Anne and I sat on the floor in our living room, while Two Zombies Later played on the stereo (which I’d rechristened as a Hi-Fi for this special occasion.)
A half-empty box of The Happiest Days of Our Lives was on one side of us, a shipping container on the other, a stack of envelopes between us.
"This reminds me of when we did Dancing Barefoot," I said, as I struggled to put a book into an envelope.
"Me too" She said.
The book caught on the corner of the envelope, and tore it. For the third time. I crumpled it and threw it down into a growing pile of failed attempts.
"Except I don’t recall it being this tough to get the books into the envelopes." I said, "or maybe I just have stupid fingers today."
Ferris walked into the room, flopped down onto the rug next to Anne, and rolled onto her back.
"Someone is very happy to be with us in the living room," Anne said. Ferris wagged her tail in agreement: Thump. Thump. Thump.
"Ahem." I said. "I believe you mean ‘the shipping department.’"
She smiled.
"I like doing this with you again," she said.
I successfully worked the book into an envelope.
"Fourth time is the charm, I guess," I said.
"Go you." Anne said.
I turned the envelope over, and stuck a shipping label on the front side.
"This one’s going to Portland," I said. "That’s cool. I like Portland."
I put it with about several of its brothers into a shipping box, on loan from the United States Postal Service. I know that it’s on loan, because every flat surface on the box reminds me of this fact, and warns me against attempting anything ‘unauthorized’ with it. I will admit to spending a considerable amount of time pondering what sort of ‘unauthorized’ mayhem this box and I could have together. I wonder what kind of go-kart or fort it could make?
"You know what I love?" I said.
"Me?"
"Yes. You know what else I love?"
"Ferris?"
Thump. Thump. Thump.
"Yes. You know what else I love?"
We shared an impish look. Before she could answer, I said, "I love it that each of these books represents a person out there in the world who wants to read something I’ve written. Sending one box to a bookstore is one thing, but sending these directly to readers feel so much more . . ."
"Awesome?"
"I was going to say ‘real,’" I said, "but, yeah, ‘Awesome’ works, too."
I looked around me. My beautiful wife, my awesome dog, a box of books — my books, that I created — waiting to find their way into the hands and homes of people who want to read them.
"Yeah. This is awesome."
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Absolutely! The first time someone who wasn’t a relative bought a piece of my glass it made me feel like my art was “real”. Sending stuff to a gallery is one thing…sending it off to a PERSON is a whole different level!
Well done, Wil!
Gary
(Owner of copy No. 7 of “Dancing…”)
Just imagine how awesome it would be if you where packing orders as far away as the UK!, wink, wink, nudge, nudge!, I know i’d pay postage. Maybe you could do a limited special edition (signed?) overseas order run to see what the demand was like?
That was sweet 🙂
Hey Wil… so when will the “autographed” copies be available? I mean… I could get off my skinny lazy ass and show up to an event, but that’d require you know… effort. I’d rather just pay for shipping and be surprised when I get mail that isn’t a bill.
Sooo… any date planned for the sale of autographed books via mail?
The signed, numbered, limited edition hardback will be available before the end of October.
I’ll announce it a couple of days in advance of the actual release, because I’m getting the sense that it’s going to sell out quickly.
Reminds me of my first all-night order-fulfillment-bedroom-becomes-shipping-department sessions last year, swimming in a sea of yellow self-sealing envelopes and Dymo label tape. Now I’m beginning to loathe that obligation, of course.
Though, two days ago I did package up and ship a few copies of my book that people pre-ordered, and that felt amazing. Sending out a handful of books was a lot better than sending out DIY kits 300 at a time ever did.
Are you trying to make me cry Wil Wheaton?! You’re pretty close…
Oh, and pretty darn cool, sweet, awesome and amazing!
P.S. Waaaay OT here, but there is a car dealership in the city I work called “Wheaton Pontiac Buick GMC”, and every time I see a licence-plate holder with the name, I think of you… yeah, really dumb, I know… but I’m a blond_
I ordered one and hopefully you didn’t get too many paper cuts along the way.
Wife, dog, autobiography …
I once commented that a friend of mine had everything he wanted in life. Wife, dog, antique pickup truck. For me it was wife, dog, roadster (S2000 for me).
Is it standard issue for guys to want a wife, dog, and one other thing?
