So, we’re hearing reports that our book is trickling in now to those who have pre-ordered. I’m happy to see that it went out early, even though Amazon told everyone it wouldn’t arrive until the 19th or so. I’ve read the whole thing by now and it’s pretty damn good, if I do say so myself! 
Seriously, though, I think it’s a good read and definitely didn’t feel like a tech book. It was weird reading it at first because Kathy and I have merged our brains and I seriously can’t tell who wrote what anymore. That’s good, in my opinion. It flows and while it’s laden with cheeky turns of phrase and recipes for face masques, it’s still chock full of info! Somewhere around the middle of the book, I not only laughed out loud, but I found myself thinking, “Dude, that’s handy information!” as though I’d never seen the chapter before. It definitely reads differently when it’s in your hand and not on-screen full of edits.
We’d love to know if you receive your copy and/or have read it. In fact, if you’ve bought or go out to buy a copy, take a photo of yourself with it and let us know! Post it on Flickr or email it to us. We’re working on some promotions… maybe there’ll be some schwag in it for you…
While I have the floor, I’d like to extend a thank you to our editors at Wiley — especially Ellen and Katie who have had to listen to us gripe and ask questions because, being true first-timers, we totally have no idea how publishing a book goes. We think we’re getting the hang of it (even if that meant we had lots of questions) and look forward to writing more! They’ve been really supportive of us and patient throughout the process and have gone to bat for us on more than one occasion. Without them, we’d still have that old cover. For that alone they deserve copious amount of chocolate. Thanks. 
I know it’s been Book Central around here lately and I haven’t been the usual dazzling hostess that I am (heh!). But, I’ve not had time to stretch my social butterfly wings so I have nothing to report other than security guards with crushes.
Kathy and I will have been in business together for five years in February and that is an important milestone for us. Her mom says that the hardest part of owning your own business happens in the first five years and that’s when most companies fold. While all that hard stuff finally showed up toward the end of those 5 years, I think we’re doing just fine… exceeding our expectations really. It’s not worth having if it’s not worth working for and we couldn’t be more proud. But, we’ve been a little wound up, trying to provide personal attention to our clients along with working on a marketing our book and rebranding our company (stay tuned for that over the next week or so… things are afoot!), not to mention the unexpected that are completely out of our control. We regrouped yesterday after hashing out some ideas and things are starting to feel more exciting than stressful. So yay for that!
Happy Friday, Internet! There’s Frangelico in my coffee. Don’t tell anyone.
Joelle said in the early afternoon on October 9, 2007
omg, we wrote this.
Um… Amazon.com has our book in stock and ready to ship. Get your shop on. 
Joelle said around lunch time on October 8, 2007
So… it’s here! I just opened up this box with Kathy on the phone and the book exists in the form of… well, a real book and not just a bunch of Word documents full of chicken scratch.
I’m trying to get work done today and not get distracted by it, but it’s so shiny! (No, really, it is. The silhouette and the title are embossed and glossy and everything else is matte.)
I’m very excited. I am very, very excited.
Joelle said in the early morning on October 5, 2007
A few months back, I was out having breakfast with my good friend mikey, taking photos at the local mall. We were approached by a security guard who gave us a bit of a hassle about taking photos of mall property. He gave us the whole “Since 9/11...” song and dance. So apparently because terrorists flew planes into the WTC 6 years ago all the way across the country, the Mickey Mouse kiddie ride at the local mall is a threat to National Security. Whatever.
Anyway, so that particular mall is kind of a “go-to"… we have a minimum of seven major malls in this city, but that one has a a two-story Target and the place I get my nails done, so it’s kind of hub of commerce for me. Since that incident with the security guard, I can’t seem to shake him! He’s always there and he always remembers me.
“Ooooooooooh! Heeey, hellooo! It’s my faaaaaaaaaavorite customer!”
He is from… honestly, I’m not sure if it’s Haiti or Africa. He’s got a cool accent. I could be totally wrong and if it is Africa, I couldn’t tell you where. I suck at accents from that whole area. He is very tall and thin with really lovely deep black skin and a great big happy smile. He’s also got a bit of an eye condition… kind of milky. He seems to be a very nice guy, but my dance card is full and I’m just not interested. Anyway, his accent when he says, “My faaaaaaaaaaavorite customer!” reminds me of The Count from Sesame Street (even though he was Transylvanian — not even remotely close!) and I expect him to say, “Ah ah AH!” at the end every time.
It’s like he’s got some kind of radar. I was hustling down the mall to Michael’s to pick up a picture frame and he waved. I heard “… my faaaaaaaavorite customerrrrrrr....” as I zoomed past, waving back. Then, I saw him again on my way to Target one day and again, I was his favorite customer. As I speed through the mall (because I don’t like to linger), he pops up from behind columns, corners, kiosks… it’s like having Geoffrey Holder from those old 7-up commercials pop up from behind things and I have to dodge him lest I get hit on… like a mad, accented video game. Only blacker and smilier.
So last week, I was at the mall and ran into mikey, who was there getting a venus fly trap. We decided to grab a bite to eat outside the food court and as he’s inside getting a refill, Mr. Security Guard saunters up to my table. “Helloooooo! It’s my faaaaaaaavorite customerrrrrrr...How are youuuuuuu?” (Smile. Smile. Smile. Cleavage scope. Bigger smile). He asked me, “Is that your boyfriend?” I stupidly say, “No.” He asks, “Is that your husband?” And again… I’m freakin’ George Washington all of a sudden and I cannot tell a lie. “No,” I say and keep eating my sandwich.
Don’t get me wrong… I’m really friendly to him. I think that might be the problem. He’s super nice and you can’t help but smile when someone smiles that big at you. But he wouldn’t go away! He asked what I do for a living and when I tell him I design websites, he begs me to hire him, even though he doesn’t design websites. I said, “Well, that’s not going to help much, is it?” and we laugh and he says, “Teach me,” pausing to give me a suggestive look, “Teach me everything you know!”
I laughed and said, “Ok, I’ll keep you in mind!” and did the whole revert-to-the-sandwich move. “Thanks for saying hi! Have a really good day,” I said and smiled at him. I meant it, too. He’s a very nice man, and hey, now every time I got to the mall I get to be someone’s faaaaaaaaaavorite customerrrrrrrrr. And that’s not so awful. 
Joelle said around lunch time on October 4, 2007
Our book is coming! Our book is coming! We have been up the collective keister of our editors lately (sorry, Katie!) asking when we’re going to receive a copy our book. I received some notices via email that those of you who purchased the book via Amazon would have it arrive around the 19th of October. The initial launch got pushed back due to some promotions and good stuff that will be happening with good ol’ Borders. If you happen to live near a Borders and want our book tut suite, that’s where you’ll find it starting October 16th. Look for it on one of those fancy promo racks. Or, if you want to pre-order through Borders.com, you can get it for Amazon’s special price plus an additional 5% off at checkout. Thanks, Borders!
If you’d like to pick it up via Amazon, you can still do that as well and have it shipped to you as soon as it is released, which should be on October 15th, according to their website.
Kathy and I had planned to relaunch our new sites on the 1st of the month, but decided to coincide with the book release, so stay tuned mid-month for a veritable extravaganza of Moxie.
I realize it’s a tech book and not Middlesex or anything, but it feels like so much more…
Moxie Design Studios™