
graphic artist, took the photo and worked with me to finish the cover. I
learned how to get my work copyrighted, how to get an ISBN number and barcode
for the back. Frank was the guy who took my Word documents, waved a magic
wand, and designed the inside of the book ... always giving me the final say.
One never thinks that the decision of where to put page numbers will be a
tough one, but it is.
I chose my paper for the pages the way someone chooses wedding dresses [1] ;
I knew I wanted off-white, and a certain weight C not flimsy.
Next week, the machines will be running, the words closest to my heart will
be spit onto the papers that will be cut and bound. I will hold the book in
my hands. The shadow of doubt forever gone.
Stay tuned for information about my book release party this fall!if you want
to know more information , you can visit
http://www.persun.co.uk/wedding-dresses-2012-c88/ [2]

[1] http://www.persun.co.uk/wedding-dresses-c120/
[2] http://www.persun.co.uk/wedding-dresses-2012-c88/