Final Countdown!
Got the song stuck in your head? Me too. Well, tomorrow is the day. By now, most bookstores will probably have already shelved the thing, which means WOOL is now out there for a gaggle of new readers to discover. In a lot of ways, this week is the most important of the book’s life. Think of a baby with a soft crown or a chick that needs to imprint on its caretaker. It’s make or break time.
If WOOL has any chance of showing up on a bestseller list, this week is its best chance. Now, most of you have supported me with far more generosity than I deserve, and so I don’t want you spending another penny on a book you’ve already read. But if you know someone who would enjoy this book, this is the week to urge them to go buy a copy. For several reasons.
First: I know what the print runs were on this book, and they’re gonna want a first printing. Trust me. All the cool kids have them. They won’t be around for long.
Second: How many copies bookstores stock and where they shelve them is entirely dependent on this initial rush. Even if you already own a copy, just calling your local store to see if they have it (and commenting below to let me know how that goes) will raise awareness. Sending in your luddite friends and family members to finally get on this bandwagon does the same thing.
Third: I will probably never earn out my advance for this print edition; none of this impacts me financially; but I want the book to do well for even better reasons. I don’t want this unusual publishing deal to go badly and undo the progress I feel like we’ve made for other indies. I hope Simon & Schuster make back all their money and then some. The rest of the publishing industry is watching how this plays out. Successful indies are turning down contracts that don’t make sense. Let’s show them a contract that makes sense for everyone. (I have a surprise coming up that will demonstrate how seriously I take this).
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