Christopher Moore's Blog, page 3
March 29, 2012
Signed First Editions of Sacre Bleu
Signed First Editions of Sacre Bleu
Books will be shipped from Books Inc on or after April 3rd, from Mysterious Galaxy after April 9th when I appear there. Mysterious Galaxy will get any of my books on the linked page signed for you. Remember, only the first printing of Sacré Bleu will have color art and print. After they it will be in black and white, so jump on these if you're not near a tour city.
Signed Sacre Bleu firsts as well as other titles. (Contact store if something you want isn't listed.) Also, international readers should order from Mysterious Galaxy, below. Their shipping is significantly less expensive for international orders. Yes, including Canada.)
International and Canadian Buyers read this note from Mysterious Galaxy:
Keep in mind that shipping charges for foreign orders are set by the system and are often adjusted down to reflect actual charges. One copy of Chris's book to Canada is $12.95 and to most of Europe and Australia is $16.95 in a priority envelop according to the USPS website. If the charge to your country is more than $16.95 US, we will contact you.
Signed Sacre Bleu, shipped first day of publication, April 3rd
http://www.booksinc.net/ChrisMooreSigned
Signed Sacre Bleu firsts as well as other titles. (Contact store if something you want isn't listed.)
www.mystgalaxy.com/event/christopher-moore-signs-sd-040912
March 22, 2012
ASK THE AUTHORGUY brings you BOOKSIGNING FAQS
Since I announced my 2012 book tour, a lot of people have been asking, "What goes on at a book-signing?" The following answers apply only to MY events, book-signings by other authors are different. For instance, while there is no real "appropriate" attire for one of my events, if you're at a Chuck Palahniuk event, you'll want to wear your best bondage-wear (leather or PVC), and carry plastic sheeting. Chuck's events are very much like a Gallagher comedy act, except in place of watermelons, human body parts are splattered on the audience, which is why Chuck is America's most beloved author. That said, while you may have to stand in line unattended at one of my signings, at Neil Gaiman events there are "line monitors," burly security guys who are there to catch Goth girls (and boys) who faint over Neil's dreaminess. At a Lemony Snicket event, you might be entertained by Toccata and Fugue played on an accordion and encouraged to murder your parents (or at least frame them for embezzlement, ) while at one of my events, the closest you'll come to being entertained is watching me swig Nyquil while spooging hand-sand on myself and others in a series of anti-viral "money-shots".
So, to your questions:
1)What is the most important thing to consider in coming to one of your events?
1)ans: Parking. This is doubly important if you are driving.
2)Do I have to buy a book to attend?
2)ans: Most stores, now, require you buy at least one book per group, or a ticket, which usually includes a book. This varies from store to store and you should call the store and ask before betting your whole afternoon or evening on it. I've listed all of their contact information on Google.
3)Can I get your other books signed, my older books?
3)Yes, but often I have to limit how many I can personalize, especially if there's a big crowd. The store my require that you buy the new one there, but most are okay if you bring your old books, and I'll sign all that you bring. It helps if you have them turned to the "title page", which is the first page on which my name appears. Collectors and dealers who have a bunch of books are asked to wait until the end and — access to the author for dealers is up to the discretion of the event store. (If you're a dealer or a collector, you probably know this.)
4)I don't know what to say. It's my big moment, I've been waiting in line, and I don't know what to say…
4) Most authors have been on your side of the table and know what that is like. I remember being terrified to speak to Ray Bradbury, and later Harlan Ellison. Hell, even now I get nervous when I meet authors. We get it. We also have all done events where no one but the bookstore staff was there, so we're grateful you're there. No author doesn't like to hear that you love his or her books, that you share them with friends. It doesn't get old, and it's exactly the thing to say. I appreciate it. On the other hand, don't pitch your idea for a screenplay or novel. I am powerless to help you and there are people waiting.
5)You like pie. Can I bring you pie? Or, you know, a meerkat?
