10 Escalation

I can't really describe the last nine months; the only thing that comes to mind is that Ron Burgundy meme that doesn't even exist yet. 

I expected the book to sell well enough for me to get noticed, but I never expected it to sell this well. 

It took three months for Lumina and me to agree on the final version of the book. There were some changes they suggested that I agreed with, and some I didn't. Someone even suggested that "Woody" wasn't a good name for the main character, and there were a lot of other stupid suggestions I had to shoot down. But it also helped me grow as a writer. I was able to learn a lot from the experience.

I even got along with Lucy now that I got to know her better. Despite our initial differences, I realized she was a very ambitious person whose dream was to start her own publishing company, and she knew her way around the industry—a good person to have on one's side for starting a career here. 

During the editing process, we also started on the cover art. I had made drawings of the different characters in the story and had prepared precise descriptions of them, making it easy for the artists the company had hired. The art came out great, and it also helped in the success of the book.In the marketing they really pushed the fact that a ten-year-old had written the book.

The book was released in December; the reviews were great at first, selling better than expected. I was happy, Lucy was happy, but then things took a turn. The book gained traction, surpassing our initial expectations, and soon, it was gaining attention beyond what we had anticipated. The holiday season had given it an extra boost, and when they found out about my age, curious people started buying it, even those without children, and just like the movie Toy Story, the adults liked it as well.

As the sales soared, I found myself being interviewed by various media outlets. At first, it was newspapers, and now I was asked to be on a TV interview. Lucy had informed me that as the sales get higher, as it was predicted to be, I would be invited to more interviews with larger personalities.

"Are you ready?" A familiar voice said from behind.

I turned to see Lucy standing there. "Ready as I'll ever be," I replied, my voice a bit shaky.

"Relax. Remember, since it's your first on-screen interview, it can be a bit intimidating at first, but stay calm and just focus on answering the questions."

"You'll be fine, sweetheart," my mom added, giving additional support.

I looked at the mirror in front of me again as Lucy excused herself to tell the crew waiting that I was ready.

"You look very handsome. Just go out there and give it your best," my mom said, pulling me into a hug.

That did calm me a bit though taking a big breath I exited the room to where the interview was going to be filmed.

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The interview:

TV Host: Good evening, folks! Today, we have an extraordinary guest joining us on our show. He is the author of the recent best seller 'Toy Story' but there one thing; he's not your typical author because, believe it or not, he's just 10 years old! Please welcome Daniel Adler!

TV Host: Daniel, it's such a pleasure to have you here.

Daniel: Thank you!

TV Host: Now, tell us, what inspired you to write a book at such a young age?

Daniel: Well, I've always loved reading. I guess you could say I've always wanted to be a writer. I used to create little stories just for fun, and one day I thought, why not try to write one for real.

TV Host: That's amazing! Can you give our viewers a sneak peek into the story of your book without giving too much away?

Daniel: Ummm.... It's about toys that come to life when their owner, a kid like me, isn't around. They go on this big adventure to save their friend. It's all about fun, friendship, and all that.....

TV Host: Sounds like a fantastic read, especially for kids. Now, let's talk about the challenges. Being only ten, what difficulties did you face while writing your book?

Daniel: Well, sometimes finding the right words was tricky. I am glad my mom was there for me; she was the one who encouraged me to publish it.

TV Host: You were involved in the editing process. How was that experience for you?

Daniel: Editing was cool. Lumina, the publishing company, helped me make the story even better. I learned a lot about writing and the industry from them.

TV Host: What's been the most exciting part for you so far?

Daniel: The most exciting part was seeing the book. Holding it in my hands for the first time was like a dream come true.

TV Host: Well, Daniel, you're not just an author; you're an inspiration to many young minds out there. Any advice for other kids who might want to write their own stories?

Daniel: Absolutely! Just give it a try! You can write about anything you like. Don't worry too much about getting everything perfect at first. Just have fun with it!

TV Host: Well said, Daniel! It's been an absolute pleasure having you on our show. We wish you all the success with your book!

Daniel: Thank you so much! I hope everyone enjoys reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

"So how did I do?" I asked as I turned the TV off.

"You were great, Danny," my mom said, ruffling my hair and giving me a kiss on the cheek.

"You are a natural kid; that went better than I expected," Lucy answered with a small grin on her face.

"Also, don't forget you have your first book signing next Saturday," Lucy added.

"Oh right, do I really have to do it?" I asked.

"Yeah... welcome to being famous, Daniel."

"If you don't want to do it, then we can cancel it," mom said, looking at me and then giving Lucy a glare.

"No, Mom, I knew what I was getting into. I just never thought it would happen this fast," I said.

"But..." mom started to say.

"Mom, it's fine. I'll be there, Lucy," I said, interrupting her.

"What about school, Danny?" mom asked.

"Well, I did ask you..."

"No, no homeschooling. You will go to school just like the other children your age," Mom interrupted with a bit of anger.

I didn't want to deal with school again; high school I could handle, but middle school... I had asked mom if I could be homeschooled, but she was vehemently against it.

"Alright, no homeschooling, but don't worry, Mom. I can handle school and this perfectly fine," I said, trying to reassure her.

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The book signing took place in a bookstore named 'Enchanting Pages.' The store was adorned with wooden bookshelves, neatly arranged to showcase a large collection of books. Soft, warm lights hung from the ceiling, casting a cozy glow over the space. Colorful posters promoting various literary events decorated the walls. 

A designated area was set up for the book signing, a long table covered in a crisp, white cloth displaying neatly stacked copies of the book. A backdrop featuring the cover of the book and a banner that read 'Book Signing by Daniel Adler.'

When the signing began, it was mostly children aged five to ten with their parents. I signed each book, exchanged smiles, and had brief conversations with my young readers. The children shared their excitement about the story, while their parents expressed admiration for my talent at such a young age.

As the signing came to an end, a young girl, at least eight, came up to me with her younger brother and mother accompanying her. I did a double take as I saw her and her mother; they looked very familiar.

'Is that Julie Bowen ?' I thought.

"Hello, and what is your name?" I asked the girl.

"Hi, I am Alex. I love your book," she said with enthusiasm, her eyes shining with excitement.

"Thank you so much, Alex! I'm glad that you enjoyed it," I replied, genuinely touched by her enthusiasm.

"I read it to my little brother; he loves it too," she said, pointing at her brother who had just wandered off from the Julie Bowen lookalike to a large cutout of Woody.

"No, Luke, come back here," the blonde woman said as she ran to him.

"I am glad he likes it as well," I replied as I signed the book.

"Thank you," the girl said quickly, her face red, and followed after her mother.

I was having a déjà vu-like moment as I was pretty sure I had seen these people before. The mom looked exactly like Julie Bowen; maybe she didn't become an actor here. That must be it. I was snapped out of my thoughts when I heard something falling to the ground.

I looked to see what it was and saw a stack of books had fallen to the ground. I saw the Julie Bowen lookalike rushing away with Alex and her brother. I finished the signing and went home with my mom. I couldn't shake the fact that I had heard those names before, and they sounded very familiar.

'It's probably nothing; I just need some rest. It's been a long day,' I thought as I rested by eyes lying on my bed.