Liveblogging the hardbacks, and an open mic

ByWil

This is a big day for me, and a moment of truth: was I foolish to think that at least 300 people would want signed, numbered, limited edition hardbacks of The Happiest Days of Our Lives? I’m about to find out.

I feel the same way I do before a big poker tournament or extremely important audition: my stomach is queasy with excitement and apprehension, my hands are a little shaky, and though I’m hoping for the best, I have to be prepared — at least a little bit — for something less than the best.

Because this is an event for me, (and because I have to watch the server to make sure nothing goes wonky)  I’m going to live blog it for a little bit. I’m also going to do this thing Warren Ellis calls an Open Mic, since I’m going to be here anyway: In comments, feel free to ask me anything, and we’ll have one of those time-shifted discussions we sometimes have on blogs and message boards.

Live Blog!

11:56pm: Whoops. We threw the switch a little early. Someone must have been F5ing, because about a dozen orders went through in the first minute.

12:00pm: Okay, we’re on sale for real now! Orders are coming in as fast as I can count them. I see some familiar names in there, and that makes me really happy.

12:06pm: The first count has 65 to the US, 7 to the Canada, 3 to the the UK, 2 to the the Europe (it’s the final countdownnn . . .) and one to the Australia.

12:10pm: 80 sold so far. Anne says, "I honestly don’t know why you were worried so much." You’d think she’d know me better after 12 years.

12:15pm: I can hear a train whistle from the train yards about 20 miles away. It’s one of my favorite sounds, because it conjures up romantic images of a time when people traveled by rail.

12:17pm: I’m looking through the Romper Room magic mirror: I see Angie, I see Starshine, I see Clay, I see Alice, I see Bill, I see Chuck . . .

12:26pm: 100!

12:30pm: Secret Agent from SomaFM is the perfect soundtrack for this moment. It’s okay to feel happy and relieved and excited now, right? That’s not tacky, is it? I feel like we’re all sharing in something that’s incredibly special to me. Is that corny?

12:33pm: OH HAI APRIL! YOU CAN HAS BOOK!

12:37pm: This is a good time to thank Roughy, who did all the design work on Monolith Press dot Com, makes sure the server doesn’t barf all over itself, and keeps me sane in my moments of panic and doubt.

12:42pm: Nothing to add. I just liked that it was "42" on the clock.

12:51pm: From gabrielwalker:

300_hdool

12:56pm: This is going better than I ever dreamed.

1:03pm: My count may be off a little bit, but just about half of the hardbacks have sold in the first hour. I’m trading nervousness and apprehension for pure, unadulterated excitement and joy.

1:13pm: We’re having an awful lot of fun in the open mic. Well, I am, anyway.

1:19pm: Updated scoreboard, not counting eChecks and the few times PayPal doesn’t include an item number in the e-mail header: US – 111, Canada – 11, UK – 5, EU – 9, Australia – 3, Asia – 0.

1:24pm: From Clay:

1:28pm: Nolan just made himself a Dennis The Menace style slingshot, from a "Y"-shaped stick and some surgical tubing. It’s pretty awesome.

1:48pm: Looks like orders are slowing down a little bit, so readers who were worried about it selling out real fast should still have a chance to get copies in the next few hours. That’s pretty cool.

1:57pm: This is probably as good a time as any to share this review of The Happiest Days of Our Lives from Firefox News:

The nostalgic photos on the cover and the title might lead someone to
think he’s calling his childhood the happiest days, but if anything,
his book serves to show that the happiest days of his life are right
now.  As I said earlier, he’s madly in love with his wife and adores
his kids.  He’s discovered a love of writing and an enjoyment of
poker.  He’s run to raise money for breast cancer, he’s put the spirit
of Wesley Crusher to rest, and he’s found a purpose in life.  (Okay, he
also listens to "Mr. Roboto" in his car.  Nobody’s perfect.)

This
is a great book for anyone who was a kid in the 80s.  Trek fans might
get a kick out of the backstage looks at the Next Gen cast.  Me, I like
it for the reminder that things really have gotten better since I was a
kid, and it’s just a matter of knowing where to find the sunshine.

2:06pm: Well, it looks like things are winding down for today. I didn’t intend for this to be an "event" when I planned it, but it’s kind of turned out that way, which is awesome. This has been an incredible rush for me, and I get the sense that it’s been an awful lot of fun for everyone who wanted to get a signed hardback.