It’s amazing how when you first start getting paid for doing something you really love, you feel like you’ve stolen something!!
I just wanted you to know, this was a very touching blog. I can’t wait until I have my time with my hubby, my dog, and my books. 14 months and counting…
Yay – can’t wait to get my envelope with real, authentic Wheaton Cooties ™… oh yeah, and what will be an awesome read, too.
Looking forward to receiving mine (I got the tracking ID email this afternoon) although I’m bummed it won’t be autographed. I’ll need an autographed copy as well to complete my collection (complete with domokun).
I actually enjoyed buying your book from Paypal and getting an e-mail that let me know you personally had shipped your book to me a bit more than getting “Just a Geek” and “Dancing Barefood” from Amazon. It felt more personal. So I’m thrilled to know that you enjoyed the process, rather than hearing that the extra work was annoying to you. Having Anne and Ferris be a part of the shipping process would obviously make it much more fun. 🙂
I can’t wait to read the book!
That was a very touching, read. I can actually picture you and Anne working together, and having that sweet moment.
I, too, am anxiously awaiting my copy in the mail. I just couldn’t wait for the hardback, although I will order that, in addition to the paperback. I wanted to read the book as soon as humanly possible. And it will sit proudly next to the Wheaton collection I have obtained. Sweeeeeeeeet!!
I dare anyone to read this post and not smile bu the end of it.
*by* the end of it, that is.
We bought our house from a retired postal worker.
When giving us the tour, he proudly showed off the ground-shrub seedlings he was growing in trays to transplant into the yard to replace the grass with.
They were postal service trays with the same ominous warnings.
I’m pretty sure gardening is not an authorized use.
Sadly, he took the trays with him when he moved.
So, how many books have been ordered so far?
I just finished listening to JAG: Teh Audiobook (Although mine is only 9 disks (8 regular and one bonus audio disk), not the 11 I keep hearing the audio book is supposed to be. I ordered the white label edition. Am I crazy? I digress…) and it’s really made me excited to read the new book. If possible you should really do audio recordings of The Happiest Days… and Dancing Barefoot. The stories take on so many more meanings when you read them aloud. I might sound kind of stupid for saying this, but listening to JAG for the past week or so has kind of been like having this cool guy hang out with me at work and at the gym, just talking to me and telling me about his life, you know? I don’t feel like I’ve been listening to an audio book, I feel like you were hanging out on the other side of my cubicle wall or something. You know, but not in a creepy kind of way or anything. The point is, I think your other books would be just as cool in audio version and if you’ve ever got some “free time” you should do it. (P.S. Did you ever made a Stand By Me commentary cd? Did I just miss it while I wasn’t paying attention? 🙂 )
Oh, and to actually say something about the post: What a very sweet mental image I got of the three of you in the living room packing books as a family. It’s good to hear you’re having fun.
Best,
angiek
Wil, can you say when the book will be available in Europe resp. Germany? Monolith says only US and Canada at the moment 🙁
Thanks,
Nicole aka Louffi
Sounds like you’re having a blast!! 😀
When are you going to start selling copies signed by Ferris?
Hey Wil,
That is so cool that you talked about this, it was this morning that I put my order in for the book. So who knows one of those may have been mine. If one was to Canada, thats totally mine!
You know whats cool though, I was debating whether I wanted to hold out on ordering to get an autographed copy or not. However, I don’t want my order to be determined by autograph or not. I want the book because you wrote it and I want to read it. And that’s all that matters.
Anyway, looking forward to my copy, so hopefully I’ll get it soon!
Wil,
do you ship to APO AP addresses? I need some new reading material out here.
I’m going to de-lurk and say that I am truly happy for you =) Congratulations!
LoudMusic asks, “Is it standard issue for guys to want a wife, dog, and one other thing?”
For me, I’m happy with “girlfriend, dog, one other thing”. That “one other thing” would ideally be a successful writing career, but I’m not fussy. I’ll know it when it comes.
I will grab this book eventually. I’m just waiting for the right time.
I had the same kind of feeling the first time someone bought a necklace from me online… they had no connection to me, nothing to gain from the purchase except a necklace. I bounced for an hour and a half.
