This past week I have been working away from home, and had a revelation courtesy of one of my enthusiastic clients: my new equestrian book is available on Amazon for pre-order, and has a firm publishing date.
Well, colour me gobsmacked.
Not only were there a huge percentage of the diagrams missing when I received page proofs a few weeks ago, but many of the diagrams needed corrections (or basically, re-drawing). I am assuming that at least some of the new ones will also need attention, once this next round of page proofs arrives.
So I was dumbfounded to be informed by my client that she has already ordered a copy, with a publication date of 27th June.
So far, every stage of this book has taken months, not weeks, and the end of June is not so far away.
Plus, I really would have expected the publisher to let me know, not have to find out from a member of the reading public!
On the plus side, the main positive for me in this experience has been the cover. I was asked to provide photographs for the interior and cover, and to nominate which I would choose to go where, which involves me far more in the design than happened with my previous traditionally published books.
So here it is:
And you will understand why I’m happy to have the photograph of this particular rider, Mairi, front and centre when I share with you the dedication I wrote for the book:
This book is dedicated to the memory of Mhairi McKay, a truly dedicated horsewoman, taken far too young, doing what she loved best – riding her precious horse.
Mhairi was unfailingly kind, supportive, and generous – someone who could invariably raise other’s spirits with her ready smile and positive nature. Always keen to learn, she was about to embark on training to become a British Dressage judge alongside her riding career, but sadly it was not to be.
She is sorely missed by the eventing, dressage, and riding club communities of the Scottish Highlands – a true inspiration to so many.
We lost Mhairi in a riding accident midsummer 2022 and this is a lovely opportunity to provide the best memorial I can for a genuinely lovely person who was utterly devoted to her horse and horse sport.
deborahjay 
I love the cover and the dedication to the young rider. I also love the name Mhairi and I understand it can be pronounced Very. I am using it in my next book, which takes place in Scotland.
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Thank you Darlene. And it’s pronounced Vaa-ry (like saying ‘aaa’ for the dentist) by some, and Varry (like Barry, but with a V) by others. I’ve only come across the name in Scotland, but now I live here I know several people called that.
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It is a very Scottish name and the first time I heard it was in a Scottish novel. Thanks for explaining the pronunciation.
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What a great backstory on this cover, Deborah. The book looks beautiful on Amazon
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Thank you Jacqui, as a cover I find it a touch dull in colour, but those looking for the subject won’t be looking just at the cover – not quite the same challenge as fiction covers.
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A beautiful dedication, Deborah. It makes the cover all the more lovely and touching. I hope the publisher is just getting the wheels rolling and you’ll get a chance soon to do a final scan of the book with all the corrections. A stressful time though. An update would have been nice, I agree.
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First and foremost, I’m so sorry about Mhairi’s accident, and think your dedication to her is absolutely lovely. The cover is beautiful, as well.
I wish you the best of luck with this new book, but after reading what you’ve gone through with this publisher, I’m once again happy I’ve self-published my own work. I may never sell in vast quantities (especially since I haven’t marketed at all), but at least I’m not dealing with anyone’s ineptitude but my own.
Here’s hoping the book looks just the way you wanted it to, inside and out, when it’s released next month! And then, here’s hoping it sells like crazy. 🤗❤️🤗
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Thanks Marcia for your kind words. Last year was a difficult one, and the repercussions still rumble on. Midsummer will be challenging.
This type of technical book never sells in huge numbers, but they do tend to be evergreen and keep selling. My first one sold out its first print run (quite a coup!), went to reprint, and sells steadily in small numbers even now, 14 years later. If they were novels, they would have been pulped by now! At least they have longevity, a little like our self-pub books.
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Good points on the longevity. I hadn’t thought about that, but then I haven’t considered writing a non-fiction book. I’ll keep it in mind, though, just in case I decide to tackle one. (Crazier things have happened. 😁😁😁
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Well you do have specialist knowledge of wildlife, and that’s always a popular subject.
From a selfish pov I’d prefer you to keep on writing fiction 😜
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😂😂😂Not to worry. If I manage to write anything else, it will most likely have that little boy named Rabbit in it somewhere, so there’s a pretty good chance it won’t be non-fiction. 😄❤️
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❤ Please…
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I have the first 3 chapters written in what I hope will be a trilogy of Cole, Cole, & Dupree novellas, Debby. Trying to clear time to get back to work on it, hopefully within the week! 😀
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Excellent!
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A lovely tribute Deb. And sorry to hear about your publishing headaches. I hope it will all sort out. ❤
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Thanks Deb, on both counts.
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