One of the most exciting parts of making a book is seeing the “folded and gathered” pages, or F&Gs. Last week, Walker sent the first test prints of Backbeard for me to check, and for the first time I got a good sense of what the book will feel like when it’s finally printed. The cover is there, the endpapers, the copyright page–everything is pretty much how it will look at the end of the road. (F&Gs are also used to market the book, and they’re sent to reviewers in advance of the actual printing.)

I’m really happy with the way it came out. The designer at Walker, Nicole Gastonguay, did a great job with the layout and type. A few minor edits, and then it goes to press. We’re in the home stretch!