"Is the book out?"
"When's your book out?"
"Isn't your book supposed to be out now?"
Well, to paraphrase the immortal words of a certain ex-president, it depends on what your definition of out is. Publishing, it turns out, is almost as slippery as politics.
The book exists; does that mean it's out? In fact, thousands of copies of it exist. They were printed, boxed up, and shipped to a warehouse. Is that "out"? They are now in the process of traveling from the warehouse to bookstores (virtual and actual) all over America (well, here and there) that are clamoring (or at least asking politely) for them so that thousands (or at least hundreds) of eager readers can buy and read them. Right now you can order the book from Amazon or your favorite local bookstore--that sure does sound like out to me. But the book is probably not yet on a shelf at a bookstore, and Amazon says it can't fulfill orders--not so out after all. In fact, Amazon recently sent emails to customers who ordered the book telling them it's not available. Now that's an out and out lie; in the next few weeks, my book will be as available as a certain ex-president. In fact, a sighting has been made in Brooklyn, NY, where one satisfied reader was able to get out and get one from an unnamed online source.
I feel your pain; I've been waiting more than ten years for this book to come out. All I can say is, it is worth the wait. Oh, and my first reading and signing event is July 8 at 7PM at Books Inc in Berkeley, CA. So the book will absolutely, positively be out by then. I hope to see you there.