5)Presents are very sweet, but an author on tour usually has one carry-on bag and his or her version of a computer bag – for the whole month, which means things are packed to the max. We just don't have room to take along gifts, nor the time to send them on or even eat snacks. (I've even run out of room to carry my receipts and had to ship them home mid-way through the tour.) I've left a multitude of thoughtful gifts in hotel rooms because I couldn't get them into my bag. That goes double for books and regional delicacies like bar-b-que sauce or maple syrup. (We're getting on a plane in the morning, remember?) We just don't have room for them. I have had many dinners consisting entirely of goldfish crackers brought to me by readers, and I really thank you for that, but it's probably not the best policy. CDs and Manuscripts are out of the question. First, I can't read manuscripts even if I want to, agents orders, and I don't travel with a CD player, not even in my computer, so the discs often have to be left behind a stop or two down the road, anyway.
6)What can we expect? Do you read your work? Give back-rubs? What's up?
6) The main thing to remember is, LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS. I'm a writer, if I was a people person they wouldn't lock me in a room by myself to do my job. I don't read my stuff. I suck at it. That said, there's some variation in how events proceed– especially this tour, since some events are in theaters, but usually a bunch of you sit down, someone introduces me, I talk about writing books and stuff for about 20-40 minutes, take some questions, and then I sign books. Each book store has a different way of managing the line. Some have tickets, or bookmarks, or wrist-bands, other's go by the "dog-pile" approach. At some events, I will have signed all of the books in advance so you'll get a signed book even if you don't have time to stand in line. We started doing this a couple of books ago when I'd get letters from people who had come but had to leave because of a baby-sitter or something before they got to meet me and get their book signed. You can still stand in line and I'll personalize your book, but usually in these cases, the line is shorter because those people who just wanted to hear me talk or get a signed book can bolt.
7)What sort of questions should we ask?
7)Not "Where do you get your ideas?" (Now that I've told you that, I know that the first question will always be, "Where do you get your ideas?" because, let's face it, my work appeals to the smart-ass demographic, but I'm going to just tell you "From Jules Verne", or "from Bazooka Joe Comics" or something equally absurd, so whatever…) The one thing I ask is that as the tour proceeds, and you've had time to read the book, is you not ask something that's a "spoiler" for those who haven't had a chance to read it yet. Oh, no movies are being made of my books. If that changes, I'll let you know.
8)What else do we need to know?
8)Most anything else should be addressed to the specific book store, because they really dictate the policy for events. Call them. They'll know about parking, places to eat near-by, stuff like that. My advice, on meals, by the way, is on an evening event, eat before you come to the book store. I do. Sometimes these things can run late.
9)Will you sign other stuff?
9)I will, but it's limited. It takes quite a while to sign fabric items, I have to go slow, so be considerate of your line homeys when you ask. Fucksox are nearly impossible, so let's not go there. Body parts are also really tough. (I can't believe I'm actually typing this.) I know you'd love to have a tattoo on your uvula of my signature, but as I cherish the fun of poking you in the uvula with a Sharpie, may I suggest getting something else signed, like tracing paper or clear plastic, and taking that to your tattoo artist. That way, too, you can sober up and think it through.
10)What about pictures?
10) I'm fine with you taking pictures with me. Sometimes the store will have someone who will help – take your phone or camera so you can get in the picture—but sometimes, not, so you'll want to have stuff ready. If the store doesn't have someone, then make friends with the person in line behind you to take the shot – show them how to use your phone, get it all set up. The we'll all dogpile into the photo and it will be tons of fun.
March 1, 2012
Signed First Editions of Sacre Bleu
Books will be shipped...
Signed First Editions of Sacre Bleu
Books will be shipped from Books Inc on or after April 3rd, from Mysterious Galaxy after April 9th when I appear there. Mysterious Galaxy will get any of my books on the linked page signed for you. Remember, only the first printing of Sacré Bleu will have color art and print. After they it will be in black and white, so jump on these if you're not near a tour city.