And speaking of Portland… pleeeeeease come back up here for a reading… please! I’ll drag friends and strangers along to listen. Really…
Okay, so mostly strangers… the friends’ll drag me.
Portland likes you, too, Wil!
So excited..just clicked the buy the book button….so one of the Canadian orders you fill, after Snowball’s of course will be to me!
I hate that our bookstores did not carry any of your other books…you really need to come up to Canada and give them a stern talking to. (and do a reading while you are here of course!)
:::goes outside, sits & waits by mailbox:::
Hey, I’m in Portland…maybe that was my book you were packing! Hope it gets here soon…
Hope you’re going to make it up to Powells again for this one. They should definitely put you in the big store this time!
Kronda
Dear Wil,
Regarding that box on loan from USPS, it’s clear that you haven’t read the latest xkcd comic strip yet.
*snickers at xkcd* I loved that one. The mouse over line is the best.
Wil, it feels much more real (and awesome!) to us too. I second that it’s good to know it’s an enjoyable experience for you and not a burden. I also second waiting for the signed editions, even though my “reading” copy of the book is already on it’s way to my house. =D
*does a happy dance for you and Anne…and Ferris…and oh hell, for me too*
Hey Wil,
Get ready to ship one off to me in Canada….just bought my copy. 🙂
I wanted an autographed copy, but, well….I suck at waiting.
Now I will settle down and prepare for daily harassment of my mail carrier. *evil laugh*
Wil, you are awesome like a hundred billion hot dogs.
And if you know what that’s a reference to, your awesomeness factor will triple.
I can’t wait until I get your book (UK England) Though I had an idea. If at any point any of the books get damaged bend, crumpled or messed up, as long as the text is still good then feel free to sing it and send it. I will happily take a damaged cover, ripped dust sheet or whatever for a signed version.
Saves waste.
Can’t wait to read it mate.
Cheers
MrJuggles
Man, I would love to read your book, but I’m in Germany and it says that you only ship to the US and Canada at the moment.
I work as a flight attendant and it was planned that I had a flight to LAX over Halloween, so I was getting exited about getting the book then. And now I got “re-planned” and they took all my flights to the US. Now I’m flying to Tokyo, Beijing and Delhi instead. Well, I hope November brings me some LAX…
I’m eagerly awaiting my copy. Congratulations on the book sales.
It is amazing. The first time I ever sold one of my thoughts on a t-shirt (“If Bush can’t complete a sentence, why should Scooter have to?”), I called my s.o. and shouted “I’m rich, I’m rich, I’m rich” into the phone. I had made about $20 (less per hour than I had ever made in my life), but it felt like so much more. Because my thought had value to others.
I’ve been weeding my library. The books I picked up because I “might” want to read them, or maybe my kids will want them, or maybe the world will end and there’ll be no more books (Hey man, I NEED these books!!) — well, I just donated a few hundred of them to the local library. Now I’ve only got a hundred or so left. When I look at a shelf, I see a favorite, a friend, something to make me smile. Quality, not quantity, I get that now. And what all this silly mish mash boils down to? Wil’s books stay!
Awesome post, Wil.
Sweet….
Now where the heck is my book? 🙂
chuckles …. yeah …. “People are *paying* me for this!?”
The thrill never diminishes.
Oh and BTW (drops hint # gazillion), save a h/copy for the Antipodean OK? I don’t visit every day and would hate to miss out this time! 😉
Quick question, I am in LA for 5 days only in 2 weeks, anywhere I can pick up a copy of the new book? I have the other two and totally loved them!
Not doing any signings between the 22nd and the 26th are you? Am sure I could make it in between trips to Disneyland and Universal Studios!
First trip to the States… I can’t wait!!!
I loved this post. Really touching. I look forward to reading your book.
You’re a great guy Wil and after taking the time to read Monolith FAQ’s (prompted by Twitter) I unfortunately realise how difficult it would be to included everyone in the world with your book launch, being such a small company. I’m also getting the impression that we wont be included in the signed copies, I’m upset yes, but understanding also, enjoy the rest of your book packing…
Here’s an idea: I (and I’m sure lots of other people) would pay a premium to get all three of your books together, as an autographed set. What do you think? It doesn’t matter if they’re a mix of pb/HC, the autograph’s the thing!
Ordered book on 10/2 – still haven’t received it… damn media mail!!! What do I do now?