First Print in My Hands (and a Dog with Romantic Feelings): What It Feels Like to See Your Book for the First Time

I imagined it differently. A quiet, slow-motion moment. Me, holding the first printed copy of my book—the one I dreamed of for over a decade. Not the actual book print. But my first 350 pages printout anyway. Maybe a little music playing in the background. Maybe a soft smile. A deep breath. Instead, I got… …