I wanted to have something new and cool to show off when I went to the Grand Slam Sci-Fi Summit back in March, so I worked like crazy and made a very limited edition chapbook called More Than This, which is a few stories from the Do You Want Kids With That? manuscript (which is a book similar to Dancing Barefoot, but all about stepparenting.)
I wanted it to be something really cool and worth having, so in addition to three stories that I really like, I asked Ben Claassen to do an illustration like the ones he did for Dancing Barefoot, and I asked my stepson Ryan if he’d write a foreword. Luckily for us all, they both agreed, and the result is really cool, if I say so myself.
I only made 200 of these books, and sold 51 58 of them at the convention. Since I gave Ryan and Nolan numbers one and two respectively, that means there are 147 140 left in the whole entire universe, including the far off Dangot (that’s pronounced "dang-oh," not "dan-got," which you may have heard) Nebula.
I was only going to make 100 for the convention, but it didn’t cost that much to increase the run to 200, and I figured that I’d be able to offer whatever was left on this here website.
See where I’m going with this? I knew ya did!
If you’d like to pick up one of these limited-edition chapbooks, you can use the "Buy Now" button below. I’ll sign the chapbook to whomever you want, and number it by hand with my very favorite squishy-handled pen. I’ll keep this offer up as long as I have books, and of course I’ll refund any orders that come in after they’re all gone (assuming they sell out.)
One last thing: in the writing and editing process of Do You Want Kids With That?, my editor and I have come to the conclusion that it probably doesn’t work as a full-length book (long story) but will almost certainly work very well as a 60-minute audiobook. So it’s quite likely that this will be the only way you can get your hands on this material in any sort of book form.
If you’re interested, here are the details:
More Than This – A Personalized, Autographed Chapbook by Wil Wheaton, featuring a foreword from my stepson Ryan.
Length: 20 pages.
Price: $25.00 (includes shipping)
Please allow 3-5 weeks for processing and shipping. At this time, I can only accept domestic US orders (international
shipping is a real bitch for a small time operation like mine, and I
have to increase the costs quite a bit to justify the extra time and
work. Sorry.) If you have questions, put them in comments, so I can sort of FAQ it up. Thanks.
UPDATE: As of 8:30 PM PDT, there are just 75 left. 74 left (I thought I should probably set one aside for my mom.)
UPDATE AGAIN: As of 9:38 PM PDT there are just 32 left. Wow.
UPDATED AGAIN AGAIN: At 11:05 PM PDT, there are only 11 books left.
UPDATED ONE LAST TIME: It’s 11:44 PM PDT, and all the books have
been ordered, so I’m going to bed now. I’ll start processing orders
tomorrow after breakfast. Thanks to everyone who placed orders!
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This is the perfect birthday gift from my daughter to my husband, her stepdad. The order is on its way to your mailbox! Thanks, Wil!
Sweet! I can’t wait to read it
I am so in!!! I’m so excited. I don’t suppose you’d care to autograph it, would you?! (Sorry the fan-girl in me made me ask that.)
This is great Wil. Thanks for keeping us in the loop!
Wil, could you give us a quick run down on how you publish a chapbook? I’m curious.
Thanks!
If you autograph them i will take one
First support question for the WIl Helpdesk:
Hi Wil, I just purchased the book through Paypal, and I’m one of those pesky international customers, however, I’m going home to the US this summer, and at any rate, so I went ahead and paid, and added my parent’s address in the US.
I realize that makes the address different from my home address, but I took a risk that maybe you’ll have mercy and trust a fan. 🙂
Is that ok, or no is it no international sales at all, no matter if you have a friend or relative in the US. The US address is my home address… at least according to my voter’s registration card. 😉
Uh Wil, you can ship orders internationally very cheaply through the USPS. Global priority to Europe gets there in about a week and is about $10.50 for a one pound item, $11.50 to Australia, $12.75 to South Africa — all pretty cheap for so far away. Best of all, you can print up the labels youself through the usps.com website . . . no need to go to the post office.
