As I am writing this, I am getting ready for surgery.

As you are reading this, I am hopefully recovering from just having had some of my major inner “moving parts” removed, like an engine being gutted (so long, uterus, ovaries, and fibroids with abnormal pre-cancer cells), and hopefully I will feel a whole lot better (and a whole lot lighter) the next time I have a chance to post.

In the meantime, let me just say how odd it is to have a recent book release at the same time as a major medical procedure (and being laid up for weeks afterward)….

I am not really able to do as much book promotion as I normally would to help my newborn book “baby” along, and so I must rely on all of you to help me out at a tough time (not to mention all those terrifying, upcoming, monstrous medical bills—I am uninsured).

I’ve put my heart and soul (and sweat and sleepless nights, and yes, several intense laughing fits) into Pride and Platypus: Mr. Darcy’s Dreadful Secret, and hopefully it shows when you pick up your copy.

If you prefer a trade paperback or a Kindle ebook, either edition will give you all the fun interior features—500 pages worth of joy and laughter, hilarious illustrations, unbelievably hysterical Scholarly Footnotes (you have got to see them to believe it; trust me on this, I think I’ve really surpassed myself this time around), amazing Appendices, and plenty of plot surprises, twists and turns along the way.

And… did I mention there is the entire wild animal kingdom of Australia? Oh, yes! Who says that Austen and Australia don’t mix?

And did I mention, there’s that certain everyone’s favorite attractive gentleman in a wet shirt?

As I tell you all this, I am also very anxious…. You see, while my Pride and Platypus might at last be out in the wilds, taking the publishing world by storm (and kangaroo stampede) and showing up in various online and other bookstores, I have not yet seen a copy myself! That’s because my own box of paperback copies is still in the mail, on its way to me, and will likely arrive while I am still in the hospital! So yes, most of you who have bought your copies will have a chance to see it before I do!

And now, even though I still have to do a whole lot of these things to get ready for surgery (including drinking a whole bottle of poop-inducing medicine tomorrow, and pre-surgery phone calls with a nurse to make sure I am a good candidate for anesthesia), I keep on checking Amazon and B&N like a typical crazed author, to see if the sales rank has changed and if one of you out there has bought another copy!

So, here is what all of you can do, besides your good thoughts and prayers (all of which I really appreciate!):

• Buy a copy of Pride and Platypus for yourself and a friend (a fan of Jane Austen, or simply a fan of wit and laughter).

If you are not able to buy right now, then:

• Tell your local library to order a copy or two!

• Tell your local bookstore to carry it if it’s not in stock.

• Tell your friends, family, and co-workers about this great and funny book.

• Share this very blog post (a click is all it takes!) on Twitter, Facebook, etc.

And if you’ve read it already, please don’t forget to:

• Post a review on Amazon, Goodreads, LibraryThing, Shelfari, etc.—every review helps immensely!

So go out there, and—while I recuperate and get better—please be my wonderful, generous, amazing reader army, and spread the delight and the laughter!

Thank you for all your support, dear friends!