Yesterday, (well, today, actually. I’m composing this at 8:16pm on Monday, while Anne and Ryan assemble a desk, because I won’t have time tomorrow to write this up) while I was digging a hole in my yard, I thought to myself, Man, there’s been a big build up to this. People are expecting a major announcement, and there’s no way it will live up to expectations.
One of these years, I’ll find some way to not be so goddamn insecure. It’s in my nature. Just part of being a nerd, I guess.
So, without (much) further ado . . .
The Epic Announcement!
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There’s been a lot of speculation about the epic announcement. Ideas have included:
- Anne and I are hatching a kidlet of our own.
- Several different variations on the “Wil’s gonna be back on Star Trek” theme.
- I’m doing a voice over for a television show, like The Simpsons.
- I’m doing a voice over for a Pixar Movie
- I discovered a bunker in my backyard, and it’s filled with a thousand cases of Guinness.
There were some who thought it was acting related, and a few who thought it was literary related.
If you were one of the very few in that last group, you totally win a pizza and a trophy, because . . .
I have totally signed a three book deal with a major publisher. O’Reilly & Associates, to be precise.
Okay, I’m totally trying to play it all cool, but . . .
HOLY MOTHER OF CRAP!! WOOOO!!!!!! ROCK!
YEAH!!! KICK ASS BABY!!! UNGH!!! UNGH!!!
*pant*
*pant*
Sorry. I’ve been getting those massive rushes of excitement with alarming frequency. I hope you all understand.
This is a very exciting relationship for me, for several reasons. First, I am a huge geek, and without O’Reilly, I wouldn’t know HTML from LMNOP. I never would have been able to get Linux running, and Perl would be one of the not-quite-as-good-as-Mrs.-Garrett replacements on Diff’rent Strokes.
This means I will be able to get my books into more stores than I ever was with Monolith Press. It means I’ll be sent out on a real book signing tour. It means I’ll be on national television and radio to promote my work, and maybe even get a review in major newspapers or magazines.
Dancing Barefoot sold 3,000 copies in less than five months, without any of that, and I can’t wait to see how it does when it’s got the power and budget of a major publisher behind it.
It also means that I will never royally screw up days worth of orders again, and I will be free to work like crazy on Just A Geek because I won’t be running the business any more.
I spoke with my editor at O’Reilly this morning (” . . . my editor at O’Reilly!” that sounds so cool!), and he told me that O’Reilly is so excited to carry Dancing Barefoot, they’re going to have a printing available in time for the holidays. They are currently working on a plan with Powells to get it out there right away, and I understand that they are in talks with Amazon as well. If you’ve been kicking yourself in the pants, or punching yourself in the back of the head because you wanted Dancing Barefoot for a holiday gift and missed out, you can stop the madness right now!
It should be in most major book stores very soon and y — Oh my god! I’m going to walk into Vroman’s and see my book on the shelf!!! AHHH!!! That RULES!
RAWK! \m/
Oops. There it goes again. 🙂
O’Reilly will also publish Just A Geek in Spring of next year, and I’m going to write a currently untitled technical book on personal website design that I think will come out in Summer.
So, you see, when I made my audioblog post back in July, I had just gotten off the phone with Brett from O’Reilly, who had called to tell me that none other than Tim O’Reilly himself had come back from OSCon talking about “the Wil Wheaton phenomenon” and instructed Brett to tell me that he wanted to be my publisher. Since that day, we’ve been working out the details. They were actually finalized a few weeks ago, but we all decided to wait until today to release this epic news, because I guess December 2 is a good day to release news, and there’s a good chance some mainstream media outlets will pick this up.
I want all of you who read WWdN to know that none of this would ever have happened without you. Many of you have been here since the early days of Where’s My Burrito?. In this strange, impersonal-but-personal way, you’ve gone with me through the ups and downs (mostly downs) of my Sisyphean struggles in the acting world. You were excited with me when I was added to Nemesis and cried with me when I was cut. You have been there when I’ve loved, and when I’ve lost. I’ve introduced you to Ryan and Nolan, Ferris, and Anne, who is more than my world . . . she’s my entire universe.
You’ve supported me so much . . . I can’t tell you all how wonderful it feels to share my tremendous joy with all of you now. Everyone who has read Dancing Barefoot, or come to see me at a show, or left a comment on this site, Soapboxers, Farkers, Slashdotters . . . I’m sure I’m forgetting people . . . but every single one of you owns a piece of this amazing new chapter in my life.
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So, yeah. I’m a little late on reading about the *epic* news, but, “Congratulations, Wil!” You deserve this awesome opportunity. Your writing kicks ass. 🙂
Congratulations, Wil! I’m so excited for you and wish you all the best.
I managed to get a copy of dancing Barefoot from powells, but think I am going to have to pick up some for all my friends once you hit Amazon! O’Reilly Rules! Way to go.
If you come to cleveland on a signing tour, I’ll be first in line!
Way to go.
Congrats.
Well earned.
Another fan (a little late to the party)
Melissa
anyone tell me how the trackback works??
Congratulations, Wil! I was thisclose to crying (at work, no less) when I read your wonderful news! Even though you don’t know me, I feel I sorta know you, and well, I guess I’ll say that I’m proud, and a very proud owner of Dancing Barefoot (not signed, though–sniff!).
