Seanan McGuire (seanan_mcguire) wrote,
Seanan McGuire
seanan_mcguire
  • Mood: chipper
  • Music: Counting Crows, "Anna Begins."

Here, there, everywhere, and the Jelly Belly factory.

Yesterday was my bookday birthday, when Rosemary and Rue [Amazon]|[Mysterious Galaxies] finally hit shelves in stores across the nation. Because we are all mad here, my mother, Amy, and I decided that the best way to celebrate was by taking a trek up the length of California to sign books in every damn bookstore between Concord and Sacramento.

I never said we were sane.

The routine was pretty straightforward. One, find the bookstore. Two, scout the bookstore to see if they had any visible copies of Rosemary and Rue, as this meant we wouldn't be asking anyone to go into the back of the store. Three, find someone who works there, express that I am a local author (for increasingly inaccurate values of "local" as we moved away from Concord), and inquire as to whether I might sign some stock for them. Four, sign stock. Note that nowhere in this progression of events is anything resembling "check ID." By the eighth bookstore, I was seriously tempted to say "Hi, my name is Stephanie Meyer, and I wrote this book..."

The assistant manager at the Barnes and Noble in Albany thanked me for only using my powers for good. She doesn't know me very well.

As we made our way from bookstore to bookstore, we passed through Fairfield, California, home of the Jelly Belly factory. Amy, unwisely, said "I like sugar." My mother took this as a holy mandate demanding that we take the free Jelly Belly factory tour. I don't like jellybeans. I love my mother. I love Amy. I went on the tour. Fear my martyrdom. (Actually, there really wasn't any martyrdom, because Jelly Belly also makes candy corn. Fear me in the candy corn factory.) The Jelly Belly factory was reasonably cool. Amy and I have decided to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool with jelly beans and take people swimming.

The result of all yesterday's labors? Amy has a stomachache, and there is already a "collectible" autographed copy of Rosemary and Rue on eBay for fifteen dollars. Because humanity is awesome that way.

I survived!
Tags: amy, in the wild, my mom is nuts, rosemary and rue, toby daye, wild adventures
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spectralbovine

September 2 2009, 19:01:23 UTC 7 years ago

Note that nowhere in this progression of events is anything resembling "check ID."
Ha! I was wondering whether that fit into the process! How amusing.

there is already a "collectible" autographed copy of Rosemary and Rue on eBay for fifteen dollars. Because humanity is awesome that way.
Oh burn, my collectible autographed copy cost eight dollars.

seanan_mcguire

September 2 2009, 19:04:12 UTC 7 years ago

And it was personalized. Dude, whoever buys that off of eBay is getting served.

autographedcat

7 years ago

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OT - icon comment

ladyqkat

7 years ago

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Re: OT - icon comment

all_ephemera

7 years ago

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Re: OT - icon comment

ladyqkat

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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ladyqkat

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

September 2 2009, 19:32:36 UTC 7 years ago

Oh, honey, I'm sorry!

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cleothyla

September 2 2009, 19:09:28 UTC 7 years ago

"Hi, my name is Stephanie Meyer, and I wrote this book..."

I think you really should have said that at least once.

What would really be bad if you went to every library and done that.

seanan_mcguire

September 2 2009, 19:33:00 UTC 7 years ago

I don't like to torment the people who control whether my stock is "accidentally" misplaced. It seems...unwise.

cleothyla

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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jimhines

September 2 2009, 19:16:07 UTC 7 years ago

You know, in three years, I've only had one person in a bookstore ever ask to see my ID. (I did have another bookstore person just refuse to let me desecrate their precious books with my evil pen, but that's a different story.)

Congrats on the whirlwind book-signing tour! How many stores did you make it to all total?

seanan_mcguire

September 2 2009, 19:33:20 UTC 7 years ago

I...actually don't know. I lost count somewhere after number eight.

jimhines

7 years ago

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ladymondegreen

September 2 2009, 19:20:07 UTC 7 years ago

It's going to be even funnier when you walk into the same bookstores and say "Hi, my name is Mira Grant ..." in a year.

Do you like the Jelly Belly Candy Corn? Because you may want to say whether, or be deluged with gifts of it from fans. ;)

seanan_mcguire

September 2 2009, 19:33:54 UTC 7 years ago

I like any and all candy corn. But Brach's Autumn Mix is my favorite.

catnip13

7 years ago

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ladyqkat

7 years ago

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hsifyppah

September 2 2009, 19:24:21 UTC 7 years ago

CANDY CORN FACTORY!

I feel certain this will eventually be the site of my ironic accidental death.

seanan_mcguire

September 2 2009, 19:34:22 UTC 7 years ago

We will put you in the ENROBING MACHINE. You will be ENROBED IN SUGAR.

And then Amy will eat you.

hsifyppah

7 years ago

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autographedcat

7 years ago

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More Expand

...and that's why ended up coming home with a bag full of books.

taeli

September 2 2009, 19:25:50 UTC 7 years ago

My friends and I had to take a little field trip to Borders yesterday to buy your book because I thought I'd preordered it from Amazon and was waiting for it to arrive. When I went to see when it would be delivered, I realized I'd only *thought* about preordering it. (Things like this happen to me a lot.)

