i haven’t felt so alive in years

Posted on By Wil

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 . . .

WIL WHEATON dot NET PRESENTS
The Epic Announcement!
brought to you by Slurm

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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Comments (484)

  1. Very many congratulations!!! How utterly exciting. 😀 I’m very happy for you and I’m so looking forward to seeing your books in the stores. WOW! 😀

  2. Reading about your epic news got me so excited for you. I even found myself smiling about the news. Again, Congratulations!
    Well, now that you will be able to do a “real” book tour, you better have Minneapolis, St. Paul, or Bloomington (Mall of America) as one of your stops. I would like to have my book signed.
    Your tour should stop in Minnesota during the winter. Then you can try out some of our below zero temps and with even lower temp wind chills!
    Jessica

  3. DUDE!!! Congrats!
    Now you have to see if you can get creative control over the “creature” that will appear on your technical endeavor! I’m thinking the MONKEY!!! Don’t know if they will allow you a typewriter in front of it, but certainly since they become iconic to the subject matter, much thought should be addressed to the issue.
    Possibly a poll on your site!
    Another FUN game for the WWdN fans!

  5. Well that’s awesome Wil! I’m glad you’ve got a bigger publisher behind you now, and I know we’re all looking forward to JaG.
    But I do wonder about this: “I’m going to write a currently untitled technical book on personal website design”. Don’t you think that will be much more challenging than mostly-autobiographical-pseudo-non-fiction?

  6. Holy mother jesus balls wil, that is totally freakin awesome!!!!!!
    I knew it was only a matter of time before something like this happened!
    w00t!
    You deserve all this and more!
    Congrats 🙂

  10. You know, I was really hoping for #1, but then I’m biased with the joy my own toddler brings me. I really ought to be thinking about the fact that you’ll be touring the country and hopefully getting to or within driving distance of North Carolina, not at home changing diapers and trying to keep someone from teething on your computer cables.
    Seriously, that is fantastic news! Congratulations!

  11. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Congratulations Wil!!!!
    This is sofa king cool!!!!
    *HappyNekkidOtterButtDance*
    I hope this means you’ll be at my Borders signing books soon. *grin*
    W00T!

  12. Kick Ass! That’s amazing. Now I have something to show to all of the people that said that “self publishing is death for an author”.
    Whoo-hoo! Congratulations!

  14. Being published by O’Reilly automatically gives you MAJOR geek street cred points, Wil. Of course, obviously Tim O’Reilly knows a good thing when he sees one!
    I still think it would be awesome if your book tour took you to the Tattered Cover in Denver (either Cherry Creek or LoDo, doesn’t matter)…but if O’Reilly decides to send you to Softpro Technical Books in Centennial or Boulder, that’ll be OK, too. They do have free Wi-Fi! 🙂
    Anyway, I think fellow Coloradan Eric Cartman would best express my sentiments this way: “Sweet, dude! Kick ass! Yes! YES!” And then he’d probably start doing the German Dance….
    Anyway, congratulations!!!

  15. I don’t know how others feel, but I always get a tingle when I see/hear about someone succeeding through hard work and discipline. It’s kind of like the cheezy moment in “It’s A Wonderful Life” when ZuZu hears the bell and says, “Another angel just got their wings!”
    Way to go, Wil, and way to go, Anne, for being supportive of the big lug!

  17. Wil,
    Congratulations! The most wonderful affirmation for an author is to have one’s work read and also sought after. You’ve worked hard on this one and you deserve the kudos. I know how you feel (my latest book starting hitting the bookstores this past week) and think you’ve really found your voice here! It’s great to know that that voice will be reaching a wider audience. Big hugs all around!
    Spacewriter

  18. Yay for you Wil! Hugs to you and the fam and your new publisher…! You’re right, that does sound incredibly cool. You’re living the dream, and you’ve worked very hard to get there. HOORAY!

