Complimentary copies

I opened the door in an unattractive state of undress this morning, to a delivery man. He gave me my parcel and when I saw the sender's information I gave a doubtless equally unattractive girlish whoop of glee.

It was my three complimentary copies of the book that my buddy and I wrote. It's been nearly two years since it was commissioned; best part of a year since we sent it off; and a couple of months since we returned the final proofs. Feels really, really good to see the finished product.

I've published things before, single and joint authored articles in journals, a multi-authored and a single authored chapter in other people's books. But never something that had my name on the front. I'm truly and deeply chuffed and feel the biggest sense of achievement I've had since the time I had to wear a remarkably foolish, Henry VIII-style hat...