The mass-market paperback edition of Shock and Awe is now available in the USA. Sort of.
The "pub date" in the US is May 1, 2009, although it is still an import (though listed as Macmillan rather than Pan). Despite the May 1 pub date, there is at least one copy sitting on a shelf in a Barnes and Noble already (because someone ordered it and didn't pick it up. No, not me.)
That's likely to be the only copy on bookstore shelves over here, but this time round Borders and Barnes and Noble have it available online, and also will order it into their stores. So while it isn't likely to be thrust into anyone's face, at least it seems to be accessible. So if you haven't read my little opus and are so inclined, your local bookstore will get it for you for a mere $8.95.
That's the first cheery news item. The second is that our colleague David Thayer has landed a great NY agent for his novel Black Forest. Mr. Thayer is a killer writer and I can't think of a more deserving guy. Expect to be seeing a lot more of his name.
Third, Michael Stephen Fuchs' novel The Manuscript--one of the original six MNW launch titles--still seems to have some legs. All these years later, it is being released in a Czech edition.
I'm happy for MSF, but also a little jealous. I've had papers and speeches I've given translated into tongues that are mere hieroglyphics to me (Chinese and Thai, for example), and I always find it strangely exciting to see my words in print but rendered utterly unrecognizable. (Of course, for all I can tell, they might have been rendered nonsensical, too--how would I know?) I'd dearly love to see my fiction translated--preferably into something totally unfamiliar.
Is that desire weird, or normal. (Or, barring normal, normal for a writer?)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
13 comments:
Holy shit. Viral marketing!
Thanks, my friend.
Anonymously, David Thayer
Congrats on getting into print in the US, David - and in mass-market paperback too! Despite the US cover being the same as the UK one, I'm certain it will feel all the more special as it's a US edition. Here's to seeing a number of good (and badly) digitised photos of the paperback in shelves up and down the US...
(And congrats to David T and Michael too!)
Hey, DT--
No need for thanks. I'm just pleased, is all.
Thanks for the wish, Matt. But I doubt that the stores will be actively stocking the book.
It's just nice to have it reliably available over here. As my fellow Norte Americano MNW colleagues well know, Amazon is not a reliable source for MNW books, so even when people go looking for a MNW title, they may not be able to buy it. Having the stores at least carry it in their warehouses is a big step forward!
A BIG step forward, David. As one of your USA-based MNW colleagues, I shall be eager to see how it pans (no pun intended) out.
I'm bringing as many books back from England as I can stuff into an empty suitcase for friends, family, and the unwary. My local library is throwing a party for me when I get back and I've already been told to have plenty of books on hand.
It's normal to want to see work translated. There's a site in, I think, Indonesia that's been threatening to publish an unauthorised translation of a story of mine for months now. I keep going to check, but it's still not posted...
Hi, Mags--
You can never have enough of your books--especially in a country where they aren't on sale.
You'll be amazed at how the pile diminishes with just a little time...
Hey, Charles--
Let me know if it ever gets posted. I have a lot of friends in Indonesia!
David:
I already emailed you about this, but maybe others would be interested in The Book Depository, an online UK bookseller. Free shipping, all over the world. I just pre-ordered my novel which I'll get 7 to 10 days after publication for the grand sum of $8.72! Of course, I'll still be in England when it lands in my mailbox, but still ... that's a helluva good deal.
Beats the heck out of Amazon, both here and in the UK.
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/
Always nice to hear good news!
People looking for your book might consider checking Canadian suppliers: Amazon.ca or Chapters.com. Shipping would probably be a bit more, but the exchange rate is on your side right now.
(No, I haven't checked, but I know Shock and Awe was available in Canada.)
Hi, Mags--
I'll go check out Book Depository. It sounds like exactly what the world needs.
Hi, Janet--
Yeah, I've been advising people to go through Amazon CA for MNW books in North America. My experience has been good, but other MNW writers in thr US haven't had such good luck.
I've never used Chapters, but I'll check it out!
I personally prefer Chapters, for two reasons. First, it has physical bookstores, one close to my home. Two, when you order online, the books come in good condition, which has not always been the case with Amazon. So even if the prices are sometimes slightly higher, I look there first. I'm not sure what it would be like for American customers. Let me know if you ever try them.
Post a Comment