– kbj
Hey Wil, any chance maybe you can open up for Canada? My bank account is itching to purchase this one.
Will you have any books available at E3 this year? And where would one be able to find you to say hi if one were to be a (hopefully) not creepy stalker?
Thanks!
Wow, these are going fast — almost 40 in under two hours. At this rate, they’ll be sold out by morning. That’s really, really cool, and I hope all of you who picked one up will be happy with the purchase.
Questions:
1. I can’t ship internationally because of the time and hassle involved in filling out customs declarations. I *should* be able to just send it as bound, printed matter, (I was able to so this with the first printing of Dancing Barefoot) but the rules seem to have changed, and the post office wants me to fill out all sorts of paperwork for every item that goes overseas. This is a moderate pain in the ass for one or two items, but when it gets up to ten or more, it’s a HUGE pain in the ass. And I’d love to send them to Canada, but apparently NAFTA only applies to huge multi-nationals, and not to little guys like me, because the same annoying and time-consuming restrictions apply.
2. Of course, every book will be autographed and personalized to whomever the buyer wants. There’s a little box in the order form to handle that.
3. I’m only going to E3 on Wednesday, but I’ll be on the GameSpy radio thing with David Lawrence around noon, so you could theoretically come over where we’re recording and say hello.
4. Plainsong: I can ship to any domestic US address, even if you order from outside the US, so you’re good.
Thanks, everyone!
Thanks Wil! I wrote out the shipping instructions in the Sign to box, so you don’t have to include that in the autograph… unless it strikes you as the appropriate thing to say of course. 😉
Crap. I ordered one, but I forgot to fill out the little form for personalization in the box when I ordered.
Is there a way to edit it and add my personalization or should I email you?
Sorry! 🙁
I’m saddened that us Canadians can’t get a copy of this :'(
Hi!
Regarding “Ya Want Kids w/ That?”:
Actually — as a member of your target demographic (?) — I disagree with the decision to not release it as a small paperback. Seems like it would be in the vein of Paul Reiser’s “Couplehood” and “Parenthood” books — both quick little paperbacks.
Personally, I’d buy a copy of a paperback that was the same size as “Couplehood” — but I’m adverse to books-on-tape (sorry!), and thus **wouldn’t** buy in that medium. Depends on your target demographics, I suppose (mp3 it for the iPod crowd?).
I read in bed for 0.5 – 1.0 hrs. nearly every night — but prefer listening to music in the car.
Dual release? Or at least, do a small run.
Thanks!
–Gye Greene
Ah…my two weaknesses – chapbooks and Bill Murry references. I’ve bought at least one, maybe two since I thing I screweed up the shipping address on the first one.
Wil, if you haven’t already you should check out my main chapbook dealer (in a junkie sense)- James Blalock, he lives out in your area.
Oh! If I did buy two, sign one (what with the squishy pen) “To Mellani”.
Finished reading Just A Geek and loved it, so I can’t believe the timing of the release of this chapbook. I was so meant to have one. Thanks, Wil!!
I just totally messed up my paypal payment. Well, not so much the payment, as I didn’t indicate the “sign to.”
The order was to Emma Abraham in Chicago, although I *would* have had you sign it to my mother, who admired you, she passed away just over a year ago. So, in a way, it’s still my mother’s day present to her, but it’s to me, and if you would sign it to “Emma”, I would appreciate it.
Just bought a book, but at the rate you described them as selling, I hope I get one! I loved Dancing Barefoot and Just A Geek, and I’m sure I’ll love this, too. I’ll buy from you in whatever medium you decide to sell. Thanks for offering it to us!!
Shauna
I’d like to agree with Gye Green in that I was really looking forward to reading “Do You Want Kids with That?” and it’s very unlikely that I’d buy an audiobook. That said, I understand that a book release is probably crazy expensive. Although I’d welcome some sort of limited edition book release. Don’t know what the expense of that would be, but I’d buy one!
