I’ve grown a lot as a writer since I wrote Dancing Barefoot, but I still look back on it with extreme joy, because it was such an exciting and uncertain time for me.
This is where it all began, really, and though I’d really like you to actually buy a copy, I agree with Cory Doctorow when he says that obscurity is a greater threat to artists than piracy. So if you ever wanted to see how I started out, and see some wonderful illustrations by Ben Classen, without ever leaving the comfort and security of my blog, Google has made that possible with some nifty embeddable code that lets us put selections from Google Books (like this one) on our blogs.
Caveat: it appears that only a portion of Barefoot is available here, though I was able to page thorough most of it at the actual site. Oh well, it’s the thought that counts, right?
[via lifehacker]
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That’s funny that you post this, ’cause I just bought a copy.
Of course, I do better reading things in hardcopy anyway, and it’s hard to get you to sign electrons… 🙂
-kat
Hey Wil, try using Scribd. Better reader and embeddable like the Google thing.
Thank you for sharing, Wil. I really need to get my own copy of all your publications, but with this one I just love the fact you wrote them after your 30th birthday. I have after-30 writings too, somewhere … *sigh* I should do something with them.
Dancing Barefoot is a great book and it is so cool that you are putting it out there- not just because of the ways that it can benefit you – but because it can benefit others.
There are a lot of us out there- middle-age-ish dads, and moms. We grew up in those times and while we weren’t on the cast of STNG, we watched it. And we’ve got the same types of dreams and fears and doubts and hopes.
I was incredibly impacted by the book. It really encouraged me to just step out and do some things- not because I’ll get famous or rich but because I loved doing it, I’m proud of what I created and it gives me joy just to know I did it.
Hopefully I’m not coming across too fanboyish but of your three books that one hit me the hardest. It was just so different from anything else I’ve read. The others are really good too, but that little volume is of great importance to me and I’m glad for anything that makes it more available to everyone out there.
I already have a copy of Dancing Barefoot and i love it!! As much as i enjoy and indulge in reading on the internet you can’t get better than the real thing! 🙂
Still awsome that you’re on Google books though! As a uni student i find myself on there many times when i can’t afford to buy the book itself!
Happiest days needs to go on there cause that’s the one that i can’t get hold of at the moment and would LOVE to read!
Hmmm…
“Here… heve all my drugs. Oh. Oops, my bad. I hope you aren’t hooked now, cuz all I had was this little taste after all.”
LOL, nicely done 🙂
I just bought Happiest Days, can’t wait to read it. I’ll be ordering the others shortly. Any chance you’ll be in the Midwest soon? I’d like to stalk you (and have you sign the books), but I can’t really afford to travel to L.A…
Hmmm…
“Here… have all my stash. Oh. Oops, my bad. I hope you aren’t hooked now, cuz all I had was this little taste after all.”
LOL, nicely done 🙂
I just bought Happiest Days, can’t wait to read it. I’ll be ordering the others shortly. Any chance you’ll be in the Midwest soon? I’d like to stalk you (and have you sign the books), but I can’t really afford to travel to L.A…
I have copies of all three (it is just three, right?) of your books – posted about at least one of them at my book/reading blog Bibliotica dot com.
Sadly, I haven’t actually read The Happiest Days of Our Lives, because my mother was visiting when it arrived several months ago, and took it home to Mexico with her. She says I can have it back if I visit, but she just book paying guests in her guest house during the weekend I had in mind.
In any case, I like reading some stuff in digital format, and it’s cool that it’s available that way, but…actual paper is better for people like me, who read in the bath.
(Also, have just realized that I have you to thank for the fact that I read Stephen King’s ON WRITING).
Have you considered making this available via Amazon Kindle? I got one for my birthday, and would love to add your work to my device! It’s a way for you to get paid while people read your books electronically, too.
Google Book Search is okay, but I like the YUDU Library a whole lot more.
Dancing Barefoot looks great and (if I can say so without being too sappy) inspires me in my own writing. Thanks for sharing.
BTW, I really like this blog. I’ve been reading a feed of it for months, but never registered to comment.