Timewaster's Guide Archive

My editor is curious what people think of the title of this one.  We're not really thinking of changing it, but we want as much information as possible.  So, weigh in!  Let me know if you've read the book or not, and what your impressions of the title are! 

Also of note, if you didn't see it on my website, the cover artist has been chosen.  Check out Dan Dos Santos' website to see the kinds of things he does.

http://www.dandossantos.com/mock.html

And, one final post.  I'd like to do a Bucca party, as always, to celebrate the book release.  I'll probably do this one the week after (the week of the 19th-25th.)  This is mostly a post for the Utah crowd who are my friends, family, alpha readers, writing groupers, yadda yadda.  We can probably slip in a forum goer or two if you're really all that interested in hanging out with a lot of people that you don't know while eating lots of Italian food.

Which day works best for you folks?  Somebody contact the less-often-posters (Kristy, Nate G., others) and let them know to look at the post.

...are due by August 15th.  You know the drill!  If you were an alpha reader, post here and remind me to stick you in the front of the book! 

...for a writer suck big time.  Self employment tax.  It's a killer. 

Just had to rant for a bit.  The truth is, however, it's a little bit fun to poke around and discover all the deductions you can get when you're self-employed.  However, deductions don't really save you all that much, I've found.  12k of deductions has saved me about 2k on taxes, I think.

So, by a tip from Parker (and through some wrangling and such) I managed to buy about a hundred and twenty copies of the Elantris hardback from a discount warehouse.  This is way cool because the hardback has sold so well that there is relatively little chance that Tor will ever remainder it.  (When a book gets remaindered, the publisher decides to send it to bookstores at a cheap price for the bargain tables.  Usually, before a book gets remaindered, the author has a chance to buy any copies he/she wants at the discounted price.) 

I was thinking I'd never get to buy a stock of remaindered copies.  Fortunately, this warehouse is out of Canada--and someone up there must have decided to remainder a batch of the books rather than send them back for a refund.  Either way, I got them.  My hope is to sell them through my website as signed and personalized hardbacks for those who would want one. 

Here is my question for you folks, then.  These DO have a remainder mark on them in the form off a small black dot on the bottom or top edge of the pages.  (I.E.  if you held the book closed with your thumb on the back cover and your fingers on the front cover and looked at the bottom of the book, you'd find a black dot there.)  This makes them of less value to collectors.

I'm wondering what the general opinion on these is.  Do regular readers care?  I want to find a price for these that would be fair, but that would be worth my time and energy to sell.  I was thinking $15+shipping, which makes them about $3.50 cheaper than Amazon, depending on what kind of shipping you get from Amazon.  (I'd offer free shipping for someone who buys two copies, I think.  I'd have to look at shipping costs.)  So, they'd be cheaper than any other place you can buy them, would arrive signed and personalized with whatever note you want inscribed in them, and would probably include a free bookmark or the like.  However, they'd have that mark on them. 

Thoughts?  Opinions?

Well, as you all probably know, this whole ALCATRAZ book thing has been quite the ride.  A book I expected to sell for maybe five grand ended up going for much more, and we've all been a little stunned at its progress. 

Well, a producer just called my agent and asked about optioning the film rights.  The book isn't even out yet.  Sheesh. 

Now, this doesn’t mean that the book will be made into a movie.  Heck, it doesn't even mean that it will get optioned.  99% of all movies that people THINK will get made never make it that far.  However, it's kind of fun to hear. 

Folks,

My wife is an 8th grade English teacher, and she's having her students write stories as part of their homework this year.  A lot of them are writing fantasy stories, and she's wondering if anyone knows of any magazines or contests that are 1) Legitimate 2) focus on young adult writing and 3) would consider fantasy.  The kids don't have to publish/win, of course--she just wants a place for them to send their stories. 

Any ideas?  Writers of the Future, of course, is a nice place for amateurs, but it would be nice if there were a young adult only contest.