Kim Harrison's Blog, page 75

First Edition, and Freebie Friday!!

No, I’m not giving first editions away free. The freebies are the freebies I’ve been giving away since October and I’m starting to run out! As for first editions? How do you know? Well let me tell you! Every book, be it mass market, or hard cover, has a string of numbers at the bottom of the page that follows the title page. The title page is exactly what it sounds like, and it’s usually where I sign, along with the title and author, and publishing info. But it’s the one following it where all the disclaimers are that you’ll find the edition number. The numbers at the bottom count down from 10 to 1 in the first editions, 10 to 2 in the second editions, 10 to 3 in the third editions, and so on. After the 10th edition, they start over from 20 to 11.

Sometimes I can tell by the feel of the book and the yellowing of the pages if it’s a first edition and I take an extra moment in the signing line to lovingly flip the page to check it out. I’m right about 90% of the time. The other 10% I’m usually way off and the book has just been loved to near death and the owner and I have a laugh and I usually find out it’s been dropped in the tub or passed around to fifteen people. (which I love even more). So first editions mean something to me, yes, especially DEAD WITCH WALKING, the only one I really look for. There weren’t a whole lot of them released in comparison to a release now, and I only spot one or two in the entire two weeks that I’m out.

The only reason I bring it up today is that I know first editions are important to some of you guys as well, be it mass market or hard cover, and I’ve got a few titles that the first edition will soon be hard to find. Right now, I’m guessing it’s probably 50/50 that the EVER AFTER you find on the shelf or order from Amazon is a first edition. I started seeing 2nd editions in the lines even before tour was over, but Nicola’s still has them, having stocked up before I left. I can sign it, too, if you ask in the comment box when ordering. (signed, not personalized.) http://www.nicolasbooks.com/book/9780061957918

If you’re looking for freebies, you can get those right from me. Just send me a SASE. The picture below is what a SASE looks like, and the address to send it to is:

Kim Harrison

EVER AFTER freebie

PO Box 498

Dexter, MI, 48130

Envelope and stamp may vary subject to availability, location, and personal preference. -grin-

 

Are you seeing ads?

Hi all.

Got a question for you and maybe you can help. Are you seeing ads on my blog, and if so, can you take a screen shot of them and email them to me at my business address of kim_harrison@comcast.net? Thanks.

If you’ve ever wondered how to take a screen shot on your Mac, you hold down the command and shift key and then hit the number 3. I don’t know how on a PC.

EVER AFTER media

Howdy Campers! There is snow on the ground, ugly, hard snow that almost hurts to walk on, but a male robin was at my bird bath this morning, and the buds on the branches knocked down by last weeks ice show that buds are starting to swell. After last years unfortunately early spring followed by a bud-killing frost, I’m hoping it stays a little chilly for a while, but it would be nice to get rid of the snow. Also, the blue birds are still coming around for a drink, but it looks as if my yard had only about a weeks worth of food for them as they have again disappeared after clearing out the spruce, holly, and burning bush berries. Time to plant more bushes . . .

I’ve got a couple of media bits that I did while on tour that have finally been archived and made available. The first is just about nine minutes where I talk to Irene in Cincinnati at one of the NPR stations. http://cpa.ds.npr.org/wvxu/audio/2013/03/030313_KimHarrison.mp3

The second is longer, an audio of the Q&A I did at Tattered Cover. (This is me and just the roadies. Wow, there were a lot!) The audio is great on this, but it takes about 20 minutes, and there are NO EVER AFTER spoilers in it. Just scroll down a half page or so for the little arrow after the link. http://authorsontourlive.com/kim-harrison-podcasts-ever-after/

Going silent, going deep

I might be a tad sparse on the posts next week as I spend some beaucoup time and energy on plotting. Something came up that needs my immediate literary attention–and that’s a good thing! But I’ll still be dropping stuff on FB and answering questions as usual.

Have a great weekend!

I’m cleaning my office . . .

Yes! I’m cleaning my office today, and that can only mean one thing, and one thing only. No, it’s not my mom coming to visit, it’s me closing out a book and . . . starting a new one! Don’t get me wrong. I’ve still got years to work on the Hollows yet, but I’m at the point where I get to play with something new in a more permanent way, and I’m horribly, terribly, marvelously excited, and moving the Hollows out of my office, even if temporarily, is not only symbolic, but I seriously need the space.

Not only tidying was going on, however, I also reorganized my paperclips to get rid of the multicolored jobs mucking up my color-coding, moved a file downstairs into my fire-proof cabinet, brought one back up, gathered my rubber bands into one space (don’t ask) sorted through my software backups and trashed what was gone, picked out the folder color of the next book, (white) found matching paperclips, went through my post-its and threw a bunch away, and made/found $1.21 while clearing out my desk.

And I then hit the Easy button, because the last nine years were anything but.

Today I’m kicking around titles, moving deeper into some research, and brainstorming for ideas for possible series arc, finding my clipboard, printing up some headers for the pages I’ll be brainstorming on, and sharpening my pencils. Guy already helped me with the titles today, and wonders of wonders, we actually found a theme I really like. Here’s hoping it sticks.

a-a-a-and we’ve got snow!

We’ve got heavy, soggy, dangerous snow last night. It’s very pretty but the reason I’m late posting this morning is because I love pushing snow around, especially if I can get out there before the snow blowers. Amid the silence I heard jays calling, and chickadees, and the heavy crack of a tree breaking. Now it’s just the roar of two-stroke engines. The snow has started falling from the trees since it warmed up. It’s making a mess where I just cleared the walks, but it’s taking the weight off those limbs and wires, so I can’t complain.

