Parents tend to take more photos of their first-born child than their second-born child, not because they love them less, but because the novelty of parenthood starts to wear off. How many photos do you really need of Jimmy’s first time in the wading pool? Similarly, now that I’ve written and released a book and I’m working on another one, I don’t feel as compelled to document the process as I was the first time. Then someone asks me how that whole book thing is going and when does it come out and will I be going on a book tour? Then I remember, oh yeah, this whole process can be rather fascinating if you’re on the outside of it, so maybe I should update people about it.

So, Jennette, how is that book going?
The book exists…as a Word file!

It’s currently a 262 kilobyte file, which seems ridiculously small since I’ve worked on it intermittently for almost two years now. I finished a draft at the beginning of the year and I’m currently working on revisions that are due at the end of June…right when I’m moving out of state! Because I am an excellent planner that way.

I’ve already finished the majority of the revisions, most of which fixed pacing issues or clarified things that were confusing or cut out brilliantly written bits that didn’t advance the story or were results of my compulsive need to constantly edit everything I’ve ever written, including this blog entry. All of which is to say, it’s in a really good place. When I reread it after several months, I didn’t remember every microscopic detail like I did when I was immersed in the thing. So I’ve found myself laughing in several places and thinking, “Ha, that’s clever! Hey, *I* wrote that! Look how clever I am! I even amuse myself!”

Awesome! When does it come out?
It’s currently slated for release in February of 2011.

Are you going on a book tour?
I have absolutely no idea. I haven’t talked to the marketing department yet, but I probably will within the next few months. Once we have a game plan, I’ll let you know when/if any book events are happening.

Wait, did you change the subtitle?
Yeah, the official title of the book is now “CHOCOLATE AND VICODIN: My quest for relief from the headache that wouldn’t go away.”

I can’t wait to buy a copy!
Thanks! I really, truly, sincerely appreciate that. I’ve worked really hard on the book and I’m glad to know I’ve presold some copies. I’d forgotten how much work it is to write a book, but let me tell you, it’s a shitload of work. Think of how much work you think it is and then triple that and then double it again for good measure. Then add a smidge more work and that’s how much work it is. Work, work, work, work, work. Work that is fun, but still work. So if you’re writing a memoir, you’d better damn like yourself because you’re going to get sick of yourself regardless, even when you’re already sick!

And that covers just about everything I know at this point. So if you have a question I didn’t answer, there’s a 90% chance I don’t have the answer yet either. I will let you know when anything else noteworthy happens on the book front. Thanks for asking!