in which i learn to count, and slashdot reviews Happiest Days
I just did a recount of the limited edition hardback oversells, and my count from Sunday was way off. I didn’t oversell by 24, I only oversold by 6!
While this still sucks for six people, it sucks considerably less for eighteen people, who lived in an eigenstate of suck for the last 36 hours or so. Of course, those eighteen people won’t know they were a cat in a box until they get their books, and see a number between 282 and 300.
Some of you will be getting shipping notices shortly, if PayPal can get its shit together. It’s been infuriatingly wonky this morning. International customers won’t get confirmations, because I have to process your orders manually, but your books are also shipping at the same time.
Speaking of The Happiest Days, it got a very nice review at Slashdot:
Where once it seemed as though Wil had something to prove in his
writing – that he was over showbiz, that he was over Star Trek –
Happiest Days is full of simple stories. The day he bought a Lando
Calrissian action figure essentially by mistake, a simple outing for
ice cream with his sons; they’re everyday events but artfully told. In
total he has about thirteen short tales in the chapbook-sized novel,
ranging from just two pages long to a few dozen.Some of his most evocative stories (and the reason this review is here)
are all about Wil’s growth as a nerdling. The most evocative for me was
the chapter ‘a portrait of the artist as a young geek’, which details
Wil’s introduction to tabletop roleplaying. From his first brush with
the infamous ‘red box’ D&D set at Christmas 1983, to his experience
teaching his kids how to roll up characters under the 3.0 rulesset, the
story reminds me (and may remind you) of a D6-laden past.And really, that’s what Wil makes this a book about. It’s about his own
past, his troubles, his triumphs, but in reality this is meant to be a
book that reaches out to you as a reader. If you see something of
yourself in the kid who agonized in the toy aisle, if you see something
of yourself in the dad who argues with his kids over the radio station
(and rocks out to 80s synth-pop), then the purpose of the Happiest Days
has been fulfilled. Or at least, as I see it.
I’ve vowed that I won’t play Rock Band until I get at least half the 300 processed, but now that Slashdot is sending people to Monolith Press, I have extra incentive to get them all processed, so we can start taking softcover orders again. PayPal is making that as difficult as possible, with the timeouts every goddamn two minutes, but if the server blots out the sun with arrows, I shall process orders in the shade!
Uh . . . yeah. if I may take a page from Lloyd Bridges in Airplane, I picked a bad day to sleep in.
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Nice review of the book just went up at slashdot. I expect that should generate a lot of interest.
Eigenstate of suck… well played Mr Wheaton. Well played indeed.
you are totally cool!!!
/.’d
http://books.slashdot.org/books/07/11/20/2013229.shtml
Heh, I’m curious why you’re still using PayPal after the Canadian currency snafu. That site’s adequate for a business amateur or eBay’r. 😛
The Canadian currency snafu? Ginger? What do you mean? The fact that the Canadian dollar is worth more than the American green back because of our stronger, more stable, economy? That some countries are considering going with the Euro rather than the green back because of its low value? Is that what snafu means in your world?
*Delights in Wil’s success*
You should also have extra incentive to
Rock on Wil!
Mad Monk: I think Ginger was referring specifically to the problems Wil was having with Paypal, and not trying to use Wil’s blog for her own off-topic, unwanted economic/political ranting.
Be honest Wil, have you gotten any bad reviews? (Just curious)
Wil, will this book be open for purchase at Amazon or anywhere else? I want one but am a little apprehensive about purchasing if Paypal is giving you such grief.
Eventually, this will be available on Amazon and I hope Powell’s. The financial reality of self-publishing (for me, at least) dictates that I handle a whole bunch of orders myself, so I don’t give a huge cut to a distributor or a reseller. I’m getting close to the point where it makes sense to try and expand the market via channels like Amazon, though.
Mr. Lizard: I haven’t read any bad reviews, yet. It’s pretty weird, actually.
Eventually….so I should probably purchase one through YOU if I want it by Christmas? Thanks! 🙂
Goddammit, PayPal is REALLY pissing me off. It’s timing out nearly every time I try to page through my history, so I can’t print out and track international orders. Hooray for PayPal once again bringing my business to a screeching halt.
Is it only international orders that it’s screwing up?
It turns out I was a dead cat, a very bummed dead cat.
Damn. Instead of being one of The 300, I’m one of The 6. I had a feeling this would happen. Should have followed my instincts and set my cell phone alarm. At least I know the refund system works at PayPal. Can’t wait until the paperbacks are available again so I can at least have one of those. Any more Vegas trips planned, Wil? I actually live there (wouldn’t recommend it, though) and would love to be able to get a THDoOL paperback signed in person(maybe my copies of Barefoot and JAG too?). Even though I missed out, I’m so happy for you. Good job.
Grats on the review, Wil, you deserve every word of it! Well, except for the part about the cost. Personally, I think that paying $20 is a pittance when you’ve personally packed and shipped these yourself. That personal touch is priceless in my book.
Btw, wasn’t sure if you were aware, but MC Frontalot’s going to be in your neck of the woods tomorrow night at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood. I saw his show here in Denver on Sun. night and it was fantastic. Celebrating the review with a little nerdcore seems appropriate!
Powell’s, eh? I was wondering about that the other day. Might it help to call them and inquire about its availability?
Bravo amigo!
“an eigenstate of suck”?
