What to Expect When You’re Expecting a Book

Today is the first day of Children's Book Week.  More information about how this week came to be, activities, printables, etc.can be found here.

Today, I bring you Irene Latham.  Irene is the author of LEAVING GEE'S BAND, a middle grade, historical novel, due out January, 2010 from G.P. Putnam's Sons.

Please help me welcome Irene as she talks about expecting a book.

As a life-long reader, I have always loved that new-book smell and how pretty the books looked all lined up on the shelf. What came before never much interested me. At least not until I wrote and sold my first novel, LEAVING GEE’S BEND, scheduled for release by G.P. Putnam’s Sons in January 2010. Then, like any other eager, expectant mother, I became completely absorbed by the pregnancy.

And I can tell you this: in the beginning it doesn’t feel real. You can’t see the book, you can’t hold it. All you have is a little piece of paper that says Awesome Publisher is paying you X amount to print YOUR words. So you read it over and over the same way you keep looking at that little blue stick with the red + sign. It’s the only proof you have.

When you get your revision letter, you give in to your cravings for ice cream and Oreos and Jamocha milkshakes from Arby’s. It’s such a temporary thing, this pregnancy. You’ll get back to exercising just as soon as the baby is born.

You think the baby will never get here. You get so tired of waiting, you can’t sleep. You turn on Animal Planet and immediately feel a kinship with African elephants and their two-year gestation.

Eventually you walk in a bookstore and find your book on the shelf. You breathe in that new-book sweetness, and you fall completely and utterly in love. You know it was all worth it, and you can’t wait to do it again. (At least that’s what I hope it’s like. Will let you know January, 2010. :)

Irene Latham is a poet and novelist who writes heart-touching tales of unexpected adventure. She’s also the mother of three sons and remembers pregnancy with much fondness, probably because it’s been a while. You can find her on the web www.irenelatham.blogspot.com still waiting.

Congratulations on your book, Irene and thanks for stopping by today!

GIVEAWAY

I don't have copies of Irene's book because it won't be out until January, but I do have some books for you today.  Another children's author, Karma Wilson has generously given me 2 of her children's books to giveaway.  To top it off, she has autographed them for the winners!  

Bear is out looking for a snack, but when the sun sets he loses his way. How bear wants to go home! But where is his cozy cave? Bear searches and searches and as the skies grow dark, Bear feels scared! But bear is never alone, and his resourceful friends put together a search party to find their missing companion. A tale about friendship and feelings, this story will be sure to resonate strongly with children.

Mama Bird and Mama Cat and even teensy-weensy Mama Mole must leave their little ones from time to time. But rain or shine, in a tree or in the sea, mamas everywhere find their way home with cozy hugs and lots of love, because mamas always come home. 

There will be 2 winners, 1 for each book.  All you have to do is comment on this post either about Irene's thoughts or something about children's books.  The contest will end one week from today and is open to US and Canadian addresses only.  

You can earn extra entries by following +1, tweeting +2, or blogging +3.  Make sure you leave an email in your comment so that I can get in touch with you.