At long last, Bitter Seeds is officially released today. And I am terrified.
Hello and welcome to readers from Boing Boing and John Scalzi’s Big Idea feature! (And very sincere thank yous to Cory Doctorow and John Scalzi for kindly featuring my book on its launch day.)
Bitter Seeds has been getting great reviews. To celebrate the release, we’re running a contest/puzzle/game called Chronicle of Sorrows. I’ve posted about it here, here, and here. First prize is a signed ARC of Bitter Seeds!
I’m also doing a giveaway on Goodreads right now. One lucky winner will receive a signed hardcover of Bitter Seeds. So far, over 500 600 700 800 900 people have entered the contest. Wow!
I’ve posted a list of online retailers here, should my poor little book strike your fancy.
It’s been a long time coming– more than two agonizing years passed between signing the contract for this trilogy and seeing my first novel in stores. On the one hand, I’m delighted and overjoyed to experience the realization of a lifelong dream. On the other hand, I’m ill with terror, knowing that my career now depends on thousands of people whom I don’t know, and who have no vested interest in my efforts.
I’d love to see photos of Bitter Seeds in the wild. So much so that I’ll even arrange to sign a copy for at least one person who sends in a photo. (By “arrange” I mean I’ll cover the back-and-forth postage costs. If only two people send photos, I’ll sign both copies. If twenty people send photos, I’ll arrange to sign one copy. I’m a weasel, you see.) If you catch a picture of my wily and elusive book in its natural habitat—the bookstore—please send it to me at ian AT iantregillis DOT com. With your permission, I’ll run the photo here and enter your name to get your copy signed. (Assuming my poor little novel strikes your fancy in the first place.)
I’ve been lurking and reading the comments on Boing Boing and Scalzi’s site. People are excited by the concept of the book, and they _love_ the cover.
It’s exciting. Your first novel out and on the stands, and making its way into people’s hands.
It’s a terrific book. You should be very proud.
I’m not sure if your wily ways will guarantee the book will be able to get from a little seabird infested offshore island to your hands to be signed!
Read the excerpts and reviews, now itching to get my hands on it.
I’ve been far too frightened to read any of the online commentary that accompanied yesterday’s launch. So I really appreciate the report.
I can only hope that the actual book itself lives up to the expectations of the people who interested in it…
Hey, if those sea birds can get a copy of the book into my hands, I’ll be more than happy to deface it with my signature 🙂
Thank you very, very much for your interest in my book. I hope it proves worthy of your excitement.
I just scrolled through my sadly neglected Google Reader and saw Scalzi and eBear’s posts, then read the first part of the first chapter Scalzi linked to and ordered the book.
It caught my interest first because I’ve also been researching WWII for a horror story – and boy do I hear you about the difference between a casual interest and sounding like you know what you’re talking about! But that excerpt pushed it past “ooh cool” to “ooh, must have!” And beyond that, “Must have and tell author that I must have,” which I don’t believe is something I’ve ever done before.
Also, my captcha word is Cthulu, which means that I am now in love with your blog.
Is it possible we were separated at birth?
Thank you so much for your interest, and for taking the time to let me know about it! You have made my day. I am so glad that you enjoyed the excerpt. I hope the rest of the novel is worthy of your excitement 🙂
The problem I’ve found with writing about WWII is that for every new thing I learn, I discover 3 areas of ignorance. But here’s to us– braving the research for the sake of art. (A horror story set in WWII is right up my alley.)