Signed Sacre Bleu, shipped first day of publication, April 3rd
http://www.booksinc.net/ChrisMooreSigned
Signed Sacre Bleu firsts as well as other titles. (Contact store if something you want isn't listed.)
http://www.mystgalaxy.com/event/christopher-moore-signs-sd-040912#lamb-leather
February 1, 2012
Early Reviews for Sacré Bleu
KIRKUS REVIEWS
SACRE BLEU
Author: Moore, Christopher
Review Issue Date: February 15, 2012
Online Publish Date: February 5, 2012
Publisher:Morrow/HarperCollins
Pages: 416
Price ( Hardcover ): $26.99
Publication Date: April 3, 2012
ISBN ( Hardcover ): 978-0-06-177974-9
Category: Fiction
An aspiring painter and unabashed romantic joins the greatest artists of the age in chasing his muse across fin de siècle–era France.
There are really two ages and two operating modes for hugely popular comedic writer Moore (The Griff, 2011, etc.). There's the deceptively easy humor of his early California novels, which only gets sharper and funnier in his San Francisco–based vampire novels. But from time to time, Moore gets obsessed with a particular subject, lending a richer layer to his peculiar brand of irreverent humor—see Lamb (2003), Fluke (2003) and Fool (2009) for examples. Here, the author gets art deeply under his fingernails for a wryly madcap and sometimes touching romp through the late 19th century. The story surrounds the mysterious suicide of Vincent van Gogh, who famously shot himself in a French wheat field only to walk a mile to a doctor's house. The mystery, which is slowly but cleverly revealed through the course of the book, is blue: specifically the exclusive ultramarine pigment that accents pictures created by the likes of Michelangelo and van Gogh. To find the origin of the hue, Moore brings on Lucien Lessard, a baker, aspiring artist and lover of Juliette, the brunette beauty who breaks his heart. After van Gogh's death, Lucien joins up with the diminutive force of nature Henri Toulouse-Lautrec to track down the inspiration behind the Sacré Bleu. In the shadows, lurking for centuries, is a perverse paint dealer dubbed The Colorman, who tempts the world's great artists with his unique hues and a mysterious female companion who brings revelation—and often syphilis (it is Moore, after all). Into the palette, Moore throws a dizzying array of characters, all expertly portrayed, from the oft-drunk "little gentleman" to a host of artists including Édouard Manet, Paul Gauguin, Georges Seurat, Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
Moore's humor is, as ever, sweetly juvenile, but his arty comedy also captures the courage and rebellion of the Impressionists with an exultant joie de vivre.
Booklist
Sacre Bleu.
Moore, Christopher (Author)
Apr 2012. 416 p. Morrow, hardcover, $26.99. (9780062097749).
Moore drops his readers into the strange world of nineteenth-century France, where the line between past and present, real and surreal, shifts with a mere brushstroke. A baker and aspiring artist, protagonist Lucien Lessard grew up surrounded by Impressionist painters, all of whom seem to have fallen under the magical spell of a particular shade of blue. Van Gogh's death and posthumous warning of a dangerous villain, the Colorman, sets Lessard and his friend, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, off on a journey to discover the power behind the Colorman's blue paint. Entwined in their journey is the beautiful but mysterious Juliette. Mingling comedy and mystery, Moore crafts an intricate story that teases the reader with numerous twists and bawdy humor. While Lessard is fictional, many of the characters are based on historical figures, and their use of modern slang can be jarring. Toulouse-Lautrec emerges vibrantly, but some of the other painters struggle to come to life. Still, this is an imaginative and amusing look at the Impressionist era, and Moore's prose is fresh and engaging.
— Eve Gaus
LIBRARY JOURNAL
Moore, Christopher.
Sacré Bleu: A Comedy d'Art.