If I lived in CA and had found an autographed copy on my local bookshelves, I'd have been filled with glee.

Re: ...and that's why ended up coming home with a bag full of books.

seanan_mcguire

September 4 2009, 17:43:50 UTC 7 years ago

Awwwwwwwwwwwww.

archangelbeth

September 2 2009, 19:27:08 UTC 7 years ago Edited:  September 2 2009, 23:57:54 UTC

Curses! I am way too far from California to have gotten a signed collectible copy!

However, I did get two copies (one for me, one for a friend). And, because I should not be allowed in bookstores without adult supervision, a bunch of other recently published books as well. Since, y'know, I was in the bookstore already. They sort of jumped into my arms.

Edit: *beth comes back, having devoured book* *beth points* "B'gods, body-count!" Also, logical twist ending, did not see coming, was concerned about [person who was arguably too good to be innocent] but [pronoun] turned out to be innocent after all, whew.

cleothyla

September 3 2009, 06:45:40 UTC 7 years ago

Fully agree with your edit. :)

archangelbeth

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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madfilkentist

September 2 2009, 19:28:00 UTC 7 years ago

If you ever write a song about Jelly Bellies, don't tell them. Debbie Ohi can explain.

seanan_mcguire

September 4 2009, 17:44:29 UTC 7 years ago

Okay.

ex_esssjay

September 2 2009, 19:42:34 UTC 7 years ago

I'm impressed with your signing tour but also scared about the lack of ID requests.

Am also reeling with the news that Jelly Belly do candy corn :)

all_ephemera

September 2 2009, 21:56:19 UTC 7 years ago

I plan on going in to my local B&N and claiming to be Seanan, but actually inscribing, "I've read her LJ so nyah!" inside them in lieu of a real autograph.

Ok, not really, but I wonder if I can claim to be someone named, say, Dennis, or Ken. Sign random books in the store willy-nilly.

ex_esssjay

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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keristor

September 2 2009, 19:43:26 UTC 7 years ago

I have a rare unsigned copy! But if you get here then I might ask you to spoil it *g*...

seanan_mcguire

September 4 2009, 17:45:01 UTC 7 years ago

I will do this thing for you, because I love you.

vixyish

September 2 2009, 19:55:57 UTC 7 years ago

Forgot to tell you! I went to Barnes & Noble yesterday to see if they had it, because my Amazon copy won't be here until the weekend, when I will be, y'know, visiting the author.

Anyway, the in-store computer directed me to the SF/Fantasy section, but it wasn't there, so I bugged the info desk, who said they had 11 copies and had someone bring me one. I said "no no, bring them all, and put them UP!" They smiled politely and brought me one. I said "you should shelve the rest! Today's the release date!" "We will," they said. I tried to say "I'm not just saying that because she's my friend!" but there was another customer in line so I didn't.

Also I went and had the local small-owned bookstore special order one for me. I think I might give her some bookmarks when I pick it up.

...so far that's three copies I'll have bought, but I've had at least one request to have you autograph one when I get there, so that works out anyway. :)

ladymondegreen

September 2 2009, 20:20:10 UTC 7 years ago

My sister apparently had the same experience with a Barnes & Noble in midtown. She had to go ask for the book, and when she asked if they were sold out, she was told that they hadn't put them on the floor yet and that that was why she couldn't find them.

filkferengi

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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filkferengi

7 years ago

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greektoomey

7 years ago

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vixyish

7 years ago

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greektoomey

7 years ago

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vixyish

7 years ago

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ladyqkat

7 years ago

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greektoomey

7 years ago

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cleothyla

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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martianmooncrab

September 2 2009, 20:07:19 UTC 7 years ago

its only collectable if there is some half eaten candycorn stuck inside the front cover with your toothmarks on it.. grin.

seanan_mcguire

September 4 2009, 17:45:44 UTC 7 years ago

So noted!

bercilakslady

September 2 2009, 20:11:21 UTC 7 years ago

I am sad that you do not like jelly beans, as Jelly Belly makes a tasty Dr. Pepper jelly bean.

In other news, I have a request from my stepmom that I send you her copy of R+R, as she would very much like an autograph. If that is agreeable to you, let me know, and we'll make arrangements. I'll hand carry it to New Zealand when I go.

bercilakslady

September 2 2009, 20:14:16 UTC 7 years ago

Forgot to add, if this needs to wait until your hand hurts less, given the amount of signing you've been doing recently, or you can't do it at all, all will be well. :)

seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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aedifica

September 2 2009, 20:13:54 UTC 7 years ago

I stopped at Uncle Hugo's this morning to buy a copy. They have it up in "New Releases" near the register. (While I was there, I also bought Wrede & Stevermer's The Mislaid Magician, since I realized I hadn't actually read it yet, I had just thought I had.)

