That's right, punks! You read that correctly. :)
Life Goal #2: Get badass novel published with major publisher, the sort I would love to read ... check! (I will let you wonder what #1 is :) )
Yes, indeed: a lifelong dream has come true. The feeling is incredible, indescribable. I've known this was coming for a few weeks now, but the reality of it finally hit today, and it is amazing.
So, here's what I know right now:
- The deal is done, in the can. No goesy-backsies.
- You can still buy the current editions of the books here for a limited time -- soon, I will have to take them down. #collector's items
- It is a one-book deal: only for MQ1. Harper Collins has right of first refusal on MQ2: The Two Travelers, but if MQ1 hits ... well MQ2 discussions become more interesting, now don't they? :) This is actually preferable to me, since I believe strongly in the book selling like crazy. In this financial climate, publishers are VERY risk averse, which is why they didn't go for the series: the want to see what book one will do first.
- Publication date: Spring, 2011. Yes, I know. 20 fracking 11. That leaves only one year until the Mayan calendar ends and the sun swallows the earth, so I'll have to work Santa-fast. But my main character is named Max QUICK, so we should be good.
- 2011? Really? I know. Trust me, @jasoncalacanis would have the mother of all cows, were he running this. But novel releases are planned out waaaaay in advance, like movies. There is art to make! Illustrations! Covers! Reviews and blurbs to get! Magazines to get featured in! Edits and rewrites (yes I have some more coming)! Then, carefully placing the release on the right date so that it doesn't conflict with anything else similar and matches the 'spreading all our book releases out evenly' goals of HC. I want it sooner also, believe me. But ... 2011, there's nothing for it but to accept. Grr. Trees move faster than the book world. I'm amazed they ever catch any to make paper out of.
- This will be a full-blown hardcover release. It will be well-promoted. Dunno yet if just USA or worldwide.
- I will do a multi-city book tour when it comes out, yes.
- Are you quitting Mahalo? Hell, no! How stupid would that be? It's an incredible company, we're on a monster growth curve, and besides, what would I do? I have the second book written and I'm working on the third on weekends. No, there's no reason to go anywhere.
- What does this mean for Max Quick 3: The Bane of the Bondsman? In truth, I don't know yet. Harper wants to control things, of course, and this is a new book: I can't just release it now without their say-so. On the other hand, I know I left you all hanging quite badly at the end of MQ2, now didn't I? :) I don't have a good answer yet, but if you're on the list (sign up on the left) of people interested in MQ3 ... I'm going to see what I can do, all I can say for sure right now.
- THANKS to many, but for today: my amazing agent, Margaret O'Connor (in picture to left, at our celebration lunch) of the Renaissance Literary and Talent Agency; Sarah Sevier, my new Editor at HarperCollins; Evo Terra and Chris
Miller at Podiobooks.com; Lulu.com, who made the print editions possible; Jason Calacanis who was totally cool with me doing this while being CTO of Mahalo.com, Inc.; Jas Dhillon, who partnered with me on ZeroDegrees, Inc. while I wrote it and thus helped make it possible; Jason Ericson, one of my best bro's in the world, who was there when I wrote page one; Christina and Elle Allen, who encouraged me to write this after reading the first few chapters; Laurence Roth and Richard Arlook who made a couple of key intro's which led to Margaret at Renaiissance ... and YOU who read it, listened to it, told people about it, commented on it, bought it -- whatever: YOU MADE THIS POSSIBLE, I love you for it, it is a life-dream of mine. From the bottom of my heart: THANK YOU!!!!!!!
