Book Mail!: Spring Edition. Featuring a couple preorders, a couple workiversary gifts to myself, and flowers growing at the base of our biggest tree!

WAKE UP NEW EMILY HENRY BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!! 

this woman always writes exactly what i could want from a story (and then also blows my mind with how much more incredible it is than expected). writers in beach houses going on romcom dates and having you belong with me mv conversations with each other from their windows? best friends to lovers who go on adventures together? a vegetarian older sister protagonist who works in book publishing and is allowed to love her career and life in the city and doesn’t have to change that??? a found family in a coastal town and a second chance romance and a people pleaser protagonist? like these all feel like they were specifically written with me in mind (and i would go out on a limb and say they feel that way for a lot of people) and this new book is the next in line to do the same because. roommates??? i just went on a rant to my friend the other day about how i love the subset of forced proximity that is roommates to lovers (it’s the way you grow to be so comfortable and authentic around each other) and how i want more books like this and. the queen emily henry heard me??? and it’s still a summer romance. and the protagonist is a librarian!! and the concept is genius. GENIUS. i love her. she never disappoints

I saw your post about ingram, and out of curiosity, is there some advantage to going through the whole self-publishing thing with retailers when you're just starting out? like I mean the way that fandom zines work is that they don't even bother going through ingram or amazon or whatever. they just set up a social media site (usually twitter) to gain followers, open preorders (usually 1-2 months in length) to generate the costs of printing upfront, and then sell anywhere from a few dozen to several hundred copies of their books (usually artbooks, but anthologies exist too). I've seen some zines generate over a thousand orders. they're kind of like pop-up shops, except for books. maybe the sales numbers aren't so impressive to a real author, but the profit generated is typically waaaay more than the $75+ apparently needed for Ingram Spark, so I still feel like new authors could benefit from this method too, especially if they just need some start-up cash to eventually move to ingram if they want to for subsequent runs of their book. I think authors would also have to set aside some of the pre-order money to buy an ISBN number to have printed on their book, and I'm not really sure what other differences there are, but I just wanted to ask about it in case there's some huge disadvantage I'm missing!

So, popup zines work well for some people, and I know some authors who kickstart their work successfully. But for a lot, it's just not feasible as a long-term stratedy. Or even as a means to get off the ground.

Fanzines succeed primarily because an existing fanbase is willing and ready to throw money at something they love. They’ve got a favorite writer or artist they want to support. Supporting all the others is just a happy by-product. They also take a HUGE amount of short-term but intense planning that just doesn’t always jive with how some of us work.

I, for one, would never offer to organize a fanzine. I’ll take part in them as a creator, but I’d rather throw myself off a cliff than subject myself to wrangling that many people and dealing with the legal logistics.

When it comes to authors doing anthologies, it'svery much the same. The success of the funding often hinges on having other big-name authors involved whose existing fans will prop up the project. Or having a huge marketing budget.

Most self-pub authors have zero marketing budget. I’m one of them, and I’m under no illusions that my work would not be as popular and self-sustaining as it is if I didn’t have a large Tumblr blog.

When I thank Tumblr in my forewards, I am utterly sincere. Tumblr brought fandom levels of enthusiasm to an unknown work and broke the Amazon algorithm so hard, that Amazon thought I was bot sniping my way to multiple #1 spots and froze my sales rankings.

That’s not the norm. And while I could probably kickstart my own work as an indie creator, that’s because I’ve put literal decades into building up a readership. I’ve been doing this since I was 16 and realized people thought I was funny. I didn’t know what to do with it or if I’d ever actually write anything, but it meant the groundwork was already there (thank you, past-me). I basically fell upward into my success by virtue of never being able to shut the fuck up and wanting to make people laugh. Clown instincts too strong.

New or first-time authors trying to sell their work without that will find it infinitely harder.

All of that aside, even if an unknown author somehow gets lucky and manages to fund their work, there’s still the question of shipping and distribution logistics. Are you shipping everything yourself? Better hope you’re able-bodied and have the time for it. (for reference, it took me months to ship out 300 patreon hardbacks because of my disabilites. It damaged my back and hands. I couldn’t type for several weeks after I was done.)

Are you going to sell primarily at conventions? Better hope you’re able-bodied, have the time and don’t have cripling anxiety about being in large groups...

