K made me a ring. She glued one of those aquarium glass beads to a broken metal band that she scrounged up from somewhere. Then she tucked it inside a clasping shell container and wrote a note.
Because this came in the mail:
I probably don’t have to tell you that I became quite emotional. I had a moment of terror before I opened the box. “What if I hate it? What if I feel disappointed?”
I don’t, I wasn’t. No, not even close. There are too many things I love about it to list them here. The compact square size. The gorgeously textured cover with a slightly vintage feel. The matte paper. The fact that something that was a molecule of an idea turned into a real, tangible, tactile book. I am so overwhelmed.
I had to run an errand at a bookstore yesterday, and I found myself sitting at one of the little round tables in the kids’ section. I stared at the display of books by local authors and thought to myself in disbelief, “My book is gong to be there.” I think the employees were a little worried about the crazy lady squeezed in the kiddy chair crying like a baby.
Just a little sneak peak for today — I’ll show more in the coming weeks along with some behind-the-scenes posts, and I am making plans for a giveaway since I have these lovely advance copies (though most are already spoken for). Perhaps you’d like to pre-order if you haven’t already? I hope so…The month of May seems far away, but I have a feeling it’ll be here in no time.
Also, thank you to everyone who sent me well-wishes and comments on Instagram (I’m not very good about keeping up there. It’s something I’d like to work on because I enjoy it).
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SVE update! Final tally has us at 99 participants (Ute and I are big softies and weren’t exactly strict about our deadline)!!!! Nearly 100 folks from 20 countries — mind boggling. All the partner info have gone out and this is incredibly exciting, friends! Please make sure to let us know if you’ve received your partner info at secret.valentine.exchange@gmail.com if you haven’t already, and don’t hesitate to contact us there if you have any questions.
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Happy Friday and Happy Weekend, everyone!
What? Dreams do come true?
It’s been on my bucket list:
A book of my own*
*Until I laid my hand on the cover of my book, I realized that I didn’t for a second believe that this was actually happening. The mind, it works in strange ways. P.S. Thank you also for the kind comments earlier this week. The lows are not so bad — part of life, right?
aww, what a sweet girl! Congratulations on the book!!
Thank you, Mel! And yes, my little girl is pretty darn awesome 🙂
CONGRATULATIONS!!
Thank you, Greta!! So fun to be able to share these types of news!
Oh Sanae,
Wahh! This is soo exciting!
Hope i get my hands on this here in germany?! I can imagine how special this feels to you!
Wow!
So, Congrats to you!
Marit
I believe it’s available internationally?? I know that folks in the UK and Germany have been able to pre-order, but let me know if you have any problems. Thank you so very much, Marit!!
Hi Sanae,
i just found it on amazon.de (i didn’t found it on friday) and ordered a copy. First day of sale is the 5th May, so only 4 months ahead! Now, i’m excited too!!
Marit
Hooray! Thank you, Marit!
Many congratulations. On both your beautiful book, and your even more beautiful daughter.
Beautiful words, Evie, thank you!! My mind is blown and I’ve been all floaty 🙂
So beautiful! The ring, and of course, the book! Looking forward to May.
Sadly, the stone already fell off (lost amid clean laundry in the basket that I have yet to put away), but I’ll stealthily glue it back ;-). I’m so looking forward to May too! Thank you, Lynn!
Congratulations, Sanae – the cover looks beautiful. How incredibly exciting, and how lovely of K to make you such a sweet gift. WELL DONE!
Thanks so much, Marisa! My head is buzzing from the excitement and surreal feeling of it all!
What a HUGE moment!!!!! Congrats, Sanae- the book looks absolutely awesome! My boy is almost 5- what age group is it loosely geared toward? In any case, once it’s available through Amazon internationally I’ll be ordering a copy. SO excited for you!
The target age range is roughly 3 to 7, though I hope it’s an all-ages sort of book ;-). I’m pretty certain that it’s available globally, but definitely let me know if that’s not the case. Thank you so, so much Gita!
Yes, I checked on amazon.es (Spain) and it says it’s available for pre- order. So it’s really happening!!! Must be such a tingly, butterfly sensation to have your first book premier!!!❤
Congratulations! I remember seeing the children’s books I illustrated for someone in the shops for the first time and it was a truly amazing feeling. Enjoy!
That must have been so thrilling to know the illustrator first hand! It’s a funny thing with book publishing since it takes so long to produce it’s easy to forget all the phases. But that means each new development feels fresh and exciting 🙂
Congratulations! I am so pleased that the book has come to your house in its physical form. So real! So good! I would love to see more about it on the blog. Enjoy it! Your book really will be on the shelves. I haven’t preordered, but I wouldn’t mind walking into a shop to get one. It would be so fun and exciting to me too. Imagine me walk through a book store, I usually cut through this mega giant one to get to an underground subway stop just to have a snoop, and seeing your book. Or a stack of them!
I have already checked on line so I know that this store will be stocking your book, btw, so this will really happen!
Oh, awesome! Which bookstore is it?? I’m in the dark about the sales part of the book so it’s extra thrilling to know about it. Thank you, Max!!
