Beta Copies

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you would have seen my constant updates about the layout process of my novel. Last week, after finishing this work to a standard I was happy with, I ordered fifteen beta copies of Spirit Bound. (Four of these copies were just for my number one fan... my mother!) Only days later, while I was in class, I received a message from my housemate telling me that a rather large box had arrived for me. Like I said, I had only ordered the copies of my book through Blurb days earlier, so I was not expecting it to be them. 

Naturally, when I realised that they actually were my novels, I was so incredibly excited! And I don't know about you guys, but I think they look incredible. Later that week, my sister went an hour out of her way to come and pick up the books that needed to be delivered to my family (sorry, she was "visiting"... sure, Jamie-Lee, the books had nothing to do with it, I believe you). 
Two days ago, my mother texted me, demanding I immediately begin writing the sequel, because she's already finished it and wants to know what happens next. Yesterday, I got a phone call from my brother with the same request. It's an amazing feeling to know - no matter the quality of the piece, since it's just a draft after all - it was at least readable! It's coherent! 

And my brother isn't the kind that would spare my feelings (that's a good thing, Caleb... sometimes) so to hear him say he truly enjoyed it made me very, very happy.  
​I may not be supposed to say this, but I am so proud of the work I put into this. Not just the writing, but the design and layout as well. To see the finished product - something that is so tangible and more real than I was ever convinced it would be - I just can't help but smile. 
So, to bring this long post to an end, the beta copy of Spirit Bound is 289 pages, 26 chapters, and absolutely my biggest accomplishment to date! 

Blurb