I think there will be a few people who check in a few hours from now, who will be pleasantly surprised to find that there are still some copies left. It was always my hope that I could balance the business realities of this limited edition with my desire to make as many people as happy as possible; I’m thrilled that everything seems to be working out for all of us.

2:08pm: The Firefox News review was Propelled by Starshine. Go vote, so we can Front Page that sucker!

2:21pm: Hey, you know what would be fun? A celebratory SNG at PokerStars:

Tourney number:67601545
Time: 18:35 EST
Game: NLHE
Buy-in: $20
Password: monkey
Bonus: $5 bounty on Wil.

2:31pm: This whole experience has reminded me how important the WWdN community is to me. I don’t quite know how to put it into words, so I’m not going to try.

2:49pm: We’re closing in on 200. This is probably a good time for me to get really sentimental and mushy, and thank you all for your support. I sincerely hope you enjoy this book, and you should all know that without people like the 300 (heh. I love that) there wouldn’t even be a Happiest Days of Our Lives, or anything else in the future, for that matter.

2:56pm: Dr. Pauly, Change100, Penner42 . . . holy shit, this poker tourney is a shark tank!

3:23pm: Book review only needs five more votes to Propel it to the front page.

3:30pm: I walk away for a few minutes to give Ferris a Kong in the backyard, and when I come back, I see that five more people have bought books. Awesome!

4:06pm: Yes! The book review hit the front page at Propeller! Thanks, everyone!

4:36pm: Somehow, I forgot to share this from Starshine, featuring 300 copies of The Happiest Days.

5:07pm: The poker tourney was a lot of fun. 11 players, and I made it to heads up with Dr. Pauly. I would have won, too, if it wasn’t for his damn runner/runner flush powers.

5:18pm: So I’m adding things up, and here’s how it looks right now: 177 orders from the US. 16 orders from the Canada. 11 orders from the the UK. 13 orders from the the Europe. 5 orders from the Australia/New Zealand. That works out to 217. There are also about twenty or so orders that I can’t easily search for in Thunderbird, because they’re eChecks, or because PayPal didn’t include the item number in the e-mail subject. I think it’s safe to assume that I’ve sold about 240 signed, numbered, limited edition hardback copies of The Happiest Days of Our Lives. If things continue the way they have, the remaining copies will probably sell out with the next 24 hours, if they don’t sell out over night.

This is a very big deal, and an important affirmation for me. The paperbacks haven’t sold on the same pace as Barefoot or Geek, and I was worried that for reasons I didn’t understand, a lot of people like to read my blog, but didn’t want to — or weren’t able to — support my writing efforts by buying my books. Today, however, tells me that a lot of you were waiting for something special, and all of you who are part of the 300, and that subset of you who participated in the open mic are part of something that was and is very special to me.

Maybe it’s corny to feel good about this, but I love the sense of community I feel here, and spending some time today with so many of you turned a cool day into an awesome day.

Self-publishing is hard. Making it through the media filter is hard. Just getting the damn hardbacks available for sale has been maddening. But today made it all worthwhile.

I’ve felt discouraged and frustrated lately, and I’ve been doubting whether or not I can make a living doing this. Today, you all showed me that, while it’s not going to be lavish, and it’s certainly not going to be easy, at least it’s possible.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the years, and to everyone who supported me today. I sincerely believe you’re getting something special and wonderful, and it’s very close to my heart. It’s not a stretch to say that you’re all getting a big part of me when you get one of my books, an even bigger part of me than the average audience gets when they watch or listen to me act.

Thank you all, most sincerely, for being a part of this, one of the happiest days of my life.

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250 Comments

  2. Wil,
    Open mic was a great idea. All of us were able to share in your excitement over the reaction to your book sale. So cool.
    I am pleased to be one of the Wheaton 300.

  3. I am so stoked to be part of the 300! Now if there was just a way to get signed copies of Wil’s other books! I want a complete set! (I don’t know why I’m using all exclaimation points!!)