Yes, but that’s only for very large values of ‘suck’. As one of the previous “Wheaton 24”, and a cat-lover, I’ve renewed hope for the delivery of a live cat. If I turn out to be one of the “Wheaton 6”, well, ‘if science teaches us anything, it teaches us to accept our failures, as well as our successes, with quiet dignity and grace.’ (extra points if you can name the movie & the speaker)
Sandy in Santa Fe
*pouts* now I know what I”m not getting for Christmas. Maybe I can talk hubby into the softcover but he usually doesn’t buy until the week before, for your mind I hope you are sold out of that too.
Hey Sandy B in Santa Fe: Young Frankenstein, Gene Wilder as Dr. Frankenstein. (All funny accents must be imagined.)
🙂
Just got home to see a refund from Paypal in my email. Aw, dang… I’m one of the six rejects… but as I said before, I will console myself with the paperback I already purchased, along with Wil Wheaton’s signature on the customs declaration form to (the evil) Canada… next time!!
Lolita – She’s quick, she’s funny, she makes me lots of money, Lichtenstein! – oh, sorry, got off on a different movie tangent there. Right you are, girlie-o!
What hump?
SandyB
Yeah, I had no doubt you’d sell out in a day – it was only 300 copies, Mr. Modest. 🙂
Still grinning a day later that this was such a fantastic experience for you as well as such a ripping success.
I’ve also got good news as well: the Court took pity on our meager finances and are not going to put my wife in jail for unpaid child support (we’ve been falling behind…maybe a payment every other month or a little more often) so that means she’s going to be able to watch you on Numb3rs on Friday!!!
*happy dance*
It really woulda been cool to get a signed hardcover tHDoOL, but as I said earlier, meager finances, and also we were a little busy yesterday… can I pre-order a signed of your *next* book now? 😀
I think I’m the only one of the 6 not to post – let’s fix that right now.
Does this make us cooler because we’re more exclusive?
Dan, quite possibly more elite, but not *nearly* as cool. 🙂 Sorry tho, that’s gotta suck being one of The 6. If I knew ya personally, I’d share (being one of the 300.. and trying to not be gloaty lest Wil decide that I more deserve to be in The 6, and move my order. 🙂 )
“Eighteen people who live in an eigenstate of suck for the last 36 hours or so.”
For crying out loud, they can always buy it at the half price off store where I first bought “Dancing Barefoot”.
Congratulations on the success of your book! To combat the sold-out status and headaches of self publishing, have you considered using someone like lulu.com? It’s free, and it might help you get your words out faster. Let someone else deal with the pain of paypal. 🙂
Well…that figures..I have to go out of town for business and you sell your HC the same week. Congrats on selling out…I was hoping for a HC but I guess I’ll have to wait and see if you do another printing. Hint, hint…nudge nudge…
Jeff
Beyond Ken, no one here is going to give up their hard fought for copy of a signed, hand-numbered, limited edition run of this book (you couldn’t pry it from their cold, dead hands!), so we will not be finding any copies in the second-hand book store for at least 50 years; therefore, those of us who missed out are totally out of luck unless Mr.Wheaton decides to do a second printing (which is most unlikely considering how much work this has all been for him). So yes, it was a “an eigenstate of suck for the last 36 hours or so”!
(Excuse the run-on sentance – it’s almost time for bed…)
And Dan, absolutely!
Yeah! What she said! (thanks, kristinalead)
I for one, would be most willing to pay the price for a second go round of this edition. just a subtle hint laid out quite thick. regardless, looking forward to the paperback..will make a great addition to the collection of the fantasticness that is wil 🙂
I think the Wheaton 6 should get cake. I’ll buy. It’s delicious. And moist.
(Oh, it’s going to be so hard to let go of the “the cake is a lie” thing. I’ve started mumbling about it at my job. My officemate already thinks I’m odd so it’s nothing new to her but still… 🙂 )
P.S. Now I want to play Rock Band.
“…who lived in an eigenstate of suck for the last 36 hours or so.”
In my nerdiest comic-book guy voice, ‘Best Line Ever!’
Anyone care to demonstrate their child like impatience and excitement by attempting to determing their book number based on transaction ID or tracking number? Is it even possible?
The “Wheaton 6”
I like sound of that. The could form a band or something….. or at least get cake.
I’m one of The 300. And a friend of mine won’t know she’s one until she opens her Christmas present…
mmmmm cake. Now I know what I want for breakfast.
Great review. Now, the wait to see if I’m in the 18….
And still hoping you will someday comment on my blog. I think this is Day 4 of the campaign.
Propelled!! I’m glad I got my order in early, because this book is a hit!
Hey Wil…Don’t want to steal your thunder, but your interview with GeekDad is up today.
http://blog.wired.com/geekdad/
Just downloading it now….
Congrats on the book! Love the site and love that you’re doing it your way. Now, off to look up the meaning of “Eigenstate”.
BTW, per your request, I’m notifying you that I’ve linked to you. And since I know your not busy, I’m sure you will hurry over to read my “Ode to Wil Wheaton”.
It was a good book.. I’m glad I bought it.. and I wish I’d waited for the signed hardcover.
Of course, those eighteen people won’t know they were a cat in a box until they get their books, and see a number between 282 and 300.
And by saying that, you’ve made 300 people cats in other boxes. Stop observing things! No… Wait. Don’t stop observing things!