Today is the OFFICIAL Big Day. Even though my book has been available through the dot.coms for a couple of weeks, we are hosting a launch party tonight at Main Street Books in Historic St. Charles, Missouri. I’m expecting 40 to 50 people, mostly friends and relatives. My guest of honor is author extraordinaire, John Lutz. I’m honored and humbled that he would be so gracious as to attend. There are a number of other authors that will be there, friends and colleagues.

My nervousness exists on several levels:

What do I write in everyone’s book? Why on earth would anyone want my autograph? Am I going to spell someone’s name wrong? Am I going to spell my own name wrong? (Okay, that’s not as odd as it sounds, I’m not used to signing WILFRED.) My handwriting sucks.

Will the books arrive? As of yesterday, the day before the party, they had not arrived. That sent me and the owner of the store scrambling to set plan B into motion. I collected 28 books from my stock. I even stole one that someone had bought from Amazon and sent home for me to sign. (That has since been signed and delivered.) Well, as of 10 minutes ago, I was informed that the paperbacks are on the UPS truck in St. Louis and should be delivered today.

Will I have enough refreshments? Ice? Appetizers?

Will I drink too much? Not enough? I’ll have plenty of fine Ameri--, uh, Belgium Beer available.

Well, I’ll post some pictures in the next few days and a detailed report. In the mean time, wish me luck.

I Wrote A Book

I’m sitting here with an ear-to-ear grin plastered on my face. You see, I just received my first shipment of my very first book. Okay, I knew it was a done deal. I knew it was now for sale. I knew what the cover looked like and I’ve read every word in manuscript form.

But there’s noting like holding the real thing. I actually wrote a friggin’ book!