Galleys!!!

A couple days ago, I went into the big city (again) for some meetings with Razorbill/Penguin folks and to have lunch with my wonderful editor. (It's quite clear that I'm still a total newbie at all this because I can't help but get a big grin across my face upon even thinking those words ... lunch with MY editor ...) Anyway, lunch was delicious and the meetings went really well, but the highlight of my visit came when Ms. Editor handed me a big stack of galleys for INTO THE WILD. Yes, you heard me right: I've got GALLEYS!!!

For those not in the biz, galleys are like book prototypes. They haven't been proofread and don't contain all the bells and whistles, but they're bound and have cover art on the front and back and include all the page formatting and such. Sometimes they're known as Advance Reader Copies, or ARCs, or Galley Proofs, and mine says "Advance Uncorrected Proof" across the cover, but it's all the same thing. And I think mine is beeeeeeautiful! It looks like a REAL book! Check it out:


I first learned about galleys/ARCs a year or so ago when I was reading the blog of Diana Peterfreund, debut author of a fabulous chick lit novel called SECRET SOCIETY GIRL. Diana had just received her ARCs and was so excited that she posted a picture of herself lying atop a pile of them. So cute. I remember feeling really happy for her, if a bit jealous. Well, now that I have my own ARCs, I know just what to do. It's my turn to take that picture. So I did! And here it is:


I regret only that I don't have more copies. If I did, I'd fill up my bedroom and swim through them!