I just heard from my editor: she approved my book manuscript!
WooHOO!
How this worked: I sent her the first draft, she made suggested edits, and I implemented (most of) them in the final draft. I sent the final draft to her last week, and yesterday she accepted these revisions. So, the final copy is in, she likes it, and it’s already in production!
That doesn’t mean the book’ll be out in a week, though. It doesn’t even mean it’s done. I’ll be getting copy edits back, and then I’ll have to read the book carefully to make sure the edits are good. Since this is a science book with some cutting edge ideas in it, it also means I have to make sure that what I wrote is still accurate. Then I’ll send it back with corrections (if any), and they’ll lay it out in book form. I get that copy, check it again, and then if it’s good, then everything is good.
We’re still looking at an October release, but I’m hoping it’ll be sooner. We’ll see.
So: yay!
January 31st, 2008 at 11:05 am
Yay indeed!
I need to buy your first book, still :\
January 31st, 2008 at 11:07 am
Congratulations!
I can’t wait to see it on the shelves.
January 31st, 2008 at 11:19 am
Go Phil! Congratulations. Put me down for a signed copy right away!
January 31st, 2008 at 11:23 am
Way to go Phil.
January 31st, 2008 at 11:26 am
Finished your first book a few weeks ago and loved it, Phil. Can’t wait for this one.
January 31st, 2008 at 11:28 am
Good work! I can’t wait to buy a copy!
January 31st, 2008 at 11:29 am
Good work! Seeing you holding that manuscript inspires me to write!
January 31st, 2008 at 11:35 am
Congrats, Phil. looking forward to a great read.
Speaking of “Death from the Skies,” the clowns at TU24.org are all agog that there just happens to be some BAD WEATHER happening around the planet right now.
Dang that asteroid.
January 31st, 2008 at 11:38 am
Well, it looks like the BA has several copies on his shelf to give away.
That’s great…and I hope you make more videos soon, too.
January 31st, 2008 at 11:41 am
Good job. Do I see at least 5 copies of Bad Astronomy on your bookshelf behind you?
I learned an trick from one of my college profs. He said whenever you go into someone’s home or office, check out their personal library, see what they have on the on bookshelves. You can learn a lot about a person by seeing what they read.
January 31st, 2008 at 11:42 am
Awwwwwwwwwwwesome! Good goin’, Mr. Bad!
January 31st, 2008 at 11:43 am
I keep a few copies of the different printings of BA, so I can keep track of which is which. You’ll find mostly skeptical books, science books, and astronomy on that shelf. That’s why I used it as a backdrop.
January 31st, 2008 at 11:44 am
Double W()()t! Looking forward to it.
January 31st, 2008 at 11:50 am
Congratulations Phil! Too bad it won’t make it out in Aug, Then you could dedut it at the wWorld SF convention in Denver.
January 31st, 2008 at 11:57 am
Wow- getting a book published takes forever.
At least I know what I’m getting from the Giant Pumpkin this year.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Hey! Congratulations!
Looking forward to the moment the book is out! I’ll have to get BadAstronomy to read it, too…
January 31st, 2008 at 12:04 pm
That post really made me wanna write a book someday.
Consider it one of my big lifetime goals.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Congratulations, I look forward to reading it!!!
January 31st, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Is the book gonna be the same price in Canada as it is the United states? If not then I’ll assume it’s because you’re greedy and you think Canadians are stupid and don’t know the difference between two different numbers…
January 31st, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Sweet! Congrats! I just picked up your first book last week. It was the goodness. =) I gotta make my supervisor at work read some of it. He’s a member of the tin foil hat brigade or something. Maybe this book will enlighten him a bit lol. Then again, he might think you’re in on the conspiracy too. *sigh*
January 31st, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Big time congrats, Phil. Let us know when the publish date is so I can amazon it.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Congrats! But…I can’t help trying to look over your shoulder to see what’s on your bookshelves. You wouldn’t happen to have a LibraryThing account where one could peruse your shelves in a less squinty-eyed fashion?
January 31st, 2008 at 12:45 pm
[…] January 31, 2008 Bad Astronomy Blog » More good book news! […]
January 31st, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Good for you, Phil!
Makes me almost wanna write another book… as soon as I finish these other writing projects on my desk!
Big congratulatory hugs all around!