Also, will selling a dozen to a few thousand copies in one burst be sustainable in the long run as a career? Not for me. Doing things via Ingram and Amazon means I earn a steady trickle of sales for the rest of my life provided the platforms remain and so long as I keep working and can generate interest in the series, not just when I have funds to pay for physical copies to sell. The one-time (in theory) cost of $75 to distribute through Ingram gets paid off pretty quick that way. And it doesn't require the same logistics as doing the popup/crowdfund.

Ultimately, it comes down to what you are capable of but also the type of work you’re doing. If you’ve got an extended network of fellow creatives who will back you or you’ve got a large following elsewhere, doing it like a popup might work for you.

If you’re an exhausted burnout who can’t fathom the short but intense amount of organization that sort of thing requires, not to mention doing it over and over and over... Ehhhhh. No thank you.

Okay ANNOUNCEMENT: Ocean's Echo preorder bonus is open!

A Short Holiday is a (completely new) light-hearted, epistolary digital short featuring Kiem delightedly discovering the concept of sheep that don't try to murder him, and Jainan getting way too into side projects.

If you are in the US or Canada, you can win my love forever by preordering, and if you would like, submitting your receipt here:

bit.ly/oceansechopreorder

...and thank you so much!

Q. What is Ocean's Echo about and do I want to read it?

Ocean's Echo is a queer space opera in which Tennal, a disaster socialite with mindreading powers, gets conscripted into the space military and ordered to soulbond with fellow soldier Surit - an earnest and well-intentioned type who follows his own personal ethical compass with the single-minded devotion of a bull in a chinashop. If you like awful main characters who fall into disasters and proceed to make them everyone else's problem, love interests who have memorised the ENTIRE rulebook, and a deep commitment to space mindreading powers on the author's part, this could be the book for you. I think it might even be better than Winter's Orbit? It's had two starred trade reviews, so the reviews think it's 50% better, but on the other hand you would definitely rather have Kiem round for lunch than Tennal.

Q. When is it out?

Ocean's Echo is out on November 1, and if you preorder the US hardback, ebook or audiobook, the short story will land in your inbox soon after!

Q. I don't live in the US or Canada!

I deeply sympathise, I am also not in the US or Canada and geographic restrictions are a slightly frustrating reality of two different publishers handling different countries. Preorders are super important to how a book is treated so if people are in the US or Canada and in a position to preorder, I'm super grateful. But I hope some time after publication I will be able to do something else with the Kiem and Jainan short story for international readers!

Certain fandom of certain couple are celebrating because WaterStones has already put his book with 'a Best seller' line and because UK Amazon currently says 'out of stock.

I don't have doubt his book will sell well, and stuff, but I doubt the book will continue like this all the upcoming months. I mean, it's evident that every time he makes promotion, it will sell. Let's see how many copies he sells globally, I doubt he can beat Michelle Obama, but let's see.

Anon do you want to know a secret? Don't tell anyone I told you this, k?

Amazon says books are low/out of stock when they aren't because it makes it look popular.

I know this. My books have said "only one left in stock!" and lol no there isn't. It's print on demand. My books are never IN stock, they're printed to order. I've had friends who have bought a book that's said the same thing and it still says it afterwards. It's a psychological game to make you go, "Omg. One left? I gotta get it now." Or "out of stock??? Holy crap, better add to my wishlist for that very convenient notification and grab it as soon as it's back." The half price thing is also part sales tactic - it doesn't cost £28 to print a hardback lmao, not even print on demand - and they are absolutely making money at £14, but it looks like such a good deal!

(Pro tip: if you preorder on Amazon, you will always be charged the lowest price. Even if you order at £28. If that book drops to £12, you'll be charged that. Same for all books whether they be ebook or print. You're welcome.)

Same with the bestseller tag. It probably is! It was probably Waterstones' best selling book yesterday, thus it's a bestseller on their website.

Look, is it going to be a legit bestseller? Yes. People want to read it. People are mordibly curious. People like to collect these things. People want to see how much BS he's spewing. More people will buy and read this book than will buy his wife's, that's for sure. It'll have more staying power and will hit lists multiple times. It doesn't mean it's a good book. Shit hits lists all the time. 🙃

Omg! Omg!!! Omgggggg!!!!

