Author: Wil

J.D. “Illiad” Frazer, who does the insanely brilliant User Friendly has this to say about Dancing Barefoot:

For quite some time, the name and person of Wil Wheaton were equated with the Star Trek:TNG character of Wesley Crusher. Wesley was, by all accounts, deeply reviled by a significant portion of Star Trek fandom. This vilification carried over to Wil Wheaton the actor, and as I witnessed, was done with some glee.

This kind of behaviour is hardly uncommon in the world of entertainment. Art of any sort is often considered a pure reflection of the artist’s character instead of a demonstration of that artist’s depth and willingness to take risks. Of course, it’s far easier to follow the drooling mob in their demonization of someone than it is to carefully cull the rhetoric from the truth, and thus the less perceptive (or lazier) members of geekdom will by default refuse to even consider the idea that the actor behind Wesley Crusher is more than one-dimensional.

And I did say “geekdom;” this book proves that Wil is a geek through-and-through. He demonstrates through his prose his curiosity and that he is possessed of a quirky and often self-deprecating sense of humour. The five short stories in Wil’s book are strung together in an artful manner, giving the reader random glimpses here and there of a jigsaw puzzle that, when completed, deliver a clear picture of a complex artist with very common human feelings. The Wil Wheaton of Dancing Barefoot is a man who has learned hard lessons in humility, insecurity, sadness and joy, often at the hands of an unforgiving public. And yet, he clearly emerges from his experiences with greater strength and a greater understanding of himself.

It is an unfortunate irony that those who would most benefit from reading this book are unlikely to do so, as they are the same ones carrying the most prejudices towards Wil. On the other hand, those who understand the simple difference between an artist and his art will discover Wil’s stories are a delightful read, laced with a sentimental yet amused tone, written with both humour and dignity. Beneath all of it in quiet repose is an artist who genuinely wants to do what he was meant to do.

Dancing Barefoot isn’t just a book about a famous geek seeking answers to his own questions, it’s a lens with which we can all see the world of celebrity in a real light. Recommended!

Again, I am left speechless. I mean, it’s amazing enough that all these people like my book. But the fact that they are people I positively worship . . . it’s . . . well, sorry, mom, but I have to say it:

Yes!!
Around 10 this morning, UPS arrived with a shipment of 366 copies of Dancing Barefoot from my printer! I nearly cried when I opened the first box, and saw “By Wil Wheaton” right on the cover.
My wife took pictures while I signed the UPS thingy, which I’m debating putting up, because I had major bed head. 🙂
I am just totally overjoyed. I feel like . . . well, like a *real* writer. When Anne and I opened the first box, and I held those books in my hands, I felt light-headed and tingly all over.
“I am so proud of you,” she said, “you’ve worked so hard on this, and here it is!”
We started packing orders right away — but not until I gave her the promised first copy.
Packing was really fun. Here we are, with this really cool, professional website, and this big old business plan, and filing cabinets and accounting books, and pre-inked stamps and all that crap . . . sitting on the floor of our living room, in our PJs, filling orders. It was awesome.
We completed 100 before I had to leave to meet with some producers who are putting together a pilot that seems REALLY cool. The meeting went very well, and I’m excited as hell to work with them. I hope it all works out.
Here’s the crazy thing: the producers, who are very professional and CLEARLY know what they’re doing, contacted me because of my website! How awesome is that? They actually liked it that I am so honest and opinionated on this little chunk of 1’s and 0’s, and that fits right into the show they’re doing. I guess we’ll talk more about the pilot when I get back from Hawaii.
One last thing. I gave a copy to Ryan before I sat down to write this entry and he said, “Really? I get to have one?! COOL! I’m going to read it right now!”
He’s sitting on the couch behind me, reading some of it aloud (he’s in the story “Ready or not, here I come!”)and he keeps telling me how much he likes it. I totally feel like I’m going to cry because I’m so happy.
And now I am off to the post office to officially send out my first 100 orders, to the first 100 people who bought my very first book.
Yay!!

I’m doing some radio interviews tomorrow morning to promote Dancing Barefoot and Monolith Press. Here’s the lineup. All times are Pacific:

1. 6:10 WZZR/West Palm Beach with Josh & Lexxus
2. 6:20 WDCG/Raleigh with Bob & Madison
3. 6:30 WNCI/Columbus with Dave, Shawn & Jimmy Jam
4. 6:40 WGRF/Buffalo with Larry, Rob & Chris
5. 6:50 WQSX/Boston with Ralphie, Karen & Freddy

If you listen, I promise to do my best not to suck.

I totally hit three successive critical successes today, on my quest for The Golden Passport.
Critical Success the first: My mom found a copy of my birth certificate at their house, so I didn’t need to brave the Isle of Norwalk.
Critical Success the second: Though I was hit by someone’s evil Level 8 Create Traffic on the 10 Freeway, I successfully cast Change Appointment to 12:00!
Critical Success the last: I don’t know if I had cast a Charm Person on everyone there, or if I had truly walked into a lair of wonderful, kind, benevolent Government Employees . . . but every single person there was SO NICE!!! (nod to Teen Girl Squad).
I was stunned at how helpful, polite, patient, and reassuring everyone was.
The woman who processed my application was so great, I asked her if I could drop a note to someone, letting them know how kind she was, and she said — get this — “You don’t need to do that, I’m just doing my job. I’m glad I could help you.”
Can you believe it?!
And my iBook came back from Apple three days early, so I was able to pick her up today on my way home. My iBook is named “feynman,” but I call it a her. Is that weird? Sort of, huh?
I picked up a blogging book at the book store to use as a reference when I put the final touches on my class for the cruise, and . . . I’m in it!! I had completely forgotten that I’d done the interview, but it’s right there, and very funny, too. The book is called “Blogging: Instant Strategies for blah blah blah (if you wanna see the whole title click here.) The book is by Biz Stone, and it’s not only funny . . . it’s USEFUL too!
Oh, and one other really nifty thing that happened today: When I drove to my mom and dad’s house to get my birth certificate, I saw a sticker on one of those diamond-shaped, reflective yellow signs that means “Don’t drive here or you’ll regret it.”
It’s our Thought For Today:

“You are a beautiful person.”

When I read that, it put a huge smile on my face, filled me with joy, and I said, out loud, “Thank you, sign!”
Awesome 🙂

On the 29th, Anne and I are leaving for ten days to take a Geek / Trek Cruise in Hawaii.
I’m going to give a workshop on keeping a weblog, talk about how to set it up and all that stuff. It should be fun.
I’m also going to do all the Star Trek cruise stuff that I’ve done in the past: some Trek Q&A, pose for some pictures, sign some books (!) and all that.
I’ve been getting excited about it for the past few weeks, because I like cruises, I like Hawaii, and this will be the first time I’m appearing at an event as “Author Wil Wheaton,” instead of “That Guy Who Used To Be On TV: Wil Wheaton!”
So add up that excitement with the excitement I feel about my book, and I’m on another planet right now.
Yeah, another planet where I forgot that my passport (which I lost) has expired. This is a HUGE problem, because I need to have a passport for the cruise.