January 31st, 2008 at 1:02 pm
If you need a photo of yourself for the jacket cover, may I recommend the photo accompanying this post?
January 31st, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Congratulations, Phil. I hope that the book gets released in Argentina =P
January 31st, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Phil, Great news on your book.
On another note: Please post a higher rez picture of the bookshelf behind you. What does the “Bad Astronomer” read? Inquiring minds want to know.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:10 pm
its nice to see you have carl sagan on both side of you
January 31st, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Gratz! I can’t wait to get a copy. I mean, how cool is the title “Death from the Skies!”?
So how do we go about getting signed copies of your books?
(Oh, and I second Michael’s comment about wanting a list of the books on that bookshelf.)
-Buxley
January 31st, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Hawsome news! BTW, does any one else think that the BA looks more than a little terrified in that pic?
January 31st, 2008 at 2:07 pm
that’s so great! It’ll be out in time for Squidmas!
I’m more curious about the gewgaws up on the narrow shelf (pyramid, dome like objects)- I’m pretty sure it’s a scale model of the Cydonia region. And the stiff pointy fingers & stuff. Hmm. that Spirit image looks a bit like a bad astronomer!
January 31st, 2008 at 2:15 pm
No wonder it took me so long to find a copy of your first book, they’re all on your shelf at home.
January 31st, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Hoonser, the author has no say in what a book sells for in Canada. BTW, most bookstores in Canada are now selling books at the US price, which can be several dollars difference. Magazines and cards are the same.
January 31st, 2008 at 3:21 pm
I’ll give ya a hunnerd bucks for the manuscript, signed by you, right now! Actually, make it too hunnerd.
Gratz Phil! Look forward to reading it!
January 31st, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Sincere congratulations.
January 31st, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Wow. So how are you going to spend your days until you get the next copy to proof? More blog postings, we hope!
January 31st, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Sorry, Bro, but I cannot take part in the congratulatory frenzy. Why
do you want to give away you intellectual property for money when you can give it away for free? What kind of a scientist are you? In it for fame and glory, huh?
January 31st, 2008 at 4:18 pm
I’m sure I speak for your publisher when I say: better get started on the next big idea.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Sespetoxri, ha! I can go one better! A case of genuine Canadian beer! None of that American colored water (actually I have another name for it, but I can’t say it on this blog).
January 31st, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Congrats!
And I’m just gonna say that that is an epic, epic picture. Most definitely epic.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:25 pm
That’s super duper cool, Dr. Phil. Best of luck!
January 31st, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Awesome!! Can’t wait for this one!!!!
February 1st, 2008 at 2:29 am
So much interest in the bookshelf! Maybe I’ll have to do a special video about them.
Seriously, I have one or two very cool books on that shelf. There’s one by Arthur C Clarke just next to my left elbow in the picture. It’s a first edition of The Coming of the Space Age. It’s autographed! There’s a very funny story behind it, so that actually would make a great video. 
February 1st, 2008 at 5:57 am
Awesome Phil! I look forward to reading your book. We’re proud that you’re out there doing what you do, standing in for the rest of us who rankle when we hear insane inanities about science. You however aren’t afriad to step up and take on crazies and the intentionally mis-informed head first; we are afraid to. Thank you Phil
February 1st, 2008 at 6:31 am
CONS!!!
You will be sending us signed copies when it’s done, right?
February 1st, 2008 at 7:46 am
Congrats. Enjoyed your other book - and the blog, of course - so looking forward to reading the new book.
February 1st, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Congratulations, Phil. The hard part is over, and now it’s easier all the way.
February 1st, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Phil, you look like you’re getting ready to eat an invisible sammich!
Congratulations. I love your blog; it’s always one that I read, even when I don’t read Pharyngula.
And I’ll definitely buy a copy of Death from the Skies.
Thanks for defending science and reason.
February 2nd, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Here, I made you a lolplait:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnmoeller/2237032895/
February 4th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
With my luck, the earth will be destroyed by an asteroid the day before publication.
February 4th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
waiting to see the video go go go for it!!!!!!!!
February 4th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
yeah pleaaaaase do a video!
February 8th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
What is Good about this posting ( apart from boosting book sales, whenever it is published) ( i was going to ad “if” but wasn’t quite game enough, is that we SEE WHAT GOES INTO WRITING A BOOK.
Cheers,