The Taiwanese Love Me

It's like Christmas all over again.

Yesterday I arrived home to find a box full of books from my publisher (Ten Speed Press/Random House). The cool part? The books were all the foreign editions of Who Moved My Mouse? A Self-Help Book For Cats (Who Don't Need Any Help). Just for the record, seeing what the words you wrote look like translated into another lanugage is a hoot. I'm loving the look of my author profile in what I think is Chinese? The only big one still missing is Russia. Must track down the Russian version of my book! 

I'm going to go curl up with a Taiwanese dictionary and work my way through some cat humor.

Cheers,

Dena

Wanted: One Writer's Theme Song

The good news: I've been talking with my editor at Ten Speed Press and we think we've nailed down the next great cat book idea. (I'd tell you, but then I'd either have to kill you or sic a herd of wild Maine Coons on you.) I need to present her with an outline and sample chapter before it's a definite go, but it looks like it will happen. 

The bad news: I fear my novel writing will suffer (i.e., "disappear") as I pour all energy into writing the cat book. 

It's not the end of the world it that's what happens, but I would really like to attempt a balance between the two books, making the time to work on each. For this to happen, I need to set boundaries around how I spend my time. And what better way to gain clarity on what's important and what's not than to make a list? 

NOTE: I need a theme song I can play whenever I make a list. I make them so often, it would be great to have musical accompaniment. Remember the Picture Pages theme song (see below)? Something cute and fun like that. Anyone out there care to work on that for me?

Read More

Who Moved My Mouse: The Russian Edition

Good news! My editor e-mailed yesterday to say that my newest book, Who Moved My Mouse? A Self-Help Book for Cats has been purchased by Exmo Publishing House, a Russian publisher. Soon, all of Moscow and St. Petersburg will be abuzz about the funny cat book written by that crazy cat lady. 

I hope. 

Cheers (and vodka shots all around!),

Dena

"Who Moved My Mouse?" Coming Soon To A Bookstore Near You...

Sorry to be blog-silent for so long. I got back from Ohio and had an e-mail waiting from my editor at Ten Speed Press. We're on round two of revisions. Round one was the editor going through the book and making suggestions/comments. I was surprised (and quite happy) at how few revisions there were. I'd heard stories of books coming back with all but five words crossed out, asking for rewrites. I had tissues and Tylenol standing by but, thankfully, they weren't needed.

This round is all about the copy editing. And this copy editor is GOOD. Straightening up my prose right and left. Plus, she's a cat person, and had some helpful comments/suggestions on some of the text outside copy editing. 

It's hard to believe I'll have to wait until October for the finished product. The book seems to be just winging along. I've got sample pages for how the book will be laid out and I've been approving illustrations for over a month. The book is already listed on Amazon and on Random House's author page

This is it though. This week is my last chance to make any substantial revisions to the book, so I'm going through with a fine tooth comb. My writer friends have been there in spades for me, responding to my anxious e-mails about "which is the funnier cat litter joke" as though they had all the time in the world to spare. 

I'm surprisingly calm about the whole thing. The only thing that makes me ancy is thinking about all the publicity I need to stir up. I've got a mile-long to-do list when it comes to marketing and promotion and I'm at the point where I need to start making things happen. 

Got any great ideas for making a cat self-help book a bestseller? Send 'em my way!

Cheers,

Dena