I know it's been a week since I've updated, and honestly, this isn't going to be much of an entry, not compared to the one I'd like to write. The hour is late, and I'm working on the book pretty much most of the time now anyway, including like ten minutes ago and about five minutes from now. But there are two things I wanted to tell you.
1) A comment was left on my last entry letting me know that there was a blurb about me (apparently generated by the Publishers Weekly article) in the Sunday Free Press in Winnipeg, a city that, for those of you who are a product of the American public schools like me, is in Canada. How cool is that? I'm NEWS, baby. Canadian news, no less.
2) In order to keep from cluttering up this fine fine blog with news and jabber about the book, I've created a book site over at SchuylersMonster.com. I keep reading how authors are expected to take up more and more of the promotional duties for their work, and I'm getting an early jump on it. I've been looking at different author sites, and I think this is pretty well in line with what's out there.
Just so you know, it's not all sassy and chaotic like this blog. I do not believe I shall be dropping the F-bomb over there with such Lebowskiesque abandon, for example. It's a professional endeavor, after all, with the single purpose of promoting the book. St. Martin's Press is taking a risk on a new writer like me, and I'm certainly going to do everything I can to make sure their investment pays off.
Am I a sell-out? Well, I don't know. It's my book, after all. It would be pretty stupid of me not to start doing everything I can to make it a success starting now. Besides, you know the reason I never sold out before? No one was buying.
Anyway, if you're interested in following the progress of the book, I'll be doing most of that talk over there. There's even a blog. I'm fancy!
36 comments:
Hi Rob! Just wanted you to know that I LOVE your booksite. =) It's clean, sharp, and has some great pictures.
You talk to much is one of my favourite pics - that and the pink fairy.
Sell out, baby! You deserve it! I think the concept that artists have to be poor and suffering to create good work went out with Warhol. Thank God for Warhol.
Congrats on your book deal, and I still maintain that your writing gets better every year.
Very nice site. (Although I'm still trying to get used to seeing you called "Robert" over and over again. Guess you're all grown up now...)
Oh for the love of the flying spaghetti monster!
You deserve to fucking sell out.
And if you make a gazillion dollars and are able to help your daughter or cure diabetes, all the better (and I thank you)!
Sell, sell, sell!!!
And boy, your Boring McWriterson pic of yourself looks downright skinny.
It's not selling out to publicize your book, for heavens sake. It's absolutely necessary. Your success will help you and your family, and your book will help lots and lots of other people.
Wonderful site, and I love the photo reflection effect - very simple but very striking. Good job, man.
I dig the writerly goatee!
Bah! Who cares about the book?! We want news about the hamsters and more hamster photos! HAM-ESTERS FTW! :)
Rob, I wish you'd quit linking to the (beautiful) book site. This is the third time I've ruined my mascara squalling over the "Idea" page, damn you.
Sell it, you hussy. Work it in a micro mini and spike heels if you have to. You're going to be saving others' lives with it. As well as y'all's.
Smooches, as always, from Tennessee!
(I also vote for a hamster update, but I'm trying to be understanding. Ha!)
Hamster info, eh?
Um, okay. Turns out they'll clog your toilet. Who knew?
(Settle down, that was a joke.)
Yawn!!!
Not really. I'm thrilled to read all the details about your book and the road to its completion. I'm just SO please for you.
I agree that the book site is fab! However, who is this "Robert" of whom they speak???? You're not going to make Oprah call you "Robert" are you?
Oh man, I just completely teared up reading the Idea page of the booksite.
Great booksite, Rob. And a belated kudos on the book.
Rob, I just wanted to note how frigging cool it is that over the years during which I have been reading your blog, you and Julie have had times when you were so very worried about money and related things, and now you have a book deal. I know that doesn't immediately take the worry away, but it definitely gives you guys a very good shot of being much more comfortable. I know I will be buying a copy!
I don't even know you, but I am SO proud of you!
I'm with Carol...I teared up reading several of the sub-pages (or whatever they're called) over at the book site. Damn you.
Congrats, Rob(ert). You, Julie and Schuyler deserve all the good fortune, luck and joy that comes your way!
Hey Rob, you look great! Nice 'n skinny and all!
I also loved the "You talk too much" t-shirt, where did you get it?
I forget the site now, but we had it made online, along with "Cyborg Princess" and "No comment".
Hi Rob,
I noticed a small typo on your SchuylersMonster.com site and wanted to point it out to you.
In the first paragraph of "The Subject" section you have metal retardation instead of mental.
I don't normally play grammar police but since it is for your professional site to promote the book, well...I'd want to know if it was me. Just trying to be neighborly.
You totally don't have to post this as a comment, unless you really want to, it was just simpler for me to send it this way. :)
Does "winter" mean February, or December? -Kinzie
I'm pretty sure it means sometime from January on, since I'm told that very little happens in publishing during the holidays. Also, there was initially some talk about promoting it for Father's Day 2008.
You may not have a lot of time to be reading blog comments, but heck NO, you're not a "sell out." The book site is very cool and professional and will do a lot for telling your story. Which is the point, right? Your words are certainly worth hearing, so keep with it!
For you, I don't think promotion will be a problem. ;-) Word of mouth alone should generate a metric assload of sales. (That converts to 1.3080 imperial assloads for all you damn furriners.)
*waves to JunieB* Yay, fellow 'Pegger! We're everywhere... like pod people.
I'm going to have to get a t-shirt made that says "I'm huge in the Peg".
Ummm...how does any of this make you a sell out? It makes you a paid professional author. Which, I think, is pretty awesome.
that's a cool site, yo.
You may be huge in the 'Peg, but you're looking pretty slim in Plano, heh. In a good way, of course...
I'm thrilled for you, Rob! Um, I mean, Robert.
What does Schuyler think about the book?
I'm going to have to get a t-shirt made that says "I'm huge in the Peg".
If you do, you have to put a photo of yourself wearing it up on the site. My boyfriend will be speechless.
- Peggy, aka Pegkitty
Hi Rob. The book site is great - very professional. You know you're a serious, real-time author when they refer to you by your full first name "Robert" :-)
By the way it's not selling out. It's being successful.
Sandy
so when's the new book gonna be out?
I just started reading here within the past couple weeks, and now I'm awaiting the book - your stories are so engaging, and I'm wishing we were still living in Austin when you were there.
Best wishes on your book writing - congratulations!
The book site in spectacularly beautiful, even though I'm not sure spectacularly is a word. There are already lots of us out here waiting for the book, and the new site is sure to help build an audience. Now all you have to do it write it!
Rob, please don't forget about us little people who love to read your blog. While we do love the idea that you will be a world famous author in 2008, your blog is what made it happen for you. So please try to post more on Schuyler than just once a week. Even if it is only a short paragraph letting us know how school is going and what she is up to.
Hi, Rob
I'm the journalist from Winnipeg who mentioned your book deal. I write a weekly publishing news column -- several short items each week, collected from various industry journals, mainstream wire services and websites. I've read your blog and saw the news of the book deal and knew it was worth telling people about.
LOVE IT !!! ( booksite)
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