Six more days until the book comes out. I wonder what will happen? Will angels come down and lift me to heaven? Will my life suddenly be happy and perfect forever? Will my mom even call? (Well, actually, that is the one thing I can count on: my mom will call).

In a book I love, Bird by Bird Anne Lamott talks about the utter anticlimax of the day of publication - about waking up embarrassed in advance by all the praise she is about to receive, only to find that almost nothing happens that day.

But wait - I have received some praise! Here is a note I got today from someone who won a free book in the recent promotion. Wrote reader Anthony,:

“I got it in the mail today. I read the first chapter right
away - it’s *better* than your blog, even, and that’s saying
something! Ok. Back to reading. ”

Whoohoo! I also got a four-star review in a publication called Romantic Times Book Review; however, I have not yet been able to read it since one needs a subscription to see the review online, and I, ahem, can’t find it any bookstores though I am POSITIVE, CERTAIN, that is a most REPUTABLE and PRESTIGIOUS publication, whose editors have STELLAR taste!

Meanwhile, I am trying my best not to have a nervous breakdown.

So! The moment you’ve all been waiting for - the chance to win free books!

Here’s how it works: All you have to do to win a free copy is be one of the first fifty people to host a banner ad for my novel and/or a link to my Amazon page with with a little blurb about the book.

You can get the banner here and it is guaranteed to look super cool on your site.

Once you’ve put the banner and/or the link up, e-mail me at breakupbabe@msn.com to let me know and I will check out your site toute de suite. Include your name and address so I can forward the information to my publisher and they can send you your *free book* - if you are one of the first fifty, that is.

Ready. Set. Go!

Well, it’s not exactly a big month or anything. I’m only changing jobs, having a birthday, and publishing my first novel. Big whoop. Not that I care or anything, but the date for the book launch party at Elliott Bay Books is June 5. Things will get rolling at 7 p.m. with drinks and appetizers then I’ll get up and babble drunkenly at about 7:45. Hey, it worked for Charles Bukowski. BE THERE! IT’S ONLY THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY OF MY LIFE! I mean, it’s just another day.