I didn’t know you were back on Tumblr!! How did I miss you coming back?? 😭😭😭.

And now I just lost my shit crying and forgot I haven’t completed my ask. So, I preordered The World We Make (which of course. I still have plans to marry The City We Became but I have held off because why settle for one spouse when you can have two for double the satisfaction????), both the hardback and the audiobook (because I love doing a audio-physical hybrid read). But I haven’t read it yet. Every time I open the pages, my palms start to sweat and then I close it right back. I don’t want to say goodbye. And there’s a finality with reading it that will be me saying goodbye. I’m still not over not being able to experience reading The City We Became for the first time (or The Broken Earth trilogy), and I can’t see to get past the panic, and the anticipation, and now my anxiety is kicking my ass.

Has this ever happened to you? Do you have any suggestions? Advice? Help. Please 😭😭😭

I feel something very like it every time I get near to finishing a new novel. I do it anyway, because the feeling of finishing a novel is Better Than Sex (and lasts a lot longer), but there is always a little I Don't Want It To End somewhere in there. (And I have anxiety too.) That said, the easiest way to get past that feeling for me is... to start another book. 😅 Maybe that'll help for you!

Okay sending you another ask to freak out about 1989 Taylors Version with you!!! I kinda forgot about the show last night and that we were supposed to be clowning..and I wasn't on my phone much so I didn't see when she was displaying the blue outfits and stuff. I thought it would be kinda soon and was maybe expecting an announcement at the end of this month..but it gives me more to be excited for! I also kinda forgot it was the last show for now but it makes sense why she would want to announce it there. I saw a Taylor Nation went live notification and freaked out! The first thing I actually saw on Insta was the cover of Emily Henrys new book and apparently they are also making Meet Me at the Lake into a movie I guess. Then I went to Taylors page and it said the photo was posted only a minute ago. I know other people following or at the show knew earlier but that's one of the only times I've been that early in an announcement lol. Also the fact that it has the same original release date!!! This is also her first album cover where she's actually smiling which is something I never even noticed or thought about before now. I love the cover and think it might be my new favorite next to Red TV. I like that she actually has sky blue in the cover since before..I usually thought of the color as more white or beige lol. Midnights is also blue and white too. It seems kinda uneven that this one has the title and the others didn't though but there must be a reason. Also what she said about the vault songs..and the new Polaroid's and the colors makes me more excited too! Even if there is only 5 vault songs this time compared to six. Who would you want her to collab with? Also my musical blog is wickedsweeneyfromsantafe..which combines four of my favorite musicals lol and I just never changed it. My main blog is gwen-stace like from the Amazing Spiderman and my Taylor blog is queenofmyhearrts I think..cuz she is the queen of my heart. I have a very specific way of postinglike one theme a day on my blogs for some reason and I don't have personal posts or anything. My main blog includes movies and shows and my sideblogs are like a way to keep track of things for me I guess..like with Taylor's career and musicals I watch or see and all edits and gifs I like. The only reason I send on anon is cuz my messages get long but follow if you want!

i cannot wait for 1989 (taylor's version)!! what track(s) are you most excited for, aside from the vault tracks? i personally am most excited for you are in love, new romantics, wonderland, clean and style! and eee — i really like the uk cover for funny story (the new emily henry)! i'm debating on just preordering it from waterstones, because i really don't like hardback covers for romances. and that's so so exciting that it was posted right when you saw it — what a coincidence! i really love that she's smiling in the cover; i've seen a lot of people comment on how they don't like specific things, but i love it and the fact that she's so smiley in it makes me so happy !! i've always associated 1989 with a light beige/tan color (and debut with light blue), but i do love the blue for it! there are so many people i'd like her to collab with, but i think she's been leaning more towards artists that she was influenced by during that era in terms of collabs — i was thinking of haim, since they opened for her on 1989 tour but i don't know if she'd collab with them again given gasoline and no body no crime. what about you? who would you want her to collab with? and i just followed you on all three blogs 🤍 !! we can keep talking on anon if you'd like, or we can talk in dms; totally up to you! xx

They say never judge a book by its cover but that's how I find the best books. Whenever I go into a book store, been quite a while, or shop on Amazon I always look at the cover first. Something about it catches my eye...the color, a word, an image...something always grabs me. Of course I read the summary and then decide if I want to add it to the growing pile in my arms, use a basket? What are you crazy?! I would have that thing filled to the brim!