>> the post office wants me to fill out all sorts of paperwork for every item that goes overseas.
If you ship Global Express or Parcel Post, then yes. If you ship Global Priority, the customs declaration CN 22 is printed out right on your shipping label. It’s literally a cut and paste job on their website when filling out the shipping address —
Item: Other
Quantity and Description: 1 Book
Weight: 1 lb. 0 oz
Value: $25.00
Total Weight: 1 lb, 0 oz
Total Value: $25.00
Your USPS account number is your signature.
And that’s it, no additional labor involved. Makes it really easy for me whenever I ship out stuff less than 4 lbs. I print out the label, tape it on the box, hand it to my mail carrier, and I’m done.
– kbj
I sent this in an email, but just in case… I put my full name in the “sign to” box because I got confused. Unless you’re feeling a particular need for that sort of formality, just “Christina” would be great.
And I agree with the previous poster who said that a short paperback would’ve been just fine. I’m sure I’ll enjoy the audio book version, too (which reminds me, I still haven’t ordered the JAG audio version… hmmm… I think I know what I’m asking for for my birthday!). There is a pleasure in reading the stories, though – it feels like you’re discovering them yourself, somehow. It’s cool when your words alone can paint a picture or conjure a feeling. But then, that’s why we come here! So I welcome other formats, too.
— Christina
Aaawwwwwwww no shipping to Canada?!
:'(
Even if you’ll be in Montreal?!?! 😀
I could always pick up my copy then! 😀
Lemme know if that works, I’d love to have a copy of this jewel!
Thank you for saving me a copy. Somehow, I think you know it, but in case I haven’t mentioned it in a while, I am soooo proud of you and the man/father/son you are becoming.
love, Mom, your mom…really
If there is any left come early Thursday Morning (Yeah that’s really going to happen)I’ll gladly pick one up. If not would you consider doing a second run? For us fan boys(hum…Fan MEN….does not have the same ring to it.) who have very poor timing when it comes to disposable income.
Sorry, towers16, but the whole point of limited editions is that they’re limited, so I can’t do a second run.
Once this little chapbook is in the hands of readers, though, if the feedback is positive enough, I may do a few different limited-run chapbooks in the future.
Oh oh oh, so exciting! Can’t wait to read it!
Hey Wil, I’m really glad I checked my blog subscriptions today so I could order before you sold out. Looking forward to reading, assuming I placed my order in time!
For you international folks, assuming you trust J. Random Stranger on the Intarwebs (but located in the US), send email to my name @ gnosh.net and I will buy a book and forward it on to you for cost.
aaaaaa
so that’s what I get for not coming online all day..
Sold out, dag nabbit
damnit, sold out! Curse my need for sleep! You gotta offer these things earlier in the day for us east-coasters, Wil.
Please consider finding a printed alternative for “Do You Want Kids With That?”; price is almost literally no bar (for me). I check your site as part of my morning ritual at 0430MST, thus I missed the chapbook. I don’t like audiobooks because no one reads out loud so fast as I do to myself and there’s nothing else one can do while listening to a book, unlike the simple ability to listen to music while reading. I own Dancing Barefoot and Just A Geek, I enjoy all your writing, and I want to add another piece to my collection. I know, however, that if I’ve never been able to listen to Shelby Foote read from his own Civil War masterwork (I’ve had the tapes for over 10 years) I’ll probably never be able to listen to you either.
Thanks for the Roxy Music reference first thing in the morning – now I gotta dig out my Best Of CD and bring it into work. It will definately set the tone – along with the ever popular “London Calling” – for my “Pre-E3 Hysteria” day.
Now I’ve got Virginia Plain stuck in my head…
Hi,
You should thnk about maybe going to POD priting. It is cheaper, the quality is the same, and with the right service you can get your stuff all over the world.