  5. lol @ shewhobeatsass
    Although probably technically not possible, it would be too cool if us 300 had an icon next to our nicks in the blog…something akin to the TotalFark tag 😉

  6. That would be pretty cool. I mean, a bunch of people have snagged/yanked/yoinked the icon I made, so I guess that’s kind of our brand now…*squee a little*

  7. Wil,
    in response to your update from 5:18 PM…I don’t presume to speak for everyone here (although I rather think they feel the same), but it was an honor and a pleasure to help make this an awesome day for you. 🙂
    You’ve given us something special with this book, but you’ve also been giving us something special for years with your blog, at absolutely no charge.
    In my eyes, this is the very least I could do, and I still think I got the best of the bargain 🙂
    Yours,
    Tibbo

  8. Tibbo hit the nail on the head. We’re the ones that should feel honored, because you didn’t have to do this at all, and yet you did.
    Thank YOU, Wil, for today. It was, dare I say it, hawesome.

  10. I think my question kind of got lost in my long post above. I’m so wordy. I ordered Wil’s book very early (like five minutes before the real sale began). I used my credit card instead of my PayPal account. The site gave me a confirmation number, which (stupid me) I didn’t write down. I haven’t received an e-mail confirmation, yet. Has anyone else had that problem?

  14. jjdb210: I don’t mind if you order more than one. Quite a few people have gotten one for themselves and one as a gift.
    Cassandra:Well, shit. I hope there’s not a special guy who’s going to be upset that you got a book instead of something sexy.
    . . . though I hear that books can be sexy, too, if you wear them right. I haven’t quite figured it out, yet, though. I just look tubby.

  17. Wil – You may or may not have been informed by one of my bloggy friends that I’m on a campaign to get you to comment on my blog.
    You see, I’ve had this silly crush on you for, um, like forever. (Maybe since Stand By Me?) So now that I’m 35 and well past the age of teeny bopper crushdom, I thought I’d send you a fan message.
    Love your blog. Love your books. Just scored a signed, numbered limited edition of your new one. Thanks!

  20. Of course, I agree with Tibbo’s comments earlier (about your 5:18 update), but I just had to get my thoughts to you too.
    Wil, I am so glad to have been a part of the “Wheaton 300” group.
    It is an honor to know that I will receive a book that will be important to me as it is to you, perhaps for different reasons, but still very important. Just thinking about it… I realize that I will have a book you have spent such detailed time with to share with us. Then it hits me that you have added to it, because you will have given your finishing touch after print with your autograph in it and handling to ship. Wow! This may sound/read sappy, but it is truly meant. Every detail of your work adds to how special this book truly is. Thanks Wil! Keep blogging, writing and acting.

  21. Thanks, Wil. Yeah, this was kinda cool. Since you never seem to be at any signings/conventions near where I live, this was kinda like being at a virtual book signing. Sorta. Well, not really, but it was still pretty cool.
    Oh and…um…just because I’m paranoid, the ones who ordered at 11:56 — not that that was me or anything *whistles* — those went through, right? I just re-read your play-by-play and you made a comment about being “on sale for real” at 12:00. I’m thinking there’s nothing to worry about because my payment went through, but I just want to check.

  22. Woo Hoo! 7PM MST and Paypal says my order went through! I was so afraid I’d missed it! You see the thing is, my little brother got his arm stuck in the microwave, so my mom had to take him to the hospital… and my grandma dropped acid this morning, and she freaked out and hijacked a school bus full of penguins, so it’s sort of a family crisis — but my order went through! On a related note, I do believe I saw the NUMB3RS preview this evening for your episode! (which is what reminded me to get my arse over here to get a book!) Can’t wait!
    Sandy in Santa Fe

  24. Pizza! mmmm.
    Congrats on your hardbacks being a big hit, Wil.
    And thanks for solving the Last Starfighter mystery for me. I remember watching that movie really closely and still not seeing you in it. lolz.
    Oh, and if you felt like having some more impromptu sngs on Stars sometime, well, I wouldn’t mind. 🙂

  25. Tibbo, I liked your idea of it being “too cool if us 300 had an icon next to our nicks in the blog…something akin to the TotalFark tag ;)”. Great idea. It may not happen, but just thinking about it makes me feel special.
    Of course, still thinking about the “Wheaton 300″…. That would make a great t-shirt, don’t ya think?
    Just a thought.

  27. I managed to completely spaz out and forget about the sale!
    I think it was because of the acid that SandyB’s grandma gave me.
    Anyways – glad I could get in 6.5 hours later and still get a copy. Thanks again for just being an awesome individual and living up to your motto.

  29. shewhobeatsass, perhaps use the same font as the earlier graphics from gabrielwalker and Clay? (provided that Wil would be okay with that…..)
    In other words, call the screen printers.