I share this little tidbit with you because I am counting down the days for my preorder to come in. One of my most favorite book series, a trilogy, was bought because the cover caught my attention. I got my other bookworm friend into it and we share recommendations back and forth. The author put out hardback copies of the book and signed them but only in limited quantities. Sadly by the time I had gotten around to the trilogy they were all out and snatched up for years. Then she decides to do a sequel to the trilogy....imagine the excitement and squeals from myself and said friend when we learned this. I bought up the first book as did she and we tore through it...racing one another to the finish. I beat her but I also was working mainly from home last year due to the state of the world.

Fast forward and the author, who I now follow on Instagram, announces the release date and some special copies of the book (signed and some doodles by her) being sold. Not caring that I didn't really have the money, some things are worth going broke for, I ordered two copies. One for myself and a secret surprise for my friend...she deserves a signed copy. I know she won't buy the hardback book mostly because she reads everything on her Kindle...which I do more often now as well. Those were ordered in February and they will arrive at my home September 19th.

So a month and a little over two weeks I will have my very first signed copy of a book. Not only a signed copy but by an author that has rekindled my love for all things magical, romantic, and writing.

For those who don't know a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...I was a writer. Nothing professional but just for me. I sometimes think about sharing those writings here and then others I think about getting back into my writing games I was apart of. Most recently a former partner reached out to let me know they were interested in writing again. Life had beaten the spirit out of me the last two years but with recent things happening personally I feel motivated again. I informed my writing partner to give me a month and I would be ready. There are things in motion here that need my attention, which they understand and support.

For the first time in a long time I'm starting to feel like my old self and I don't want that feeling to go away. I fully blame my intended on this...I know he loves knowing that.

Hi! I'm preordering Priory through BookDepository but I found that there are both paperback and hardback. Will it be published in both formats this year or just hardback this year and paperback the next? I want to get the paperback but I don't know if it will be out in February. Thank you for your answer and I'm really excited to read it!

Standard paperback should be out 2020. You could probably get hold of the trade paperback, which is out in February. Would be available from airports and Australian bookstores. Not sure about Book Depository. 

Let's Talk Ebooks

There's so much infighting between readers and writers about ebooks vs. printed books. I'll admit, I used to be the person who was very proud to only read physical copies of books. It made me feel...I don't know, more committed? I wanted my love of reading to be taken seriously and I knew older generations made fun of young people for being tech-reliant.

Now I love both! I actually read more ebooks than printed copies because I'm an avid Libby user with my local library. (That could be a whole other post LOL)

So how can you choose between the book formats when you're ready to read? Here are a few things I consider before picking a format:

Ebooks: Pros and Cons

Pro: You'll get to instantly download it from your library or a bookstore.

Pro: People with dyslexia find reading ebooks easier because they can customize things like font, text size, and more.

Pro: You can carry your books anywhere with an app or a small e-reader.

Con: Staring at digital pages makes it tempting to stare at my phone screen instead if the book hasn't gripped me yet.

Con: I find that there's a weird pressure to push through a book faster because there's a progress percentage in the bottom of the screen.

Physical Books: Pros and Cons

Pro: You get to wander the aisles in a bookstore, which is basically a spiritual experience.

Pro: You can flip physical pages and feel the weight of the book in your hands.

Pro: There's no screen involved, so it doesn't trigger my habitual instinct to reach for my phone and open social media instead.

Con: Books are obviously bulkier than an app, so they're harder to carry around or take on vacation in my small suitcase.

Con: Physical books also require storage, which I didn't have for many years after college because every cent I had went toward bills and not bookshelves.

How to Choose? Consider Your Routine

Basically, I pick a book format based on what my routine currently looks like. If I know I won't get to read until I literally turn the lights off at night, I'm more likely to get an ebook and dim the screen so the light doesn't keep me from falling asleep.

But I'm more likely to stop reading an ebook and get a physical copy if I fall in love with a story or a writer's voice. Also, if it's a book from an author I want to directly support, I'll preorder a physical copy or get a signed hardback. There's something extra special about that.

If I could go back in time, I'd tell my younger self to explore both formats! And that it's totally okay to flip-flop between the two. They're both legitimate forms of reading, so enjoy them both!