Our first anthology can be seen at http://www.simianpublishing.com/catalog.html
I don’t know if you are into writing fantasy, but the guidelines for our next anthology is at http://www.simianpublishing.com/guidelines.html
Aargh! I’m another one that checks your blog first thing in the morning, so I completely missed out on this opportunity. Although I’ve enjoyed your “podcasts” (since as yet they haven’t required an actual iPod…), I would REALLY prefer that “Do You Want Kids With That?” be offered in a hard copy format. I have both of your other books, and while audio books have their place, they are not a replacement for hard copy any more than e-books are. There’s no substitute for the printed page. (Especially since there is no possibility of putting illustrations in an audiobook…)
I wish I could have an opportunity to have my current books signed, but as I live in Colorado and don’t get to California, it doesn’t look like that will ever happen. Sigh…
I would like to add my request for another print run of this book. Insight Communications, the local cable modem company, has had their network down for the last 5 days for unannounced upgrades. So I don’t have internet access except at work, and I missed the entire ordering period.
To add emphasis to this request, I missed getting a first edition of Dancing Barefoot. I ordered one from Amazon, who a month later (after the direct copies from Monolith Press were gone) then said that they didn’t have any copies after all.
Failing getting more paper copies out, if the audio book version could please contain all the material in the printed version (including the foreward), that’d be really cool.
Thanks a lot,
Craig Steffen
Man! Talk about a bad time to be without the Net! I too was without Net and I would like to add my request for a second run or maybe .pdf download?.
Reminder to self – Get Wi-Fi implant so not to miss Wil’s blog again.
How about Radio Free Burrito episodes containing readings from the book, or maybe just a portion of it? Maybe the narration can be followed by some original afterthought or reflection…
Looking for compelling RFB content? It’s right under your nose. I’d gladly monopolize my company’s bandwidth to download it!
I love mine! I picked it up at the Grand Slam from some guy with a scruffy goatee. But I needed it – which was confirmed by the author!
Hi! I was listening to Connecticut NPR yesterday and there was a pretty fascinating interview with a woman who put together a book of essays by step parents and step children who talk about their experiences. If anyone wants to listen to it, you can hear it online.
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wnpr/arts.artsmain?action=viewArticle&sid=15&id=911727&pid=173
Could you release it as an eBook? Or perhaps as a simple insert to the audio book version? Personally, I like to read along when I’m listening to someone read.
Congrats on selling out! I’m sorry I didn’t get one. But I also really enjoy your performances of your books, so I’ll look forward to that.
On an entirely unrelated subject, I have to tell you … in person, the guy in this link looks so much like you, it’s mezmerizing. If he ever does anything worth making a bio – pic about, you’re totally in! I’ll hope for something really juicy and controversial so it’s a good part, but don’t hold your breathe.
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4239&SessionId=42
Congrats on selling out! Umm … selling all your books, I mean. That didn’t come out right …
I’m sorry I didn’t get one. But I also really enjoy your performances of your books, so I’ll look forward to that.
On an entirely unrelated subject, I have to tell you … in person, the guy in this link looks so much like you, it’s mezmerizing. If he ever does anything worth making a bio – pic about, you’re totally in! I’ll hope for something really juicy and controversial so it’s a good part, but don’t hold your breathe.
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4239&SessionId=42
Oh, and … Hi Wil’s mom! Good job!!
Oh! Party foul. Sorry for the double post.
Damn, I go to work for 24 hrs come back to read one of my favorite sites and find I just missed the opportunity to have your awesome chap book. You need like some cool email alert or mobile alert when your going to do that kinda thing (for those of us who are too busy during a work day to get to a computer.) As disappoinment sets in for the chapbook, I can look forward to the audiobook I hope. Have a great day!
So why don’t you make a PDF file for downloading for your int. fans.
You could sell it on like the mp3 file of JAG.
Greetings from Germany.
no copies for canadians!! BAH
*sigh* figures Id see this the day after. dangit =*(
Sandies Stoopid Questions: If Im ever actually around at a time when I can take adcantage of one of these deals, what/where is the official ordering link/email?
Was there an inter-post link that was removed after you sold them all, or something else?