The printer’s proof of Storm Journey finally arrived on Friday, and it’s absolutely beautiful!  Somehow, the first proof mistakenly shipped to Alaska for it’s own adventure. ?!?  No one knows how that happened… yet with this wild storm story, I’m not quite surprised.  Meanwhile, I’ve been waiting and waiting to see how the printing would look.

How fantastic to return from my teaching in Pennsylvania to this big yellow package full of goodness!  I’m teary-eyed again as I type, knowing how lovely and strong the book is going to be.

See a photo of the cover proof here, with the back of the book on the left and front on the right.  Everything is clear, sharp, and oh so vibrant.  No changes necessary!  It all looks great.  I wish you could feel the velvety texture of the cover paper and see the bright images on the pages inside….

Books are coming soon to you who’ve ordered!  Watch the blog for the “Hurrah!” announcement.  If you’ve yet to purchase your book/s, only 30 copies remain in this first printing, and they’ll go quickly.

Big thanks to my partner, Holly, whose latest in a long string of support included helping track down the missing proofs, picking up the replacement package, and waiting until I got home to open it with me.  Special thanks also to dear friend Sue Joiner who believed in this printing project from the beginning, cheering me along at key moments.  When she heard about the lost proof, she sent me an email to make me laugh and remind me to keep trusting: “What were those book pages again, ‘Trying,’ and ‘Surrender?'”  Yep, the message I needed was in the book itself.

–Melanie