Okay, maybe not the world World, as in the blue globe sitting on your high school geography teacher's desk, but "world" in the sense of your world, your sphere, your neighborhood, your city.
The Grade-A, Numero-Uno publicity team at Grove/Atlantic has been hard at work on my behalf (Thank you, Deb! Thank you, Jodie!) lining up book store readings of Fobbit and festival appearances for me. As a debut novelist, I know how rare this is, how blessed I am to have this kind of support from my publisher. I know it's a real leap of faith on their part to send an untried, no-name author out into the world and I truly appreciate all the bookstores and festivals who have signed on to be part of this cross-country book tour.
Am I coming to your neighborhood? If I am, I hope you'll be able to make it to one of these events. And please help spread the word to others in your community so it's not just some poor bookstore employee named Tim and I having a one-on-one conversation in an empty room.
If I'm not coming to your neck of the woods, please know that I want to be there. Unfortunately, I only have a certain amount of time I'm able to take off from the Day Job, so the travel days were somewhat limited.
....BUT! I'm always available to book clubs and library discussion groups via Skype or speaker-phone, if that's your sort of thing. Drop me a line if your group is interested in setting up something like that.
Furthermore--and this is probably the Coolest News of the Day--if anyone would like an autographed copy of Fobbit, either just signed or personally inscribed, you can order one online. I've teamed up with The Country Bookshelf in Bozeman, Montana who will process the orders and send them to you. Here's how it works: go the Fobbit page at The Country Bookshelf's website, add it to your cart, then when you're ready to checkout make a note in the "Order Comments" box at the bottom of the page requesting a signed or inscribed copy. The good folks at TCB will also take your order over the phone: (406) 587-0166. Before checking out, why not add another book or two to your cart? You'll be helping to save a life if you do.
And now, on to the good stuff. Here are the events we've scheduled so far.
BUTTE, MT
September 5
5:30 p.m.
BOOK LAUNCH PAR-TAY!! Jean and I are still working out the details, but I do know one thing for sure: "The first round of drinks is on me!" (I've always wanted to shout that into a barroom.... though, in my mind, there were only three or four other people in the room at the time--but this time, I'll spring for everyone!) Let's pack the Quarry, Butte!
MISSOULA, MT
September 7
Fact & Fiction
Books
5:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m.
220 N Higgins
BILLINGS, MT
September 13
7:00 p.m.
530 S 24th Street West
530 S 24th Street West
October 8
Powell’s
7:00 p.m.
3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd
With Karl Marlantes, author of Matterhorn
ATLANTA
October 23
Georgia Center for the Book
7:15 p.m.
Toco-Hill Branch Library
1282 McConnell Drive
October 27-28
Texas Book Festival
With Ben Fountain, author of Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk
Chicago?
ReplyDeleteAlas...no Buffalo or Niagara Falls?
ReplyDeletePatty and Amy: unfortunately, no. As of now, I'm hitting venues mostly in the Pacific NW and the Southeast. I really do wish I could be everywhere and meet everyone. Maybe someday on down the line....
ReplyDeleteThrilled you're coming to Myrtle Beach. Thanks for making the trip south.
ReplyDeleteDavid--Those are some great stores and festivals. It's fantastic you'll be appearing with Karl M. and Ben F. It's also great that you'll be close to some military bases, etc.
ReplyDeleteI'm very excited about FOBBIT. Look forward to recommending it to everyone. And I'll see you in Missoula. Lucky me. Alyson
What an exciting ride! It looks like you have a great book tour going with some funky little bookstores along the way (and to start in a brewery? Fantastic!).
ReplyDeleteHope to see you sometime in Phoenix!
Let me know if you plan to head to the DC area! Apparently one of the owners of the best indie bookstore in DC read an advance copy of Fobbit & liked it so much that he nominated it for a prize. He did not say what the prize was or whether or not Fobbit won...he did say that he'd be happy to put you on their events calendar if you get out this way. I think you and the book would be a smashing success in the DC area, which has an unnaturally high population of fobbits and other military desk-drivers due to proximity to the Pentagon.
ReplyDeleteAgree with readersquest -- this should be a natural in DC and Northern Virginia. Besides the indie booksellers (Politics & Prose, anyone?), do try to get a review in the WashPost Style section.
ReplyDelete