i haven’t felt so alive in years

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.

Discover more from WIL WHEATON dot NET

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

484 thoughts on “i haven’t felt so alive in years”

  2. Whoot! That rocks.. and mucho congradulations etc!
    BUT! I do like the idea of finding all that Guiness!
    Sweet..and good for you.. loved your book.

  3. yay wil! so so so happy for you. just come to boise on one of those big book tours, okay? i want my 1st edition copy of dancing barefoot signed. you r0x0r.

  5. WOOHOOO
    you have reached the goal that millions havent.
    congratulations !!!!!!!!!
    all the best with your new venture.
    and dont forget the blog ! 😉
    x

  6. Now I’ll be punching myself in the back of my head for spending money on Christmas presents for my family instead of buying an autographed copy of your book. Why couldn’t I be more thoughtless?!
    But grabbing a copy right off a physical shelf will be an awesome experience on its own. I’ll be able to say, “I knew about this author when everyone else thought he was just an actor!”
    Happy holidays, friend.

  8. Rock on, Wil! I’m so very glad for you, and proud of you! You’ve come a long way — and thanks for letting us hang out with you during the journey. 🙂

  12. I’m so happy for you Wil!!! Thank you for letting all of us into your world. I love reading your blog, and watching you grow. Be proud of yourself and enjoy the moment!
    When you come to Denver, I’m buying the Guiness!
    Again, Congrats!
    Rachel

  13. Congratulations Wil !
    I hope you stay as you are – not forgetting
    the people that had brought you there.
    You deserve it.
    Greetings from Germany

  14. Who is this Wil Wheaton fellow? Is he the guy from that next generator thing?
    What is he doing writing books? Is this another universe or something? I am so confused.

  15. Congratulations. Your web site keeps me coming back for more. I look forward to your books.
    When are you coming to Australia?

  17. Wil that is really great news!
    I have really enjoyed reading your Blog over the last few weeks and have no doubt that I will be reading it now for as long as you continue with it.
    I have enjoyed insights into your life, been touched by your honesty and your humour and more than anything I have been entertained.
    For these reasons and many more, I cannot wait to get my hands on “Dancing Barefoot” over here from O’Reilly (one of my favourite publishers if you look at my study shelves where I keep all my ‘geek’ books!). I will also be making sure I’m in the queue for “Just a Geek”, keep on with the writing, you’re really finding your voice and it’s really good!
    Peace,
    Olly

  20. WOW!
    That’s so cool! Congradulations and all that, and congradulations to us too ’cause we’re gonna get three books all mainstreamy- from you instead of this ‘grassroots phenom’ angle you’ve been working like a madman. =)

  23. that is just so great…..I can’t wait until my kids are old enough one day to read your site. And now there will be more book from you also.. way too cool
    when you get all rich, and have extra money take your family to Italy, you will enjoy it

  27. The best, and most important, thing about this is that now Wil will get to do a big book tour. Which means, that Wil will come to Chicago. Which means that Wil can get the O’Reilly people to talk to the Cubs people. Which means I’m totally skipping out on work when Wil sings the Seventh Inning Stretch. Sweet.

  28. I think to celebrate this occasion, Wil should get back into his spacesuit one last time, and call Patrick up on the phone and scream “Shut up Picard!”
    >=}

  29. WOW! this is so great wil! congrats!! Maybe i’ll now be able to get a copy of dancing Barefoot, as i couldn’t get on before! i’m so happy for you!!!

  30. Congrats, Wil. It’s been a magnificent ride following you from your struggles dealing with what you were to your newfound appreciation and joy in realizing what you are. Best wishes with JAG, O’Reilly, and whatever endeavours you embark on in your future (Don’t forget the little man, Wil. TSS appearance and book signings are grand). With a little tounge-in-cheek, Wil, it’s time, your time, to engage.

  31. I’ve been lurking for quite a while, and this post finally makes me comment to say “Congratulations!”.
    I love your writing style. I was puzzled when I hadn’t previously found your book on Amazon.com, and recently just checked again to see how and where I could order your book. Dang, I should’ve done it a long time ago.

  32. WOW you got a lot of responses I believe I’m leaving comment 428!! haha anyways Congratulations on everything!!! You deserve it. I cant wait to get my copy of the book WOOHOO!!! Also if you do a personal website design book I WANT THAT ONE TOO!!!!!! I have my own website and can always use tips. I think that would be wonderful! Keep it up!

  35. Hey, Wil, this is like thr 400th-some-odd note, but CONGRATS!
    Keep following that thread. It’ll lead you to a large pot of Skittles!

  37. Great news for you… Hope you’ll get a free pass to St. James Gate for thousands of Perfect Pints with your new status of Very Important Writer… Hey, maybe you could start a new career as testimonial!

  38. Great job! It’ll be exciting to see it in a store near me. Thanks for increasing the value of my first edition autographed copy! 🙂

  40. Congrats Wil. You deserve it. Your enthusiasm is something that motivates me daily. Yesterday Dan Gillmor wrote in his Silicon Valley Blog about the idea of giving the gift of reading to poor children arround the world. I have started an initiative on My Blog, and considering your news, Maybe you could celebrate by donating some of your books to kids who otherwise might not get the chance to read them. Lots of Luck and God Bless…
    Dave

  41. Very happy for you, I did think it was about a youngun coming along though. I can’t wait for that day, your blog won’t be the same – if we (readers) thought you had talent before, expecting a child of your own can only open up the pool of emotion that, as an author, you could describe so colourfully.
    Meanwhile, best of luck and I look forward to your next entry.
    A new dad
    Steve

  43. Congratulations Wil. You deserve this so much because you are an amazing writer and I will be one of the first in line to get your web design book.
    PS – Isn’t it cool that you have fans as Wil Wheaton the man/the author not just as Wesley the character on a TV show.

  44. Thats cool Wil, but I was looking forward to your return to Star Trek. Maybe you’ll co-star in Star Trek XI: The Search for the Voyage to the Undiscovered Frontier Insurrection.

  46. Congrats Wil, you deserve it.
    Any battle worth fighting is a battle worth winning, and you have fought long and hard to get where you are.

  47. Congratulations, at 442 post level, seems pointless. But, then I’ve never been one to pay attention to the point of anything. Life is strange and weird (and living in Hollywood -or close to it -makes life even weirder), but you’ve taken that life and made some sort bizarre sense to it. Get it on Amazon or Borders (I know, evil book empire, but I work for them part-time, and well, they’re not that evil. Unlike Barnes and Noble. Len Ridggio is Satan, or Santa) and I’ll buy it.
    Now, go rub it in Rick Berman’s face. May your God go with you.

  48. Congratulations.
    You are a very talented writer, You deserve all the success you get!
    I can’t wait to see you on the shelves of my local bookstore. 🙂

Comments are closed.

Related Posts

Recent Posts