Seanan McGuire (seanan_mcguire) wrote,
Seanan McGuire
seanan_mcguire
  • Mood: tired
  • Music: Counting Crows, "Four White Stallions."

Here's rosemary, for remembrance...

A year ago, I was in a state of low-grade panic because of the upcoming release of my first novel, Rosemary and Rue. Was it really going to happen? Would anybody buy my book? Was my book even worth reading? What if this was some sort of elaborate practical joke (admittedly, one pulled by someone who could afford wasting a book advance on fucking with my head)? What if DAW hated me? What if, what if, what if?

Six months ago, I was in a state of low-grade panic because of the upcoming release of my second novel, A Local Habitation. What if the first book was just a fluke? What if nobody liked Toby when she was less broken? What if everyone lost interest and went off to read something else, and my publisher dropped me, and my numbers were terrible, and my agent told me I should be a dishwasher or something? What if, dammit?!

Right now, I would be in a state of low-grade panic, but I'm honestly too tired to work up the flailing. An Artificial Night, the third Toby Daye book, is out now, and I would really appreciate it if you'd go out and buy a copy, assuming you haven't already. My reasons are legion: I really think it's the best book of the series so far, I really love it as a piece of work, and it's the last book on my original contract with DAW, so it would be nice if it went out with a bang. Like all authors, I worry vaguely about an unknown god known only as "the numbers," and I'm sure I want the numbers to look on me with grace. So that means book sales, and maybe, I don't know, sacrificing a pizza. I'll get on that.

I really love this book. I love the way it looks, I love the way it feels, I love the fact that it exists. It makes me feel like a real girl, because now I can look at my brag shelf and see three Toby books in finished form, all of them there, waiting to be opened. It's amazing. And still a little terrifying.

Release parties start next weekend. Fun for the whole family!
Tags: an artificial night, contemplation, release dates, toby daye, writing
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naurwen

September 10 2010, 21:55:16 UTC 6 years ago

*hits the order button*
and I like the fact that I can order it already - as sometimes it takes them a bit long to get certain books into their online shops here (Switzerland...). :p
YAY!

seanan_mcguire

September 10 2010, 23:54:03 UTC 6 years ago

Oh, yay!

herefox

September 10 2010, 21:57:56 UTC 6 years ago

It was excellent and you're probably right, I think it is the strongest book in the series thus far. And I got two copies, sort of accidentally through being impatient, but I shall use the second to seduce someone to the blond side, so to speak ;-)

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seanan_mcguire

6 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

6 years ago

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rymenhild

September 10 2010, 21:59:03 UTC 6 years ago

There's new Toby? Hurrah!

(I was thinking I could even go to the release party, since I'm finally in the SF Bay area when the party happens, but the party's on Yom Kippur! D: )

seanan_mcguire

September 10 2010, 23:55:58 UTC 6 years ago

Will you be here on the 25th?

rymenhild

6 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

6 years ago

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rymenhild

6 years ago

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joecoustic

September 10 2010, 22:10:25 UTC 6 years ago

I bought the book yesterday and will start reading it tomorrow - ahead of a number of other books waiting on deck but some books just get to jump to the head of the line don't they ;).

I'm really looking forward to the read! :)

seanan_mcguire

September 11 2010, 00:03:34 UTC 6 years ago

Yay!

lavenderfae9

September 10 2010, 22:11:33 UTC 6 years ago

Bought it, read it, loved it more than ice cream!! Seriously, Toby's tale just keeps getting better. I love the development of the characters. I keep mentioning it on my Facebook to get more of my friends hooked on it.

seanan_mcguire

September 11 2010, 00:11:16 UTC 6 years ago

Thank you so much.

copperwise

September 10 2010, 22:12:31 UTC 6 years ago

It's my favorite of the series, and the most lyrical. I adore it. You done good.

seanan_mcguire

September 11 2010, 00:11:26 UTC 6 years ago

Thank you, darling.

knitmeapony

September 10 2010, 22:14:43 UTC 6 years ago

Weekend plans:

1) go to Borders. Buy a copy.
2) Go to Tiny Little Local Bookstore. Order a copy to give to my sister.
3) Go home. Eat chocolate. Drink tea. Read awesome book.

seanan_mcguire

September 11 2010, 00:11:48 UTC 6 years ago

YAY!

I love your weekend plans.

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seanan_mcguire

September 11 2010, 00:12:14 UTC 6 years ago

Yay!

Thank you.

groblek

September 10 2010, 22:15:43 UTC 6 years ago

I actually just picked up a copy today. I went in to the local independent bookstore, expecting to have to special order it like I did for the first two, and found it sitting in their "new F/SF paperbacks" display by the register. It seems that word is getting out about your books. This was The Avid Reader in Davis, CA in case you're tracking that sort of thing.

seanan_mcguire

September 11 2010, 00:12:26 UTC 6 years ago

Oh, that's fantastic.

herewiss13

September 10 2010, 22:17:06 UTC 6 years ago

Amazon just delivered it today. It's a nice piece of synchronicity since I got the first book on my honeymoon and our first anniversary was yesterday. That fact that we were in San Francisco as I read Rosemary just made it that much more vivid. Can't wait to crack the covers of this new one this weekend.

seanan_mcguire

September 11 2010, 00:12:38 UTC 6 years ago

Hooray!

tsgeisel

September 10 2010, 22:21:38 UTC 6 years ago

I'm reading it now. I'd have been reading it sooner, but a certain book involving Werewolves, Vampires, Preternaturals, and Tea got to me first.

