How thrilled am I at this moment?

Is it:

a) very

b) amazinglyhugelyzomgone11!one

c) beyond the measure of human language and symbols, but within the scope of rational thought

d) running around in the carpark wearing only a beer hat shouting “squeeeee!”

e) yes, I experience a measure of satisfaction in uncovering the compleat opus within ...]]> How thrilled am I at this moment?

Is it:

a) very

b) amazinglyhugelyzomgone11!one

c) beyond the measure of human language and symbols, but within the scope of rational thought

d) running around in the carpark wearing only a beer hat shouting “squeeeee!”

e) yes, I experience a measure of satisfaction in uncovering the compleat opus within the rubble of my surging and searching mind, but the true happiness lies in the journey of self-expression and discovery. No real artist likes to gloat, of course, but I think we can safely say that [blah]

f) dude, I have totally run out of dumb ways to express my excitement, but it’s, like, totally.

The answer is g) all of the above except for the nudity.

Why?

Because the US paperback jacket design has just arrived, and it is gorgeous. Yes, it’s true, I wanted to ask all you guys to chip in and talk about it and so on, but this time around there wasn’t time and I was frankly too rubbish to sort it out, so we’ll have to save that for the next ‘un. However, I believe you will approve.

The book comes out some time in September, I’m not exactly sure when. The idea, obviously, is that I should have finished the new one by then – by which I mean finished a presentable draft – so that I can have double bragging rights and give myself superior looks in the mirror. I’ve made a small list of things I will say to myself while brushing my teeth, such as:

1) You said it couldn’t be done, you whiner!

2) Who the bookdaddy? Uh-huh uh-huh.

3) Are those your teeth? And are they the teeth of a two-time novelist? Yes, yes, I believe they are…

And so on. Sadly, I cannot yet say any of these things because I am still only about three quarters of the way in. Ten weeks to go, I hope, maybe twelve… wish me luck…