Mike Stellar: Nerves of Steel is launching tomorrow! Technically less than an hour from now. Yes, yes, it's a midnight launch party of one, but that's OK. Tomorrow I'm going to stalk every bookstore in town. And, yes, I'm going to bring my camera. No, I'm not going to play it cool. I'm going to be a big fat dork. Yay!
It's going to be very embarrassing if it isn't on the shelf yet.
I started writing Mike when the wee one was 7 months old. And now he's seven YEARS! I didn't actually spend seven years writing it - really, probably all of the drafts and writing and editing and rewriting and everything took a total of one year - it was just spread out between writing a first draft, finding an agent, doing some rewrites, finding a publisher, doing some more rewrites, waiting for the publishing process to begin, etc.
I can measure the journey of this book from start to finish, with my kids. Started it when the wee one was a baby, sold it when I was pregnant with the wee-er one, and now it'll be in stores with Ike-a-saurus as a wee babe. My dedication page has had a lot of additions. And Mike is like their brother. Their brother who lives in my head. A HeadBrother.
Well that sounds really creepy.
Not creepy? This:
"Holt’s children’s book debut whizzes by at warp speed—the
suspenseful plot and the precocious yet complex hero combine for a fun
ride with a satisfying resolution."
Thanks Publisher's Weekly! Woo!
And I just checked Amazon... the sales rank is at 94,000. Don't laugh. That's way better than the 500,000 it was a few days ago. And, hey, after you read it, will you write a review? That would so rock my socks.
It's coming out tomorrow!
Tomorrow! I've been waiting for this day since I was a kid. I would always tell people, "Yep, I'm going to write books." And then I got distracted for a while - school, art, boys - but I got back on track. It really is amazing - and it's been a long time coming.
Here's to you ten-year-old self. Thanks for never really growing up.
Make that midnight launch party of two!! Very excited for you and I don't even know you!!
Posted by: Kara | June 22, 2009 at 11:46 PM
congrats! i just noticed that your amazon bio says you have only two kids! must have written that before ike came along.
Posted by: me | June 22, 2009 at 11:53 PM
I know, I know. It says that on the book jacket, too. We managed to get the dedication page fixed, but the jackets were already printed.
I think Amazon got the wording from the author bio Random House sent out. Gotta get that fixed!
Posted by: Kari | June 22, 2009 at 11:55 PM
Its TODAY!!! Ordered it a while back and got an email that it was shipped today! Can't wait to read it! And to read it to my son! Congratulations!!!!!
Posted by: frances | June 23, 2009 at 07:47 AM
Im really happy for you! i have those same dreams! to one day write books! Congrats! and i hope you have so much fun stalking the book stores today!!!
Posted by: Paula | June 23, 2009 at 08:53 AM
I'm actually very excited! I ordered it to be sent to my kid's camp where he can read it. So cool!
Posted by: Robin | June 23, 2009 at 08:53 AM
It's on it's way to my nephew's house! What a perfect birthday gift for an 11 year old who loves to read sci-fi. I am so going to steal it from him next time I see him AND I'm totally sending him to BookPeople on July 11th since he lives in Cedar Park so I can have one degree of separation from THE K.A. Holt!!
Posted by: CJ | June 23, 2009 at 08:56 AM
I'm so exited for you!!! I've got a copy coming that the entire family is gonna fight over :)
Posted by: Jennifer | June 23, 2009 at 09:36 AM
Congrats! So exciting! (I will be sure to write a "review" on Amazon). Savor the awesomeness of how very cool this is! :-)
Posted by: Karin | June 23, 2009 at 09:58 AM