Amelia made some wonderful friends amongst Patricia Johns’s readers. One lovely lady, Linda, sent Amelia a frog pen, and Amelia was delighted! She used it looking for typos in Patricia’s newest book that had already snuck onto many shelves across the United States and Canada.
“But looking for typos now won’t help,” Patricia said. “If you find any, those books are already on shelves across the continent. They’re queued up in e-readers, Amelia. We’ve done our best. There’s nothing else we can do.”
“I know,” Amelia said. “Honestly? I just like reading the first few pages pretending I’ve never seen the book before, and I see if I get that delicious, shivery, new book feeling.”
“Oh….” Patricia smiled hesitantly. “And?”
“Just a minute,” Amelia said. She sucked in a deep breath, held it, and then exhaled slowly. “I am a reader… I have picked up a new book…”
She opened her eyes and started to read. Patricia watched, her breath bated and her hands clasped in front of her. Amelia licked her finger and turned the page.
There was silence, and then Amelia raised her gaze.
“And I do!” Amelia said.
“Oh, what a relief!” Patricia sighed. “I really think we did a good job on this one, Amelia.” Patricia cocked her head to one side to look closer at the frog pen. “Oh, Amelia, I like your pen.”
“Thank you.” Amelia blushed with pleasure. “It was a gift.”
The ups and down, and highs and lows of book editing really were a rollercoaster experience. But it was one that Amelia wouldn’t trade for the world.
Book release day was normally quite a stressful day for Amelia Frog. She worked so hard editing Patricia’s books, that when they finally hit bookshelves in stores across the country, she was a wreck!
Honestly? She’d been known to faint… But Amelia was expecting a pollywog soon, and and she didn’t think she should allow quite so much stress in her life now. It was a choice.
So this time, when Patricia’s book hit the shelves, Amelia made herself a milkshake, settled in a comfortable chair, and thought non-stressful thoughts.
“Amelia?” George called. “Amelia?”
“I’m over here,” Amelia called back.
George rushed up, and when he saw her sitting so composed and relaxed, he stopped short.
“Is today book release day?” he asked.
“It is.”
“And you’re not fainting?”
“I am not fainting, George,” Amelia said. “I have decided to trust the snowball. Yesterday, Patricia pointed out that we’ve done all we can, and that it’s a good book. I am simply going to trust that Patricia’s reputation for writing a terrific book will make these books fly off the shelves.”
“That’s wonderful!” George said. “Where is Patricia?”
“Oh, she’s a wreck right now,” Amelia said. “Someone had to be a wreck, and she took it upon herself. Mr. Johns found her camped out at Walmart, sneaking around the book section, trying not to look like she was spying on her book on the shelves.”
“Oh, dear…” George said.
“Someone called security. It’s a whole thing.” Amelia said.
“Can I do anything to help?” George asked.
“Mr. Johns and Mama Johns have it in hand,” Amelia said. “Don’t worry. She’ll be fine. Do you want some of my milkshake?”
So George settled in next to Amelia and they shared her cold, thick, sweet strawberry milkshake. Patricia would be fine. She had her business cards in her wallet, and she could prove she was the author. Someone would take pity on the poor thing. Being an author really was not for the faint of heart!
When all of the excitement of release day was past, Amelia slept in. George did not blame her one bit. It was always a tiring time, and he was very proud of Amelia for taking care of herself. So George made a fresh pot of tea.
Patricia was fine after her misunderstanding at Walmart. The manager shook her hand and congratulated her on her book release, gave her a little paper cup of water to drink, and told the security guard that there was nothing to worry about. Patricia went home with Mr. Johns and Mama Johns, a little embarrassed about the whole thing and determined to lay low for a little while.
Life certainly stayed busy around here, George thought to himself.
When the water boiled, he filled the pot with hot water and a spoonful of dried tea leaves. Then he poured a cup of piping hot tea, and he sat down with it at the kitchen table.
The apartment was quiet. Far off, he could hear the rattle of Patricia Johns writing away on her latest story. Soon he would need to leave for work, but right now, he sipped his cup of perfect tea, and and smiled to himself.
The last few days had been hectic, but he also had some fantastic stories to tell at work! His office mate, Charles, was always astounded at the literary adventure that happened at George’s home.
“Chuck is going to love hearing about this book release!” George said to himself and he drained the cup.
Patricia Johns wasn’t the only storyteller…
I hope you enjoy these tales from my Knitted Newlyweds! I have so much fun with them. And if you’d like to check out my newest releases, I have a book on the shelves right now! I hope you’ll pick it up!
Happy reading!
❤
Patricia Johns 
Your comments make me feel warm and fuzzy. Seriously!