Joseph Wallace's Blog, page 5

What I Owe To Independent Bookstores

Like any author, I welcome any establishment, brick-and-mortar or online, that chooses to sell Invasive Species. Still: I will always feel most grateful to independent booksellers, and most excited when I see my books sold in them.

I grew up and became a writer before the age of E-readers, before online stores, before Amazon. Living in New York City, I felt comforted, encouraged, even inspired by an era where it seemed, at least in memory, that there was a indie bookstore on almost every block. Each store had its own mood, spirit, and (frequently grouchy) owner, but every one of them felt like home to me.

Even in this challenging era, they still do…and not just the Village Bookstore in Pleasantville, NY, which is in my hometown and really is a kind of home! I get happy when I visit an indie anywhere, happier yet when I’ve wandered around and bought something there.

The photo I’ve attached to this post shows cards I just wrote to indie booksellers I know at about twenty stores in places ranging from Brooklyn to Shaker Heights to South Padre Island. Yes, I’m including copies of my novel, which I hope they’ll take a look at. But I truly love the opportunity to say what’s in my heart: That I would never have become a writer–or even a reader–if not for indies like theirs.

So…thank you. I owe you my world.

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Invasive Species Launch Date: December 7!

Hope to see some of you there!

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A Child’s Christmas Is Here!

So, gang, ‘Tis ALMOST the season, and, yes, I’ve got another Christmas offering—A Child’s Christmas in New England. This one’s a memoir, but it is redeemed by the wonderful illustrator Glenn Wolff (and our book Flight of the Reindeer is being reissued this Christmas in trade paper by Sky Pony). Glenn’s sideline is on stand-up bass with the Neptune Quartet, and we even wrote a song (I had to join BMI!), called “Caroline’s Waltz,” inspired by the book — let me know if you want me to send that demo, with vocals by the great Robin Lee Berry.

In any event, I’m doing a few things in the area in the next little while and wanted to let you know: I’m at the Village Bookstore in Pleasantville on December 10 from 7 to 8, the Chappaqua Public Library on December 12 from 7 to 8:30 and the Mount Pleasant Public Library on December 17 from 7 p.m. on. There are also things I could give you info on—Massachusetts and Connecticut and NH—but not important right now. We’re going to be mentioned in Parade, RD website (hey Ben!) and it seems there will be a feature by the fine Joe Kahn, E.J.’s son, in The Boston Globe.

For your personal fun, two things: Show up, and I buy you a beer or Coke after; and go to santalogist.com, or more particularly  http://santalogist.com/The%20Santa%20Wall (hope I got that right; you can find the Santa Wall just at Santalogist.com; it’s a link up top) and send us your pix of you and Santa or celebrating Christmas or whatever holiday, and we’ll post them. The new book might be okay in and of itself—I cannot say—but it certainly has fun author-bio photos on page 32! Cheers, and an early Happy Holidays!

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Indies First!

I’m with Sherman!

Along with the American Booksellers Association (ABA), Sherman Alexie (The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian) is spearheading Indies First, a wonderfully innovative effort to spread the word about great books: On Saturday, November 30 (Small Business Saturday, two days after Thanksgiving), in Alexie’s words, “We book nerds will become booksellers.”

What does he mean? He means that all over the U.S., writers will be hanging around their favorite independent bookstores, chatting with customers, recommending books when asked, signing copies of their own, and basically helping these vital stores begin the big holiday season in style.

Me? I’ll be at the Village Bookstore in Pleasantville, NY, my local indie and a centerpiece in this little town for nearly forty years. I’m guessing I’ll be there most of the day, but I’ll post hours when I know them. Other local writers are bound to show up, too!

So if you’re anywhere in the area, please stop by. Talk to me; I’ll be lonely otherwise. Buy some great gifts or pick up something for yourself. If you want a copy of my novel Diamond Ruby, I’ll sign one for you–or anyone you want.

I’m with Sherman! Won’t you join us?

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Book Club Invasion!

Found out yesterday that my new end-of-the-world thriller, Invasive Species, will be a featured selection at a whole spate of book clubs. This is fun and exciting, not least because it’s a paperback original that will be receiving a special hardcover edition for Book-of-the-Month Club (which my parents used to be devoted to) and others.

Clubs featuring Invasive Species will also include the Scientific American Book Club, Science Fiction Book Club, Quality Paperback Book Club, and…the following. Really!

Having written Invasive Species, and therefore read it, I think I can safely say that the members of the Crafter’s Choice Book Club may be in for a surprise if they’re expecting, for example, quilting tips anywhere in the novel.

Though “Cuddle Up!” may be good advice to take before you start reading it….

Invasive Species hyperlink courtesy of Aaron’s Books, Lititz, PA.

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Invasive Species Giveaway!

So Goodreads is giving away 25 advance copies of Invasive Species, my new novel. Want a chance to win one? Just throw your name into the hat! For more details, click on the image above, or right here. 

Good luck!

Book hyperlink courtesy of Paragraphs on Padre Boulevard, South Padre Island, Texas.

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Factory Worker Kate Buford’s Blog!

See? See??? We Marmaduke Factory Workers don’t write only about writing! (Just mostly.) For example, our Kate Buford, author of the acclaimed biographies Burt Lancaster: An American Life and Native American Son: The Life and Sporting Legend of Jim Thorpe, is writing a lively blog, New Best Friends Forever, which focuses on travel, food, gardening, and…friendship in all its loveliest forms.

Take a look by clicking on the photo, on the title above, or here. And enjoy!

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Encounter at Comic Con

While signing advance copies of Invasive Species at NY Comic Con, I was part of a conversation that immediately became one of the highlights of the novel’s entire publication process.

The line was long and moved at a deliberate pace, since I chatted with each person for a minute before signing their copy. Still, people were patient and cheerful, interested in this author they’d never heard of because his novel sounded intriguing.

Having waited longer than most, a man finally made it to the front of the line. He had a question for me: “How solid is the science in this book?”

I said, “I was a science writer for years, so I made it as solid as I could.”

“Good!” he said. “I’m a high-school teacher here in the city, and my specialty is real invasive species. I’m thinking that maybe I can use excerpts from your book to get my kids excited about the subject, and about reading in general.”

“I tell you what,” I said. “You do that and I’ll visit your classroom to meet your students and talk about it.”

Just then, the next person in line, a woman, said to the man, “Do it! I’m a college professor. I’ll be teaching your kids next, and I want them smart and engaged.”

So it seems I already have my first volunteer gig with this book–and a really unexpected one. My apocalyptic novel in a high-school classroom!

I think that’s very cool.

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Wonder Women, Walking Dead, and Me

Yesterday, Invasive Species invaded NY Comic Con!

Well, in truth, me signing my new novel was just of a million things going on at Comic Con yesterday. But it was a whole new venue for me, alongside people in costume, flashy booths for new video games, toys, movies, and, yes, comics. It was like being invited to a circus and then get to do your own little act.

I did draw a long line at Penguin USA‘s booth, signing about 80 advance copies of the book…and I had a great time from start to finish. You can probably imagine:

I love interacting with readers, and potential readers, too–especially when, as these ones were, they seem enthusiastic. I’m very appreciative that Penguin (and Berkley Books, the specific imprint for Invasive Species) invited me aboard. This experience goes straight to my own internal gallery of unexpected, unforgettable moments in my strange, wayward–but fun!–writing career.

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Friday at NY Comic Con!

If you’ll be there amid the Comic Con madness, stop by to say hi and pick up a signed copy of my new novel.

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