I asked the Huntington Beach Library to carry your book a few weeks ago – the lady at the reference desk (who also handles acquisitions) told me it was unavailable. I went back today and told her the good news – she’s a big fan of yours btw! So, if you’re ever down in Surf City – your book will be on the shelves…er., actually it won’t be, because it will always be checked out! Cheers Will!
congratulations wil. being as geekily excited as you want to be – you’ve earned it. enjoy!!
Congratulations Wil! That’s really exciting news:) Can’t wait to see the new printings and pick some up for Xmas.
DANG! No Guinness!
I had my heart set on “I’m taking over as spokesman for PriceLine.com”.
Congrats
Wil, I feel like you just reached out across cyberspace and hugged all of us, and damn, I needed that!
Rock on Wil, Congrats!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t know if you are reading this anymore, but belated congratulations! You’ve hit the big time! Whooo hooo!
Wil, this rocks, and you rock.
If anyone deserves this, it’s you, because you’re cool.
The geeks are proud. w00t!
Happy Decemb3r.
Joanie
Wil,
Congrats on the great news. I wish you all the luck and success that you deserve in the world of literature.
forgot to say:
hooray!!!
Call it a narrow view but as I see it there’s 2 types or writers/actors, the hyped up kind that fizzle after a little, and the ones that have built themselves up and are truely great. You sir fall into the latter category, and you are truely great. LET THE MONKEY LOOSE!
Can’t wait for ya to make your way to the east coast D:
Great Job Wil, you have defeated the child actor curse. And as always, love the veiled Homestarrunner quotes. That automatically scores points in my book.
Dear Wil:
Stop giving me so many reasons to be jealous. I may be forced to start a blog and start my own following so I can realize I’m a good person and build a huge fanbase of web support and publish my own book…
Wait a minute.
Chris
YAY!
congrats! Now I can have a copy of Dancing Barefoot for my very own!
YAY!
Congrats Wil!!!
as with anyone that aspires to be a writer, you’re now officially, and most deservingly so, living the dream. i hope one day to have the same news that you have, but until then, i’ll live vicariously through your words, glad that i got in on the barefoot craze before it became a boom. i’ll read my unautographed copy of the book again and again, so that the autographed copy of the book will carry other memories.
congrats. from the bottom of my heart, congratulations.
Congrats Congrats Congrats!!
“Josie, you have totally transitioned.”
You TOTALLY have. You’re no longer TWW(IHTG) of STTNG. You’re now Wil. Awesome author, kickass geek, loving step-father and husband, and TOTAL celebrity for a completely different reason. Hold on. Does that mean we’re gonna see Pin-up’s of you in Teen Beat or whatever again now?? *shudder*
Congrats for the recognition of who you are and what you do.
Cheers,
Bard
(ps – Is the cockroach taken for an O’Reilly book? Think Kafka?)
Congratulation and good luck to you!
I have one question:
Will i be able to buy your book in Sweden?
Congrats Wil, on a much deserved signing!!!
Hopefully, your tour will bring you to NY!
(Skids in the door really late, but just had to post a response upon seeing this)
WAY TO GO WILL!!!! I’m so pleased for you!!!! You just keep right on grinning your head off and bouncing! It’s lovely to see someone get something they’ve earned like you have this! 😀
Vicki
Congratulations!
I am pretty much a newcomer too WWdN but got hooked in November when I was out sick for a couple of days from work and decided to read all of the archives back to back!! I hesitate to bring up the fact that I had a HUGE crush on Wesley because, after reading the blog, I know that is not who you see yourself as any longer, even while you struggle with others seeing you that way. But my Wesley-Crusher fandom has brought me to Wil-Wheaton fandom and, for that, I am glad because Wil Wheaton is SOOOO MUCH COOLER! 🙂 You are so honest and funny and real and normal and zany that I love reading about you and your life and your love for your family. I am only a geek-by-association (my boyfriend reads slashdot 1,000 times a friggin’ day!!), but I get enough from him to get the humor in the Linux comments, etc. and to learn a little more to impress him with. Haha! The point of all of this babbling is that you and your family deserve this wonderful news and I am so happy for all of you!!! I feel like I know you personally after reading your stuff, and I couldn’t be prouder!! You are a fantastic writer and have worked your ASS off to make it over some major humps!! CONGRATULATIONS!! *beams wildly* I just love it when the world goes the right way for the right people…
Awesome! I’ll definitely be getting a copy of one of your books! Congratulations!
Congratulations Wil. You seem like a truly nice guy, so you deserve this.
So who do I speak to about getting you to do a book signing for the store I work at? I’d be honoured if you’d consider this.
Congratulations on your deal with O’Reilly. I’m looking forward to reading JAG, and picking it up in MicroCenter.
BCH
NOW, hopefully, I can get a copy of that damn book of yours way up here in Nova Scotia, Canada!
But from everyone on the ‘box, congratulations and much happiness to you and your now and in the future…
oh, yeah…
Merry Christmas…
Wow!!!! Congratulations! Way to go.
I just came across the story about your 3-book deal. (Sorry, behind the times – too busy hanging out at Fark). Very cool news! Congratulations and all that.
Vic
You must be cutting cartwheels in the living room! Congratulations on your book deal. I just saw Toy Soldiers (my favorite Wil Wheaton movie) for the umpteenth time the other day and thought to myself, “Wil Wheaton is such a good actor, I wonder what he’s been up to.” Now I know! As for the Hooters waitress, she don’t know jack! You rock as an actor and I know you’ll blow us all away with your books.