It isn’t exactly a race, but I’m sitting here tonight wondering who will finish first…

As I tap this blog post into existence, Rod Janpol and Lisa Twining Taylor are hard at work putting the final touches on the two projects they’ve agreed to tackle for me: audio engineer in Rod’s case, and new book website creator in Lisa’s (YellowBalloonPublications.com).

Although I’m a firm believer in taking weekends off, Lisa and Rod are ignoring the mandate: they want my site to go live as soon as possible with every available option to purchase immediately on it: e-books, tree-books (printed editions), audio book, and PDF versions.

Lisa is getting the website squared away. All she needs is the audio book file (and exclusive info about the audio book, which has something on it that none of the other editions have: actual voicemail messages that were left on my answering machine by the Kelleys and other well-known Hollywood folks) and she can finalize the site and make it live for y’all to see. I can see it–I have access–and I’m so tickled I can hardly stand it. But you know that much already.

I’ve also had a sneak “hear” (as opposed to a “sneak peek”) of  the audio book and am thrilled to the toes with the result. Rod has done a masterful job with audio files I sent him to work with-and it hasn’t been easy! I am amazed at his tenacity. I’m sure he’s going to all this trouble as much for De’s legacy as he is for me. I’ve told him not to be so persnickety but he wants it as close to perfect as he can get it, and he’s determined to do that.

There are a couple of momentary glitches that he can’t fix (my doing, not his!) but they aren’t show stoppers. There are a few momentary “echo chamber”-type spots (I have NO idea how they happened!) and a place where there’s a 15 to 20-second span between the last sentence narrated and the next one. (Which just goes to show you that “Dammit, Jim, I’m a writer, not an audio engineer!”)  I know De’s fan will forgive these minor errors because the rest of the audio book is so much fun to listen to that I get caught up listening to it–and I wrote it, so I should not even be susceptible to being captivated by it!  This alone gives me hope that it will be everything fans have been waiting for…

There will also be a PDF version of Up Close and Personal to make sure that every De Kelley fan who wants to read the book can afford it. The PDF version will sell for $12.99 and will have all of the images in full color, just like the Kindle and the full-color print editions do.

I can’t wait to roll these out to fans as additional options when they set out to buy DeForest Kelley Up Close and Personal: A Harvest of Memories from the Fan Who Knew Him Best. I think they’ll want the audio version in addition to any other version they select because of the voicemail messages and because I narrated it in my own voice–and relived it while doing it (as the listener will be able to hear in my voice).

I’m also particularly pleased because I remember meeting a fan on Hollywood Boulevard while polishing De’s or A.C.’s star. He who worked at the Braille Institute in Los Angeles. He told me that an audio book version would be highly sought after by sightless and sight-challenged fans. He added that lots of fans prefer audio books, too. So the audio book definitely will reach entirely new audiences of De fans, which thrills me to no end.

It won’t be much longer now. Your wait will be richly rewarded, I promise!