The Book is Finished!

And all of a sudden, the book is done.

First I read the manuscript cover to cover three times. Three times. A tweak here, a word change there, all that last minute stuff to make sure it is in tip-top shape for publishing.

Next I worked on writing the end notes. What are end notes, you ask? They are the entries at the back of the book that tell where I got all of my hard-researched information. They are also the back pages that, I imagine, nobody but me will read. But the info is there, and it is correct. Trust me. I checked them a dozen times too.

I wrote the acknowledgements, gnashing my teeth over who to thank, and how, and worrying that I've forgotten someone very important. I'm sure I have.

I did my final tweak at about 10PM on Sunday night, replying to one last email from my editor. And then, all of a sudden, it was done.

No popping of the bubbly. No bouquets of flowers or balloons. Just eerie silence, and then deep, good sleep.

It's hard to know how to celebrate something this big. But pie seemed like a good place to start.