I am Jo March

I know that I’ve written a book. Man, do I know that I’ve written a book. And yet this whole experience felt exponentially more real last week when a small shipment of actual books turned up on our front step.
 
I’ve written semi-exhaustively about the front cover in recent weeks (Sorry!), but until last week I had no idea what the spine or the back cover of “Operation Catapult” would look like. Of course, once they arrived, I was unable to resist stacking the books in every conceivable formation.

Like a lot of other authors, I thought about filming an “unboxing” video. But a previous attempt was so lame, I decided to forego that step. Fortunately, Hollywood has done me one better. I am a sappy sentimentalist at heart, and have never forgotten a scene from the 2019 remake of “Little Women.” Jo March (played by Saorise Ronan) sees and holds the book that she has written for the first time. The emotional unfolding expressed in her facial expressions is astounding. I remember thinking back then (and ever since) that when I finally held my book, I wanted that feeling. And that wish came true. Saorise Ronan perfectly embodies the sappy sentimentality that I felt for the better part of a day last week, especially in the last 30 seconds of this 109-second clip of that scene.

On a different note, I've been wanting to let you know that although I’m pretty sure this is not their norm, the U.S. Naval Institute Press is publishing five other books on the same day they launch mine (March 17). I’m excited to be in such great company (in every sense of the phrase). You can learn more about all of USNI’s books and publications here.

Thanks for reading,
Bill