  33. Never commented before, but I just want to say thanks for the signed copy. Add me to the list of people who purposely waited to pay extra for the book so you received compensation from me for all the free Wil Wheaton writings I get to read on the interweb. So glad I was able to get one.

  34. *laughs* Well, I kinda figured your hand would be raised.
    So that’s two so far, me and Kinikia. Anyone else? And does Wil want in on this at all? We could make him a “King Wilonidas” T-Shirt.

  35. Wil–Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!! I can officially call myself one of THE Wheaton 300!!!! I am really looking forward to reading your book! And, yeah, if anyone gets around to making the official “The Wheaton 300” T-shirts, I’ll buy one and wear it proudly because Wil Wheaton is not only a great writer, but also a truly hawesome human being. 🙂

  36. Congrats for you, but this sucks for me. 🙂 When you announced the date that you were taking orders, I knew I wouldn’t get one. I was scheduled to be in the air all day today, which I was. My first plane boarded before you were taking orders and my second one unloaded after you were sold out. Waaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!

  37. I’m in for 2 T-shirts.
    Now we can all have arguments via the Slashdot arguments about who has the lowest user ID; we can argue about who has the lowest numbered limited edition. 🙂
    The WWND market segment FTW!

  40. Only a mock-up, Angie, only a mock-up. There are a few issues with doing them:
    1) Me broke.
    2) As Wil mentioned already, he can’t legally give out the names.
    3) If it were a Cafe Press store, anyone could buy them, and this would really only apply to the 300 who bought the book.
    Besides, taking #3 into account, people would feel left out, and that’s not cool.

  42. Well, I knew I was going to be out, so I missed the open mic extravaganza (I love the “300” pics), BUT… I did have my dear hubby ready and waiting at 3:00 (EST) and he got me one as a Christmas present! HOORAY for me!
    I’m with Anne – I don’t know why you were worried… except that you seem to be a worrywart sometimes (see: PAX). I’m glad you’re feeling the love – and I bet that you’ll see more orders for the paperback coming in the next few weeks for the folks that were waiting for the hardcover but didn’t get a chance to order. So HOORAY for you, too!

  43. Like I told Russ yesterday, I’m not surprised at how quickly they sold, but that’s awesome.
    I know someone in Illinois who was likely the first to order. I hope he got a free copy.

  44. When thinking about touring could you seriously consider something in Western Canada plz! You know for a city with less than 1 million polulation Edmonton has a lot of Wil demands 😉

  45. *waves hands for a t shirt!!*
    the graphic idea is ubercool too… i had a lot of fun last night all- we must do it again sometime!!

  46. Considering how dorky-giddy I get when a handful of people look at one of my videos on YouTube, I think you’re thoroughly justified in getting very psyched about selling many many copies of a book you wrote. Rock on!

  47. well, life and unforseen disasters prevented me from even going near my computer yestarday. I’m happy for the lucky 300 that got books and really happy for Wil that this was so successful. I read about half way down this thread that there is hopfully a tour some what in the works or at least thought of. Wil mentioned about hopfully going to Montreal. Is there any possiblily that you might be swinging down to Torotno as well? Western NY, where I live, would be asking way too much, but I would move heavan and hell to get to Toronto to go to a signing – and then I could have a signed book too *Yays!!* ok…i know this is way down the line, but I thought I’d mention it. Have a happy Thanksgiving everybody in the US and have a great day to all international folks ^_^.

  48. All I gotta do is get some money together, which’ll take a while, and then we could do the t-shirts! In theory, of course.
    It would be a nice idea, seeing as how so many apparently want in on it…

  49. shewhobeatsass (love that, btw!), I left this comment on your site, but thought I would put it here too:
    “If you just have an “officially approved” logo (by King Wilonidas!), and distribute it to those who were the successful 300 (I’m not sure if I am, as I may have cut it too close and be one of the 24 rejects…), everyone could get it printed on a T-shirt themselves.
    Usually around this time of year, those printing places show up in malls – you now, the ones where you take in a picture (or pictures) and they put it on mugs, mousepads, calendars and T-shirts for you?”

  50. Kristina, that is not a bad idea. In fact, that’s a VERY good idea! Now all we need is a graphic!
    ARTISTS, TO YOUR STATIONS!!
    (Oh, and thanks for the screenname love!)

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