I think we got away with minimal damage to our property, though if the city trucks come by one more time and plow in our drive with two feet of chunky slop, I’m going to be mad. Ah well, what you going to do?

First Editions

First edition? How to you know? Well let me tell you! Every book, be it mass market, or hard cover, has a string of numbers at the bottom of the page that follows the title page. The title page is exactly what it sounds like, and it’s usually where I sign, along with the title and author, and publishing info. But it’s the one following it where all the disclaimers are that you’ll find the edition number. The numbers at the bottom count down from 10 to 1 in the first editions, 10 to 2 in the second editions, 10 to 3 in the third editions, and so on. After the 10th edition, they start over from 20 to 11.

Sometimes I can tell by the feel of the book and the yellowing of the pages if it’s a first edition and I take an extra moment in the signing line to lovingly flip the page to check it out. I’m right about 90% of the time. The other 10% I’m usually way off and the book has just been loved to near death and the owner and I have a laugh and I usually find out it’s been dropped in the tub or passed around to fifteen people. (which I love even more). So first editions mean something to me, yes, especially DEAD WITCH WALKING, the only one I really look for. There weren’t a whole lot of them released in comparison to a release now, and I only spot one or two in the entire two weeks that I’m out.

The only reason I bring it up today is that I know first editions are important to some of you guys as well, be it mass market or hard cover, and I’ve got a few titles that the first edition will soon be hard to find. Right now, I’m guessing it’s probably 50/50 that the EVER AFTER you find on the shelf or order from Amazon is a first edition. I started seeing 2nd editions in the lines even before tour was over, but Nicola’s still has them, having stocked up before I left. I can sign it, too, if you ask in the comment box when ordering. http://www.nicolasbooks.com/book/9780061957918

And even more rare as a first edition will be THE HOLLOWS INSIDER. This is the Hollows world book, the one that glows in the dark. The one that I pulled my hair out over. The one I lived in fear for six months for because I had stepped over the line of expectation and I didn’t know if my editor was going to go for. (She did, and I’d love her for that if nothing else.) The one that is a real and solid expression of my commitment and love for what I do. (And I will NEVER do this again.) I’m surprised that they haven’t been pulled already, but I got notice today that trade paperbacks will soon take their place. You can still get the first edition hard covers from any store as far as I know, though they might have to ship it in, but again, Nicola’s has them, and if you ask in the comment box when ordering, I will drop in and sign the glow in the dark hard cover for you before they ship them out. http://www.nicolasbooks.com/book/9780061974335

Beach Bunnies

You can tell my thoughts were at the beach this weekend as I made a camera-toting beach bunny to take a picture of my mar-r-r-rvolously buff muscle-bound buck I made last week. -grin- They even have fluffy tails. I wasn’t happy with how Mr. Buck came together, hence the second bunny. Ms. Doe was much more satisfying, with most of the parts knitted in a round rather than flat and sewn together as I expanded on the original instructions. The hat I crocheted rather than knitted, thinking it made a smoother piece.  I might make another, though three’s a crowd . . .

I also took the down-time this weekend to knit up a tea cozy for a new tea pot as I was getting tired of it going cold far faster than I could drink it. The heavy cast iron is lovely, but it transfers the heat fast and I can’t pop it in the micro. The zebra pattern I came up with suits it, and the best part is that I actually USED UP a ball of yarn. Phew! I swear, I’m not buying another skein until I get rid of at least five others. I might have that chance this week if the proposed storm hits us the way they predict.

Work wise, I should finish up my personal rewrite on book 13 early this week, and then shove it in a drawer for about a year to percolate. I really need to decide what I’m doing next. Seriously, I’ve not had this kind of freedom for almost ten years. I hardly know what to do with myself. Knit more bunnies, perhaps?

Ever After spoilers. You. Me. Harper Facebook 2:00 EST

I’ll be live at Harper’s Facebook page today at 2:00 EST in a rare, open forum to discuss EVER AFTER. Spoilers will be there, so if you’ve not read the book and don’t want to be spoiled, don’t go to the page! You can ask non-spoiler questions, sure, but I took the opportunity to have a spoiler discussion because it is off my usual pages and the only reason you’re likely to be there is to get in on the talk–and therefore accidental spoilage should be to a minimum.

So if you’ve read the book and have a burning question, meet me at Harpers page at 2:00 EST, and I will be there! I’ll take questions about writing as well. Also, if you have any requests/comments . . . this is a good time to bring them up as my editor will be there in the background

Harpers FB page: https://www.facebook.com/HarperVoyagerBooksUS

Bluebirds

Yesterday I spotted a rustling in the brush, found my binoculars and focused in expecting to see sparrows, or maybe the chickadees that investigated a nest box there last year. But to my delight, it was a pair of bluebirds–the first of the year–eating the juniper berries. I was ecstatic, turned to get my camera, and then had a little fit when I turned back and found them sitting at my bird bath. OMGosh, it was the best moment of the day. Which sounds really dumb until you start to break it down into why I was so excited.

I put the juniper bushes in because of those stupid berries. I put a non-freezing bird bath in so there would be water all year. I designed the backyard with cover and food to attract birds, and in the spring, there will be early flowers for cold bees, and in the fall, late flowering perennials for the migrating butterflies.

Guy wonders why I don’t take month-long excursions to exotic places to see amazing animals in their natural space, because clearly this stuff turns me on, and I just smile. I know the animals are there, and even if I should go see them I wouldn’t be connected. Here, though, is where I can make a difference, even if it’s as small as having water out for thirsty birds in a frozen morning. Two years ago, there was nothing in this space, basically a barren desert in an urban jungle. Today there are bluebirds existing beside the rush of traffic and barking of dogs, and that makes me feel connected.

They came back this morning as I put this post together.