As I've related before, The Call--letting you know you have a publishing contract--is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Something indescribably wonderful that fuels your step for months to come. It's four months and counting for me, and my feet have yet to touch the ground.

But The Call really is the end of one journey (your quest to be published), and the beginning of another (your path to publication). And oddly enough, the thing that makes it all so real, the thing that makes you say "Hey, my book's going to BE IN STORES," is your first peek at the book's cover.

That happened to me recently, and it's a magically surreal experience to see your name on the cover. Mind you, I've seen my name in print. I've written articles and such, even had a nonfiction book published. But to see your name on a true labor of love is something rare indeed. (The cover hasn't been released for public consumption just yet--I'll of course post it for all to see when I get the green light.)

And you know what? My immediate reaction was: "My name is so...so...big." Other authors--the James Pattersons, Stephen Kings and Frank Perettis of the world--well, you expect to see their names in big old all-cap letters. But T.L. Hines? In big block letters, anchoring the base of the cover? Well, that's indeed when it hits home: I have a novel about to be published. It will be in stores.

That should easily be enough to keep my feet off the ground for another four months.