Tuesday, June 27, is the big day, which means that today we are five days shy of the paperback pub of LOOKING FOR PEYTON PLACE. The other night, a friend asked me what I'm feeling at a time like this. And yes, the answer is anticipation. It isn't quite the heart-in-the-mouth pulsing that happens on the eve of the hardcover debut of a book, like when LOOKING FOR PEYTON PLACE first came out last July. But it's still vaguely nerve-racking.

I mean, what happens if the books didn't get to the stores on time, as happened with when THREE WISHES UPS suddenly went on strike? Or if the reading public is totally distracted by something in the news, as happened with UPLIFT when terrorists hit the World Trade Center? Or if another book takes so much room in the stores that booksellers don't even bother to put the book out, as happened just last summer with the new Harry Potter, the new John Irving, and the hardcover of LOOKING FOR PEYTON PLACE?

Oh, these problems pass. The hardcover of LOOKING FOR PEYTON PLACE did eventually get out on the shelves and made up for lost time, but I was concerned until I knew that.

So right about now, I'm hoping that nothing interferes with the paperback debut of LOOKING FOR PEYTON PLACE, that the gorgeous new cover is going to draw people to it at the start of this summer season, and that word about the upcoming 50th anniversary of the original PEYTON PLACE will draw in even more readers to my book.

Hope with me, please!

Posted by Barbara Delinsky at 01:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here we are at June 21. I do love the lead-up to this date, because the days have been getting longer and longer, and I love long days. Remember back in the middle of winter, when things turned dark and the day felt over at 4:30? To have light well past 8:30 at night is a true gift!

The bad part of reaching June 21, of course, is that it's all downhill from here. So let's make the most of the long days, appreciating them more precisely because they are fleeting.

Posted by Barbara Delinsky at 01:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I just got word that Pocket Books will be printing 980,000 copies of the paperback edition of LOOKING FOR PEYTON PLACE. This is 130,000 more than are in print of last summer's paperback release, THE SUMMER I DARED. Why the difference? Two words: Premium Edition.

If you recall, last summer's paperback came out in a new format -- a little taller than the customary mass market paperback, a little thicker, a bit larger print, and a slightly higher price. Well, booksellers were unsure of whether this new format would fly. Since THE SUMMER I DARED was the first of its kind to hit the shelves -- a guinea pig of sorts -- they ordered fewer copies, taking a wait-and-see stance. The book did sell, and very well, hence the bump in orders this year.

June 27th is the date. Mark your calendars.

Posted by Barbara Delinsky at 01:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Speaking of pictures (see previous blog entry), the one of me on the cover of LOOKING FOR PEYTON PLACE is a case in point. The whole entourage came to my house that day, and their idea was that I should look like Grace Metalious in the famous shot of her, titled "Pandora in Blue Jeans," which was, incidentally, the original title for LOOKING FOR PEYTON PLACE.

I wasn't wild about the idea of this shot, and had a devil of a time even finding a plaid flannel shirt. I felt awkward wearing it, felt awkward making this kind of comparison between me and Grace Metalious. I think the resulting picture shows my ambivalence. It isn't one of my best.

Let me know what you think. The picture is on the cover of LOOKING FOR PEYTON PLACE. Haven't seen it? The paperback comes out June 27. Look for it there!

Posted by Barbara Delinsky at 01:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I hate having my picture taken. If I were to pinpoint the single most painful part of my career, it's that. Too many times, I've gone through the fiasco of having a photographer, two assistants, a stylist, an art director, and an editor all focused on me -- and I'm expected to relax? Well, I've found the antidote for that. His name is Jerry Bauer.

Jerry is a photographer, an American who lives in Rome and comes to the States several times a year to photograph authors. I pick him up at my local train station, and he's carrying a small shoulder bag that holds two cameras -- one loaded with color, one with black and white. That's film, ladies and gentlemen. He does not use a digital camera. And he uses no flash, only available light.

He and I wander around my home. When he sees a natural light moment, we stop, and he takes a few pictures, some in color, some in black and white. We move on, take a few more, I change outfits. It's just the two of us, and over an eight year span and three sessions like this, we've come to work well together.

And the resulting photos? Fabulous! I have plenty of new ones now to keep me for another few years, until Jerry and I get together again. Oh yeah, you'll see them. I'll be posting them here at the site, starting with the HOME page. Keep an eye out for it!

Posted by Barbara Delinsky at 01:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)