I like the blurb on the back about "Raymond Chandler by way of Pamela Dean." I haven't read much (anything?) of his, but she's one of my favorite authors.

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aedifica

7 years ago

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cleothyla

7 years ago

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almeda

7 years ago

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aedifica

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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kightp

September 2 2009, 20:29:26 UTC 7 years ago

I must come up with a satisfactory way to have authors sign my Kindle.

(Which, thanks for the reminder - and thanks to you/your publisher for being Kindle-friendly - now contains a copy of Rosemary and Rue. It goes straight to the top of my queue once I finish The Graveyard Book).

lysystratae

September 2 2009, 21:22:14 UTC 7 years ago

little stickers on the back for each name?

seattlejo

7 years ago

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kightp

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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tikiera

September 2 2009, 20:35:24 UTC 7 years ago

I think I feel about jelly beans they way you feel about candy corn. Mmmm Jelly Beans. Except for the black ones, when they are licorice.

Your trip sounds like fun, and I can fully believe they would never bother to check IDs.

alethea_eastrid

September 4 2009, 03:27:11 UTC 7 years ago

I will take your black licorice jelly beans, thank you.

I once bonded with Joan Benoit (I was six, and she had just won the first Woman's Olympic Marathon) over love of black jellybeans while in line at the grocery store. My essay about it won me a trip to Washington DC. (At six, which was a little surreal. But hey, I've toured the White House, even if I don't remember much of it.)

seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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jongibbs

September 2 2009, 21:34:51 UTC 7 years ago

Excellent! Though I was kinda hoping you didn't find any books in the stores on account of them being sold out already.

Congrats again on the launch :)

seanan_mcguire

September 4 2009, 21:52:03 UTC 7 years ago

Thank you!

all_ephemera

September 2 2009, 21:53:06 UTC 7 years ago

I got the book in the mail yesterday, and am already about 1/3 through. I'm no professional reviewer, so I'll settle for saying I like this and plan on forcing it on many other people so they will like it too.

Soo... how much for a signed copy way out here in MA? *snicker*

seanan_mcguire

September 4 2009, 21:52:22 UTC 7 years ago

If you really want your copy signed, we can arrange some sort of mailing thing.

all_ephemera

7 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

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all_ephemera

7 years ago

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stakebait

September 2 2009, 23:00:05 UTC 7 years ago

Happy bookday!

seanan_mcguire

September 8 2009, 22:01:32 UTC 7 years ago

Thank you! <3

gorgeousgary

September 2 2009, 23:07:57 UTC 7 years ago

I can't wait to hear about the first instance of your being handed a copy of R&R by someone and discovering you'd already signed it...

I did that once; swiped a book off Larry Smith's table at a con and handed it to an author later in the weekend without realizing they'd already signed it. Oops. Of course they added a personalized comment. Now I check everything I buy from Larry & Sally.

BTW, I posted my review yesterday. Figured I'd mention it here since I *may* have clicked the option to hide my LJ from web searches.



seanan_mcguire

September 8 2009, 22:01:44 UTC 7 years ago

Awesome, thank you for letting me know.

a_r_williams

September 3 2009, 00:50:16 UTC 7 years ago

Sounds like you had quite the adventure.

"...and there is already a "collectible" autographed copy of Rosemary and Rue on eBay for fifteen dollars. Because humanity is awesome that way."

:D

Good Luck on the launch!

seanan_mcguire

September 8 2009, 22:01:58 UTC 7 years ago

It's been going really well, so far. I'm pleased.

linenoise

September 3 2009, 04:57:22 UTC 7 years ago

I am totally going to go to Borders and buy your book, as soon as I have five minutes where I'm not either working, schooling, or sleeping. Possibly three weeks from Friday, I think I have room on my calendar at that point.

Hurrah for the fun kind of insanity that leads to Jelly Belly factories and too many bookstore signings. Huzzah!

Congrats again on book! Yay, book!

seanan_mcguire

September 8 2009, 22:02:12 UTC 7 years ago

Yay, thank you!

drcpunk

September 3 2009, 15:16:31 UTC 7 years ago

We've got a copy on order. We've also bought 2 copies.

We started with buying one, but mneme lost it after reading it, while working on the non-spoilery review on his blog, so he had to buy another at Borders. It was likely lost on the subway platform near our place, so we let the MTA know. We don't want it languishing.

At this point, though, we're guessing someone found it and walked off with it to read, and we're fine with that. I've finally managed to pry the copy we actually have (as opposed to the lost one and the on-order one) away from mnemex.

seanan_mcguire

September 8 2009, 22:02:27 UTC 7 years ago

Awwww. Thank you so much!

drcpunk

7 years ago

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bercilakslady

September 4 2009, 21:28:30 UTC 7 years ago

Sadly I won't be at OVFF, but I'll talk to Merav about mongoling copy if she's going. If not, I have your address.

seanan_mcguire

September 8 2009, 22:02:34 UTC 7 years ago

Okay, cool.
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