I’d spent a year or so writing my first book, and it was coming out early in 2000. I had the first copies sent to Texas where I’d be spending Christmas. My family knew I had a book coming out, but they didn’t think they’d see it for months. I received a box Federal Express and hid it in the trunk of the car I was using. I was dying to take a look at it, but there were too many people around. Finally, I ran an errand (my Mother sent me to Wal Mart to return something) and when I got there I opened the trunk, and the box, and reached in for a copy of my book. It looked great. I’d helped design the cover and I was proud of it. Anyway, I went into the store, flipping through pages and smelling the ink. Then I got in line to return whatever it was I was returning and I started reading. My favorite lines in the book were in the last few paragraphs, a scene in which my friend Paul and I walk into the meadow at Black Butte Ranch to watch sunrise one last time before we head different directions for the summer. And that’s when I saw the type-o.
The line was supposed to read:
“We were walking into the meadow. I was walking with my hands in my pockets.”
And instead said:
“We were walking into the meadow. I was walking with my hands in his pockets.”
I actually laughed it was so funny. It’s even funnier if you try to imagine the scene playing out that way.
Anyway, all that to say, I received my first copy of Million Miles a couple days ago in the mail. The book looks great, and I’m eager to have it out there in wide release. I noticed today that many bloggers and reviewers are twittering about having received it too. So I thought I might ask for a favor.
My books are painstakingly edited. And proofed. And edited and proofed again. However, type-o’s reproduce like mice. You can’t get rid of them. It’s happened with every book I’ve ever written. I open it up, and within a few minutes I find a problem. I’ve only read ten or so pages of this one, and I’ve found a couple errors. Again, it’s not the fault of the editors. This might be the cleanest book I’ve ever released. However, if you happen to see a type-o or misspelled word or homosexual innuendo in a scene dominated by straight people, would you mind commenting on it here. Just thought I’d make a space.
The editors will look over your comments to make sure the second edition is problem free. Or rather, problem freer. There will no doubt be more mice.
Thanks!
Don
