After practically exploding with impatience after seeing the squeeing from my publisher about how pretty the book is, I have received an actual physical copy of 13 rue Thérèse. After so many years, it has finally leapt out of my head and materialized. Here it is, a dream image made real. Amazing.
My husband is next to me right now, flipping through it like it’s a… it’s a BOOK. Holy shit.
It is really beautiful, smashing work on the part of the publisher. The colors, visuals, texture of the paper, everything. It is truly the object I imagined it might be. It even smells nice!
I am going to go around carrying this thing everywhere like a child with a security blanket. When the whole box of them comes, I will have to celebrate in some cathartic way. Maybe pile them up on my desk and snort them like Al Pacino in Scarface? Damn, no: too big to snort. Pour them out on my bed and roll around naked in them? Wait–ow–too many corners. Hmmm. I’ll have to figure out something. I can’t believe this thing exists!
Here it is, just-a-existin’:
Other cool stuff: this article on Shelf Awareness about the awesome website, and a wonderful review of the book on Alison’s Bookmarks that made me feel all squishy. Okay, bye! I have to go hug my baby some more.
Elena Mauli Shapiro 
i’m so pleased for you, elena. your firstborn is gorgeous.
Thank youuuuuuuu!
When do you go on…Book tour?! 🙂
No tour, I’m just starting to book readings around the Bay Area. I might get to travel if I’m invited to stuff, like that cool charity thing in Indianapolis in April I put on my “events” page.
So exciting!!! Looking forward to getting my hands on a copy.
Thank you!
And the smell of one’s own book! I hadn’t even THOUGHT of that wonder!
Congratulations!
Thanks! And don’t forget the sound of turning the pages!
You did it!!!
Somehow!