more animals

The print copies of HOT SHOT came yesterday!!!

I would add a picture but I would have to find


a) the camera
b) a clean surface in my house
c) the camera cord.

And I woke up late so that's not happening this morning :)

This is a momentous occasion because

In 2000, I started this book.
In 2001, I pitched it in New Orleans.
In 2002, I won my first contest with it, Where the Magic Begins.
In 2003, I finalled in the Golden Heart with it.
In 2004, I got my first editor phone call (asking for revisions, but still.)
In 2005, I got an agent.
In 2006, I revised it, all year. Didn't write ANYTHING new that year.
In 2007, I sold it.
In 2008, it came out in ebook.
In 2009, I'm holding it in my hands.

Now, if that's not the little book that could......

Okay, so advice. I want to send a copy to my former agent and a copy to Susan Litman. Not a nyah-nyah-nyah-nyah, but a sincere thank you. Susan read the thing 3 times, and requested it a third, after it finalled in the Maggies, but I got my agent by then, and the book was too long for SRS after I was done. I want to thank her for believing in the book.

And I want to send a copy to Emily because it never would have been published without the endless revisions.

What do you think? Tacky? Career ending? Or do you think they'll understand when I include a nice note?