Morrow. Apr. 2012. c.416p. illus. ISBN 9780061779749. $26.99. F
Moore (Fool; You Suck) set out to write a book about the color blue. What he ended up with is a surprisingly complex novel full of love, death, art, and mystery. When baker–turned–aspiring artist Lucien Lessard, whose father was friends with some of the preeminent French artists of the late 19th century, receives a special tube of vibrant blue paint from the mysterious Juliette, his amateurish painting becomes masterly and his life becomes a mess. Obsessed with painting and loving Juliette, Lucien must discover the mystery of the blue paint, the origins of Juliette, and the identity of her near-constant companion, the frighteningly sinister Colorman who haunted other artists like Van Gogh, Monet, Pissarro, and Cézanne. In the end, the true question for Lucien is, "At what price art?" VERDICT Don't let Moore's quirky characters and bawdy language fool you. His writing has depth, and his peculiar take on the impressionists will reel you in. One part art history (with images of masterpieces interspersed with the narrative), one part paranormal mystery, and one part love story, this is a worthy read. Considering the large marketing push and Moore's rabid fan base, expect demand.
January 9, 2012
The Tour! The Tour! Sacré Bleu, April 2012
Here's the prliminary schedule. Details and additions are yet to come, including the Canadian dates. There will also be an arrangement for people in places I'm not going to get signed 1st editions by mail. The hardcover will have color artwork, the paperback will not, so you might want to get your hands on a hardcover this time.
4/3 San Francisco Books Inc @Opera Plaz
7:00 PM 601 Van Ness Ave
San Francisco, CA 94102
4/4 Portland Powell's Books @ Bagdad Theater
7:00 PM 3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Portland, OR 97214
4/5 Lake Forest Park Third Place Books
7:00 PM 17171 Bothell Way NE
Lake Forest Park, WA 98155
4/6 Seattle University Book Store
7:00 PM 4326 University Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
4/7 Denver Tattered Cover-LoDo
7:30 PM 1628 16th Street
Denver, CO 80202
4/9 San Diego Mysterious Galaxy
7:00 PM 7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92111
4/10 Dallas Dallas Museum of Art
7:30 PM 1717 N. Harwood Street
Dallas, TX 75214
4/11 Milwaukee Boswell's Books
7:00 PM 2559 Downer Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53211
4/12 Brookline Brookline Booksmith @Coolidge Theater
6:00 PM 290 Harvard Street
Brookline, MA 02446
4/14 Toronto – Details to come
4/15 Somewhere in Canada- Details to come
4/16 Washington Politics & Prose
7:00 PM 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
4/17 West Chester Chester County Book Company
7:00 PM 975 Paoli Pike
West Chester, PA 19380
4/18 New York Barnes & Noble Union Square
7:00 PM 33 East 17th Street
New York, NY 10003
4/20 Petaluma Copperfield's Books
7:00 PM 140 Kentucky Street
Petaluma, CA 94952
4/24 Menlo Park Kepler's Books
7:00 PM 1010 El Camino Real
Menlo Park, CA 94025
4/28 Pasadena Vroman's Bookstore
5:00 PM 695 E. Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91101
4/29 Huntington Beach Barnes & Noble
3:00 PM 7881 Edinger Ave #110
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
November 17, 2011
November 15, 2011
Signed Lambs or Stupidest Angels for the Holidays
http://www.booksinc.net/ChrisMooreSigned
Canadians, give the store a call. Europeans, sorry, they won't ship. Asians, you don't care. Australians, I'm pretty sure you're imaginary.
July 13, 2011
Mini-Tour Schedule for The Griff
Christopher Moore and Ian Corson will be answering questions and signing, The Griff, a graphic novel. Chris will also sign his other books if you bring them.
