So on Monday, a huge package from Simon and Schuster landed on our doorstep. Inside we found page proofs for The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading.
That’s right. The manuscript looks like an actual book. Well, an actual book if you printed on huge sheets of paper, landscape, two book pages per sheet.
One of the reasons I was so excited when we sold to Simon Pulse is they produce some of the most beautiful trade paperbacks for the their teen line. The artwork and typesetting all comes together to support the story. Here’s a peek at what they’ve done for Geek Girl’s Guide:
Each chapter heading is at a jaunty angle and in the “cheerleader” font (I’m sure it’s not technically called the cheerleader font, but whatever). Each of our chapters begins with a little excerpt “written” by the cheerleader coach and on each they’ve added a different silhouette of a cheerleader. Okay, how cute is that?
So now we read, looking for typos, things that were missed, and so on. And even as we inch closer to July, it still all seems a little surreal.

Yay for page proofs! Oh, this is soooo exciting. I remember my first page proofs fondly…
I canNOT wait for this book to come out!
Woohoo!
YAYAYAYAY!!!!!!!
Very cool. But… you’re getting proofs now, but the book doesn’t come out until July? What happens in the meantime?
Only one page? Aww, shucks! I can’t wait to read it! How exciting!
How exciting, Charity!!!!
It looks terrific! It’s nice that they do so much with the packaging. I like the bit you two have included with “words of wisdom” from the coach.
I can’t WAIT for July!
Every bit of it, from the large sheets of paper to the “cheerleading” font is wonderful – congrats! It’s very exciting. (love the cover)
Fantastic! I can’t wait for it to get out in the book stores!