I was surprised to get an email at 7pm informing me of this, about an hour ago. I hope to receive it next Wednesday!

      I have reviewed my correspondence with the publisher, and it seems there could be another couple of weeks before the physical proof copy is even shipped. I am now doubting my current estimate of the middle of September for publication. Sorry, this is all new to me. Fortunately, I am occupying myself with the new culinary poetry project. I am quite pleased to have completed five poems in the last two weeks. I am briefly sharing them in the Poem of the Week section on the main page.

Sorry that there is nothing to report. We are in this three to four week period before publication. I am certain that the Physical Proof Copy will ship this week. This version will use the full color option for the images, and I am hoping it will be a significant improvement over the standard color option, used in my first PPC. The full color option just about doubles the cost of printing.

     It is too early to expect news from my publisher, but by this time next week I should have something to report. In the meantime, I am compensating visitors with a new poem, which you can see by scrolling down on the main page. I have set myself the task of writing at least one new poem each week, which will debut on Mondays. Next blog post, next Tuesday.

I approved the final proofs and received this from my publishing specialist a few minutes ago:
Thanks so much, Gary!
With the proofs approved, we are moving forward with preparing your proof copy. From file preparation to printing and delivery, proof copies typically take 4-6 weeks to arrive at your address. 
Hmm, I had forgotten this step in the process. I have been through this already, before I made some major changes. The earlier version shipped on May 30th and arrived June 8th. Because my book is small and simple in format, it usually goes through these procedures in about half the "typical" time. I am pretty certain the collection will be published in August, but I have adjusted the estimate from "in the middle of" to "towards the end". Anyway, I will post again on Tuesday. I'll give you a sneak peak at a new poem I'm writing about a canape.

I received the final revised proofs on Saturday. The book looks fantastic, and I am certain that readers will find it interesting and, at times, provocative. Regretfully, in one poem there are a few words that I had italicized, but somehow in the final proof they are not. Yesterday morning I informed the publisher that I will be glad to approve the proof when this is corrected . I am awaiting a response. I ask the reader to check back again this Friday, when I hope to have some concrete info regarding a publication date.

I'm sorry to report that I have not heard from the publisher. Please check in next Tuesday when I hope to have heard something. And have a very pleasant weekend!

Please check back this Friday. I expect that by then I will have received and approved the Final Proofs, and have a good estimate of the publishing date. Thanks for your patience!

     I have no news, but I am sure that by next Tuesday I will be able to say when the book will be published. There has been a slight delay because I discovered some really small things that had to be corrected. I have just this moment sent off the final revisions. I'm sure that by the end of this week I will receive and approve the Final Proof Copy, which is the last step before publication. So, hopefully within two weeks!

     Although the poems are still unpublished, I would like to let you know that I will post every Tuesday for now. It is difficult to pinpoint when exactly the poems will be published, but it could actually be soon. I expect to approve the final proof copy this week and then the book enters the "publishing queue".