It is Chapters Indigo, the giant Canadian bookstore with Starbucks locations inside. You know the type, I am sure. It will also be at Book City a Toronto bookstore with two locations.
I can’t believe it is going to take so long! I want to buy it for my daughter’s class room. My little one, Stella, who is in Junior Kindergarten. Hmmm… maybe my sister would be interested too. Please show us some sneak peaks!
Wow, that’s amazing!!! It must be the equivalent of Barnes & Noble, which I heard placed orders too. Gah – this is all blowing my mind, it feels so surreal! And yes, sneak peeks coming up!! Thanks, Max 🙂
So amazing, congrats to you!! I already pre ordered and can’t wait to read it! And what a sweet gift from K 🙂
Thank you for the order and the sweet comment, Kelly! I’m beyond over the moon!!
Tears of joy in my eyes! A happy weekend to you!
xoxo! Thank you Ute! And to you!
Congratulations!! If I were to wander into a book store and happen to see that cover on the shelf, i would be immediately drawn to it. I love it and would 100% judge it by it’s (AWESOME) cover!!
Oh, music to my ears (eyes?)!! Thank you, Arlene! I’ll talk about it more later, but the cover process was very interesting. Those are not the colors I originally selected and a lot of back-and-forth happened to try to make sure it stands out. I learned a lot!
warning: shouting to follow.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!
and then please mentally picture a big hug from me:)
so, so excited, pleased, thrilled, proud of you. unlike you, I never for a moment doubted this germ of an idea could become a reality. you have serious talent, and I’m so glad the rest of the world is about to be blessed by it!
🙂 Big hugs back! Thank you, Lucinda – you’ve been with me through this whole adventure. I appreciate it so, so much!
Congratulations!
Since you were a crazy lady in the bookstore I’ll be one here. I’m really proud of you! You’ve shown so much hard work, courage, and determination in finding your place/happiness. I’m so happy for this book! It’s definitely time to add author as one of your many jobs!
I pre-ordered a book awhile ago, but was wondering if you’d be selling signed copies here?
Haha, I’m sure people in the bookstore thought I was three sheets to the wind or that something was definitely off. 🙂
Good question about selling signed copies on the blog – I’ll have to check with the publisher to see what the rules are on that, but I’d love to do it 🙂 Thank you, Megan!
I’ll also be eyeing on some signed copies sold and sent by the author herself. If my daughter wrote that note to me, I’d probably cry a river in front of her. You are one lucky and super talented mama.
Aw thanks so much, Jing! I feel extraordinarily lucky indeed!
That beautiful gift! Big congratulations for the book! It looks so lovely and I’m so happy that your dream is a reality. The little ninja is going to warm lots of hearts.
I sure hope so, Maria – how amazing would that be? Thank you for your kind words!!
That is sooo big! Congrats. I’ll order one for sure. It looks so beautiful!
Wonderful, I’m so grateful Annika – thank you!!
Congrats! So exciting for you!! K is such a sweet girl!
Isn’t she though? She immediately asked me to sign her copy and I bawled (yes, it’s been non-stop crying)….thank you, Em!
Can’t wait to receive our copy…just pre-ordered! So happy Chibi Samurai is a character; our tiniest chicken is named Chibi after Chibi the duck. One of a very few Japanese words we know. So so so happy for you and honestly can’t wait to read it.
I love my little Chibi Samurai character and I love that your chicken is called Chibi! Thanks so much, Claudette, I’m so honored that you’ve ordered a copy!
Oh that K, what a great kiddo. And congrats on the book!! Em has been playing Ninjago with the kids at lunch recess so she might need a little purple samurai inspiration. 😉
Okay…this is how out of the loop I am: I didn’t know what Ninjago was and had to Google it. 🙂 Thank you, Kristin, it’s so out-of-control exciting!!!
Just… lovely!
Thank you Denise!! I appreciate you taking the time to comment!!!
Congratulations! The book looks great. So proud of you, can’t wait to preorder for my girls and tell them that I know the author…hehee.
Thank you!! 🙂 I hope your girls enjoy the book – I’m thrilled you’ll be ordering a copy!
congratulations, sanae, how thrilling!! i can’t wait to get my hands on a copy! also, k is the sweetest 🙂
It feels crazy unreal, Gail! Thank you so much!!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH! So exciting!!! Can’t wait to get a copy!
Exactly how I feel, Traveller!! Thank you so much!!!!
:o)!!!!!!!!
Ha, thank you Beccy!!
Congratulations!!!
Looks so beautifull…… Can’t wait till May!
I’m so happy for you Sanae!!! I remember writing in a comment one day that I thought you should write a book 🙂 It was a long time ago!!! Even though I have never met you in person I still feel a sense of pride in you. Probably because you have shared your journey with us, it makes a difference. I wish you many many more moments like this one in your future.
Thank you so much, Tracy!! I always marvel at how kind everyone’s been and continues to be as things I never thought possible materialize. It’s humbling and motivating. Thanks again!!