A sharp-eyed Amazon-watcher just emailed to let me know that my next book, A Virtual Love, has been listed and is available for pre-order. Now don’t worry, this isn’t a sales pitch – I wouldn’t ask you to go and order a book about which there’s no information, not even a cover photo. I just mention it because it’s interesting how the listing of the book online makes it feel more real for me. The thing hasn’t even been edited yet, and it’ll be six months at least before it is anything like finalised, and yet it exists in some form.
It reminds me that the good people at Legend Press are doing something after all. I sometimes imagine that when I don’t hear from them for a while, they’re just kicking back in their chairs, having long lunches, and messing around on Twitter. But in reality there’s a lot to do when bringing a book into the world, and I’m glad that, after writing the thing, I don’t have to the listing on Amazon, the cover design, the warehousing, the sending to bookshops, etc etc.
Also, for the first time, I found out the release date – 1st April 2013! Before that, Legend had just told me “spring”. 1st April seems much more real, if a little disturbing given its connection with fools…
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Excuse my immature SQUEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and all those exclamation points!!!!! I’m excited. Can’t wait to get that book in my hot little hands. Looks like it is on Amazon US, too, so I signed up to receive notification when it’s available. 🙂
Hey Michelle, no excusing necessary – if everyone was as enthusiastic as you, I’d be a very happy writer! Good to know it’s on Amazon US as well. On a whim I just checked a few other international Amazons and it’s up there too, even at Amazon Japan, for the bargain price of 1,149 yen. Who knew?
Hey Andrew, It is nice to have a release date but I think I’ll wait to get back to London and buy it there… As if I needed another incentive to go! 😉 My goal is to get there about mid May and to stay two weeks at a minimum. Who knows what will happen between now and then.
Hi Charles, That sounds like a good plan! Not sure what I’m doing between now and then either, but if we’re both in London at the same time it would be good to meet up for a coffee again!
I’d like that! I guess we’ll have to see how things shape up money and timing wise. Can you believe that by May 2013 it will have been 3 years since I was in London? It’s already been too long. How time flies.
Wow, can’t believe it! Definitely due for another visit 🙂
That must be so exciting Andrew, albeit a little surreal. My advice: whenever you have a tough writing day, go back to that page and remind yourself the end result is worth it!
Yes, it was a little strange to see the book appear on the internet, when it doesn’t exist yet physically and hasn’t even been edited! But exciting, yes – one step closer to publication.
Good writing advice, definitely. It’s easy to get caught up in the struggle and forget what it’s all for. Thanks for mentioning my post on your blog, too, and hope the time-limiting idea works for you!
How exciting, how fascinating. I love hearing stories about the writing and publishing process. Good luck.
Thanks very much! I plan to write more here about the nitty-gritty of getting A Virtual Love into the world, because I didn’t say much about the publication process with my first book and people have said they’d be interested. So stay tuned!
That’s awesome, lots of time for people to view the page beforehand, and not having a cover image might well keep it in minds due to wanting to see it. Exciting!
Thanks Charlie! Yes, building suspense, I like it!
Congratulations, Andrew! It’s good to know there is a set time for the novel, isn’t it? I asked a friend who visited London to buy me a copy of your first book but he was told the book is out of print. I’ve never ordered from the internet but I’m toying with the idea of buying a Kindle so I can read books that don’t make it to this corner of the world.
Hi Delia
Yes, it’s good to have a release date – “spring” was a little vague. Then again, I’m wondering if it’s just a placeholder, like the “256 pages” which must be made up because it hasn’t been edited yet!
Sorry you couldn’t get hold of my first book. It’s not out of print, but it’s not stocked in as many bookshops as it was when it first came out, so I can understand why your friend couldn’t find it.
I bought a Kindle for the same reason as you – lots of books I want to read just aren’t available here in Barbados, and it’s so easy just to download them. I still prefer the reading experience with real books, but the Kindle’s better than I thought it would be, and worth it for the convenience.