Tadum! A Few Hours Ago, I Received a Finished Copy of My Book SUGAR SHOCK!

I wanted to share my joy with you today.

Around 1:30 this afternoon, I was just finishing having lunch with some friends at a reall cool macrobiotic restaurant when I got a phone call on my cell from Philip, who works in the building where I live. He told me, "Connie, you’ve received two really heavy boxes from Penguin."

My first reaction was, "Oh my goodness, after FIVE LONG YEARS, my book SUGAR SHOCK! has arrived! Wowie zowie!" I couldn’t even begin to describe to you my feelings of jubilation, anticipation, and anxious excitement.

But, then, soon afterwards, after I waded through holiday traffic, as I was hurriedly walking home, I thought, "Down, girl! Wait a minute, Connie, don’t get so excited here. Maybe it’s just Maggie (my publicist at Berkley Books) sending you just more bound manuscripts."

Even so, still I hoped. However, I prepared myself for a letdown — I figured I might have have to wait even longer for this book that’s had a ridiculously long gestation period. Taking five years to get a book off the ground is almost laughable. Indeed, it’s taken seemingly forever to crank out this book and actually see it in print.

Anyhow, by the time I reached my building an hour or so later, curiosity had completely enveloped me. Let’s face it, suspense was mounting.

When I got to my building, I decided to forget impatiently waiting for Philip to bring my package upstairs. Instead, I bolted downstairs, racing into the package room to see what the stork had brought. (OK, I’m in a silly mood tonight!)

There, Philip showed me the two wonderful boxes. Never have I seen such tempting boxes! He said, "Look, it says `SUGAR SHOCK!” outside the box. When I heard that, I became seriously excited.

Together, we hurriedly opened the first box. And what a beautiful sight I beheld. I let out a loud whoop as I witnessed that, yes, indeed, after five long years, my labor of love and baby has indeed been published! Drum roll!

Look, it’s one thing to be able to pre-order my book on Amazon. It’s another thing altogether to see the actual finished product after all my hard work and challenges galore. (You simply won’t believe all the ups and downs I’ve had with this book, and I’ll certainly never share them here.)

It was truly amazing to me! I was holding a bona fide book in my hands. It was quite a surreal experience. My dream had come true.

What immediately greeted me upon seeing my bound baby is that it’s truly enticing! Seriously! I think this book cover will compete with a slick chocolate cake any old day! LOL! (Yeah, I’m quite slap happy tonight!)

Joking aside, the cover is simply dazzling. It has this snazzy, friendly metallic-blue that jumps out at you, saying, "Read me!."

The rest of my day was spent packaging books so I could FedEx them to several marekting people helping me,  etc. I even broke down and popped a copy in the mail to my mom. Have to make her proud, right?

As my day sped along, things just fell into place in the most amazing way. Between hanging out and having dinner, I kept connecting with one person after another, who, I believe and hope, will spread the word about my book.

Talk about serendipity. I got together with a friend from San Francisco, who I haven’t seen in years, who might have me on her radio show. She’s good friends with people who own a company I’d already been planning to approach to discuss sponsorship opportunities. I also met a friend of my old friend — a fitness trainer, who has celebrity clients and has a sugar problem herself. Then, after dinner, out of the blue, I met the assistant for a radio show host who’s heard on some 30 stations nationwide — who just happens to be down on sugar and often encourages her to cut back on her consumption!

At this point, a few hours after receiving my book (the first I’ve written), I’m thinking, "Well, I have arrived." Yes! It finally happened. I am officially an author. Now, it’s time for me to get out there and really help people — with my book, my seminars, book signings, etc. Another exciting thing for me is that I finally get my life back. Now, sure I’ll spend time promoting my book, but I finally get to play a lot again, too. And, importantly, I really get to make a difference in people’s lives now!

Look, not to sound boastful, but I know that I have a GREAT book. After all, I interviewed some 300 experts. Besides, a bunch of other experts endorsed it — causing me great glee.

You also should know that SUGAR SHOCK! is fun to read. (Or so I’ve been told.) I begin the book by playfully poking fun of myself and my scary sugar story. Then I dish the sour dirt about sweets with some punch and panache (well, I tried). In fact, I aimed to write this book with an amiable, chatty, easy-to-read style.

Anyhow, I invite you to check out my book now and see what you think. You can even pre-order it now on Amazon. It’s only days away from publication but you get to be among the first to get them by pre-ordering now.

I do hope that you’ll buy SUGAR SHOCK! now and let me know what you think.

Thanks for indulging me today and letting me revel in joy and glee here!

I’m about as high as can be. It’s NOT a sugar high — it’s a book high!!