  19. Wil,
    Greetings and Salutations along with Admiration and Congratulations!
    Your written and webbed words have enchanted, entralled and mesmerized me (and my wife) at one point or another during the time I have been visiting your site (more than a year I think…Wow!).
    Your web space is a daily visit for me, and a great one at that. The O’Reily deal is just one of many great things that will happen to a great author/actor/cool dude like you. Can’t wait to buy Just A Geek, and that tech book will be added to my want list ASAP.
    Again congratulations to you, and Anne, Ryan, Nolan and Ferris for being the great universe to you.
    Oh, by the way, if there is a book tour: Make sure Philadelphia is on that tour. You have a unlimited pass for all the Guiness you can drink from me. I will throw in dinner or lunch too. Hell I think I will camp out in front of the store you sign at. Such a fan boy I am.
    Peace, love and Christmas cookies,
    Leo Romero
    Philadelphia, PA
    With congrats and good mojo also coming from:
    Tracey (my wifey! I love you honey!)
    Tristan (my infant son, who will be read Dancing Barefoot in about a week or two, just before bed)
    and Coal (my cat, Who I love, and unlike Clay Aiken, do not think is Satan).

  20. I think there’s a lemur O’Reilly book; can’t think of which one. There’s probably a few primates left that would fall under the category “monkey”; perhaps a chimpanzee?

  30. i knew you could do it, wil! you are a very talented writer. you deserve all the happiness in the world.
    congratulations!
    jeannette
    ps….. hurry up and get here to south carolina, willya? =)

  31. Big YEY for wil!
    v happy for you 🙂
    (But am I the only one feeling sorry for Monolith Press? Poor buggers. Hope wil does something nice for them, like buy them a pint and say cheers for helpin…)
    But WOOOOHOO for wil! hehe
    And that 3rd book sounds like a big seller too 🙂

  33. How excited was I when I read this news during my 15 minute break from work! I had to check it out as soon as possible! Congratulations Wil! I can’t wait to see you on all the talk shows, I know you’ll be in demand very soon. I can’t wait to order the book, it’s going to be great to read over the winter breake.

  36. That’s great. Congratulations, O’Reilly rocks, they make great books. And I’m sure yours will be added to that list. I actually work as a tech in the PrePress department for the printing company that prints all of O’Reilly’s books. So I’ll get to see them come through the door.

  38. Wil – That rawks man! Can’t wait to finally be able to get my hands on Dancing and JAG when it comes out!
    Congrats though!
    Nags

  39. This is my first comments post (I hang in the soapbox… ;), but this deserves a comment…
    CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!
    You deserve it!
    Odile

  43. Good on Ya Willie!
    Now, A briar pipe, a herring bone jacket (with suede elbow patches , of course) and maybe a deerstalker…. The Wil Phenom Stikes the Literary World!!

  44. I am *so* happy for you right now. I’m so glad that in some miniscule way by reading and commenting at your site I was able to help you in any way at all. I always see all these cool actors/authors/musicians/etc. that I want to succeed. I’d think to myself, “When I grow up and have money I’ll cast all my favorite actors, publish my favorite authors and sign my favorite musicians who DESERVE IT!”
    I’m just happy period because you deserve this. You’re a great person with a great family and talent in seemingly every area you’ve attempted.
    You rock, Wil. Seriously.
    I’m so happy for you man.

  45. Congratulations, Wil! Yes, there’s an echo in here…
    Seriously, though, you deserve this. Not to mention, I’ll be able to get a copy of the book! Ah, the selfish motive!

  47. WoW – comments are back… What happened?
    Now that the shock is wearing off, I just wanted to say:
    CONGRATULATIONS, Mr. Wheaton – you’re a great story-teller and deserve to have your stories published. If I’ll find your books in Chapters-near-me, I’ll be sure to buy them for bathroom/bathtub reading, and trust me, this is a HIGH compliment in my book…

  49. Too. Fucking. Cool.
    Aweome! Couldn’t have happened to someone more deserving!
    Soo…uh…since i own a piece of this new chapter in your life, can I borrow $5 bucks? – you can paypal me it if ya want.

  50. I totally feel like I’m jumping on the bandwagon here since I’ve only been reading for about a week…devoured everything I could on the site…but I have to say – Wil, you SO RAWK! this is absolutely fantastic 🙂
    *we do the happy dance, we do the happy dance*
    not only do you totally deserve this, but can you imagine how the other publishing houses are gonna just turn green when they realize O’Reilly jumped on “the Wil Wheaton phenomenon” before they could?? O’Reilly!! oh man…this is just beyond cool…
    major huge congrats!!

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