The Complete Set

Well, here it is!  The final book in the Waldgrave series is nearly available in paperback.  I will probably be making some minor adjustments to the cover before it goes on sale, but having the proof in my hands was a big moment for me.

This is it.  The series now sits together on shelf in my house.

It's the first book series I ever shared on a quasi-grand scale with family and friends (okay...I shared the book, or sections of it, with four close friends initially).  When I started publishing, I let a few more people in, and then I told my grandmother; she lives across the street from me, and we've shared some great books and movies over the years--I knew it would be wrong to publish something without telling her.

And when I told her, she asked me, "How long have your parents  known?"

Then, I had to sheepishly admit that I hadn't told anyone else in my family.  I don't know if I was afraid of them actually reading the books, or if it was just one of those introvert moments where you don't want to brag on your accomplishment because you don't want the attention.  

And my grandmother looked at me, very seriously, and told me that this was the kind of thing parents wanted to know; they would stick it to the fridge with a magnet if they could.  

So I went home (back across the street, as it were) and I composed an overly long and dramatic email, coming out of the Author Closet to my parents.  And as they are my parents, they weren't surprised; they pretty much already knew this was going to happen some day.  I kindly asked them to only share on a need-to-know basis, and my mom asked me to get a copy of my book for her and for her to send to her mother.  (Incidentally, I think I got the "secretly write a book series and don't tell anyone" gene from her; she decided to honor my request by sending Arrival of the Traveler to her mother without sending a note attached.  My grandmother was also not surprised.)  

I went on to tell my siblings; I still have extended family I haven't told.  I figure I'll tell them if the book ever becomes wildly successful, but until then, it's been a fun personal project.  :)

As I sat there this afternoon, compulsively taking pictures of my almost completed first series as a writer, I couldn't help but think of when I first sat down to write these books.  It was years ago in a studio apartment I had during my undergraduate years, sitting on a blue couch my mom had found at a garage sale, probably watching whatever was on one of the two non-static channels I got on my television.  Probably eating a microwave burrito and avoiding the essay I needed to write for my Japanese Lit class.  

It's been quite a journey.  Thank you all for joining me.  

Onward to the next great adventure,

Al