MONDAY JULY 25th @ 7:00 PM Barnes & Noble (Huntington Beach Location)
7881 Edinger Ave., #110
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
THURSDAY JULY 28th @ 7:00 PM: BOOKS INC (Mountain View Location)
301 Castro Street
Mountain View, CA 94041
FRIDAY JULY 29th @ 7:30 PM: The Booksmith
1644 Haight Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
SATURDAY JULY 30th @ 12:00 PM: M is for Mystery
86 East Third Avenue
San Mateo, CA 94401
SUNDAY JULY 31st @2:00 PM: Copperfield's Books Napa
3900 Bel Aire Plaza
Hwy 29 & Trancas St
Napa, CA 94558
July 7, 2011
Chris’s Schedule at Comicon, San Diego
ComicCon location:
San Diego Convention Center
111 W. Harbor Drive San Diego, CA 92101å
Thursday, 7/21/11
1:15 – 2:15 pm PT
Panel: Books vs Graphic Novels
Books vs Graphic Novels & Comics, Thursday, 7/21/11, 1:15p.m. – 2:15p.m., Room: 6A
Books vs. Graphic Novels and Comics: Writers often dabble with various forms of art as an outlet for their creativity. Graphic novels are a popular medium for novelists to tell their stories, just as comic books often serve as inspiration for science-fiction and fantasy authors. In this panel, authors will discuss the process and collaboration involved in publishing a graphic novel vs. a novel, as well as the role comic books play in the creation of their characters and story arcs.
Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns (Riverhead)
Christopher Moore (GOC) /Ian Corson, co-authors of The Griff (Harper Collins)
Jim Butcher, author of the Harry Dresden series (Roc)
Tom Sniegoski, author of the Remy Chandler novels (Roc) and The Fallen Young Adult series
Amber Benson, author of the Calliope Reaper Jones novels (Ace) and an actress on Buffy the Vampire Slayer
James O’Barr – The Crow
Jennifer Holms & Matthew Holms – Babymouse, etc.
Location: Comic-Con, Room 6A
2:45 – 3:45 pm PT
Signing: Books vs Graphic Novels Panel
Featured Authors: Christopher Moore, Ian Corson (The Griff)
Signing Time/Location: Thursday, ComicCon Autographing Area AA2, 2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Saturday, July 23
12:30 – 1:30 pm PT
Panel: Spotlight on Christopher Moore
Featured Author: Christopher Moore
Location: Comic-Con, Room 5 AB
2 – 3 pm
Official Booksigning: Christopher Moore
Signing Time/Location: Saturday, Comic-Con Autographing Area, AA6, 2 to 3 pm
Chris's Schedule at Comicon, San Diego
ComicCon location:
San Diego Convention Center
111 W. Harbor Drive San Diego, CA 92101å
Thursday, 7/21/11
1:15 – 2:15 pm PT
Panel: Books vs Graphic Novels
Books vs Graphic Novels & Comics, Thursday, 7/21/11, 1:15p.m. – 2:15p.m., Room: 6A
Books vs. Graphic Novels and Comics: Writers often dabble with various forms of art as an outlet for their creativity. Graphic novels are a popular medium for novelists to tell their stories, just as comic books often serve as inspiration for science-fiction and fantasy authors. In this panel, authors will discuss the process and collaboration involved in publishing a graphic novel vs. a novel, as well as the role comic books play in the creation of their characters and story arcs.
Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns (Riverhead)
Christopher Moore (GOC) /Ian Corson, co-authors of The Griff (Harper Collins)
Jim Butcher, author of the Harry Dresden series (Roc)
Tom Sniegoski, author of the Remy Chandler novels (Roc) and The Fallen Young Adult series
Amber Benson, author of the Calliope Reaper Jones novels (Ace) and an actress on Buffy the Vampire Slayer
James O'Barr – The Crow
Jennifer Holms & Matthew Holms – Babymouse, etc.
Location: Comic-Con, Room 6A
2:45 – 3:45 pm PT
Signing: Books vs Graphic Novels Panel
Featured Authors: Christopher Moore, Ian Corson (The Griff)
Signing Time/Location: Thursday, ComicCon Autographing Area AA2, 2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Saturday, July 23
12:30 – 1:30 pm PT
Panel: Spotlight on Christopher Moore
Featured Author: Christopher Moore
Location: Comic-Con, Room 5 AB
2 – 3 pm
Official Booksigning: Christopher Moore
Signing Time/Location: Saturday, Comic-Con Autographing Area, AA6, 2 to 3 pm
