I just got off e-mail with Bruce, who's acting as my print rep with ICE's inhouse printer. Evidently our test copies turned out pretty good, not quite enough room for the spine, evidently. I'll see them next week and be able to make any cover tweaks then, and after that, we'll be good to go.
So I'm going to open preorders for books in the next few days (I'm shooting for tomorrow). I don't have all the details yet, but barring an unforeseen printing problem, here is my plan:
Open preorders this week. Allow all you all to order your copies.
Close preorders around the beginning of December to order copies and begin shipping.
Get them in the mail in time for Christmas.
That's all tentative right now. I'll certainly open preorders soon, but I won't be able to actually promise Christmas until I see perfect copies.
My store will charge you at the time of the order, not the time of shipping, just so you know.