And, hey - *someone* must like you as a writer - they gave you a tiara for it.

seanan_mcguire

September 11 2010, 00:12:59 UTC 6 years ago

Damn straight.

sheistheweather

September 10 2010, 22:32:16 UTC 6 years ago

I'm about 50ish pages into it already, and I already find it to be a much stronger piece than the first two.

seanan_mcguire

September 11 2010, 00:13:25 UTC 6 years ago

Awesome.

kyburg

September 10 2010, 22:32:36 UTC 6 years ago

It's also the longest, which makes me all kinds of happy.

Sweet dreams, my dear.

seanan_mcguire

September 11 2010, 00:13:40 UTC 6 years ago

Scary, isn't it?

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seanan_mcguire

September 11 2010, 00:13:56 UTC 6 years ago

Awesome!

emberleo

September 10 2010, 22:35:45 UTC 6 years ago

Good gracious, you're an award-winning author with a continuing series ready to go, and a built-in cult following all your own. Why the hell wouldn't they continue with you?!?

Also - will buy third book ASAP. Yay!

--Ember--

seanan_mcguire

September 11 2010, 00:14:26 UTC 6 years ago

Because I am also a neurotic blonde who worries professionally?

emberleo

6 years ago

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janetmiles

September 10 2010, 22:39:23 UTC 6 years ago

I found a copy last week, devoured it, and wish I knew how the hell to write a review, as opposed to a plot summary, so I could post an Amazon review on its behalf.

I did mention it on my own LJ, though.

seanan_mcguire

September 11 2010, 00:15:15 UTC 6 years ago

Heeee!

ah-Ha

maverick_weirdo

September 10 2010, 22:48:59 UTC 6 years ago

Suddenly that Icon makes sense to me

Re: ah-Ha

seanan_mcguire

September 11 2010, 00:15:30 UTC 6 years ago

It all makes sense, in the end...

archangelbeth

September 10 2010, 22:50:01 UTC 6 years ago

It's out? Okay, between it and another one that I want, I gotta hit the bookstore. Hm. I should also pick up a copy for my friend who is having/has had a birthday roundabout now... And maybe one for my mom, d'ya think?

(Your agent would not tell you that you should be a dishwasher, I am sure! (Though, er, on the agent topic -- would 6 months of no response suggest that perhaps a query got eaten by a net monster? Or just that she's really really busy partying/marketing your manuscripts because she's got such an awesome author? Or that the query sucked so hard that it spontaneously self-deleted because it did not deserve to be near anything related to Toby and Feed? Totally don't bother even thinking about this if it's not a top-of-the-head sort of answer!!))

seanan_mcguire

September 11 2010, 00:16:25 UTC 6 years ago

Six months of no response does indicate loss of query. The Agent is generally much more responsive than that, especially where queries are concerned, even if it's only to say "I'm sorry, this is not for me."

archangelbeth

6 years ago

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redushab

September 10 2010, 22:52:56 UTC 6 years ago

I actually got the book the day it came out (Yay for a Borders right across the street from campus!) and had it read before I went to sleep the next day, despite having classes and all that jazz to interfere with my reading time.

It's definitely a great book, and I look forward to the next one being out so I can happily purchase it too. XD

seanan_mcguire

September 11 2010, 00:16:40 UTC 6 years ago

Yay! Thank you.

themysteriousg

September 10 2010, 22:56:13 UTC 6 years ago

I accidentally bought two.

seanan_mcguire

September 11 2010, 00:16:52 UTC 6 years ago

I am okay with that.

vixyish

September 10 2010, 22:57:27 UTC 6 years ago

It is absolutely my favorite of the series.

So far.

:)

seanan_mcguire

September 11 2010, 00:17:04 UTC 6 years ago

Awww, yay.

amazon_syren

September 10 2010, 23:47:59 UTC 6 years ago

It arrived on Tuesday night.

I finished reading it this afternoon.

<3 <3 <3


Question about Lily: Is she Japanese because she's the Tea Gardens? I didn't know Undines were Japanese fairies the way Kitsune are.

Also: Having read the teaser for Book Four: Oh. That's where Toby picked up "making [person x] pay". I've been wondering about that since R&R.

Also Question: Who were Almandine's parents? (I say, working on the possiblyl-foolish assumption that you've got endless family trees tacked to your walls).


Also: Luidag/Toby: I swear, my brain didn't go there. Until now. Hee! :-)


I really, really, REALLY liked this book. YAY! :-D <*offers cupcakes*> I'm glad Toby's starting to understand her own motivations a little better. :-) I cried in a couple of spots. <*sneef*>

seanan_mcguire

September 11 2010, 00:18:33 UTC 6 years ago

Question about Lily: She's Japanese because she's from Japan, and they built the Tea Gardens where they did because of her influence. Undine aren't originally Japanese spirits, but they tend to take on the appearance of the mortal population in the area where they're "born." Lily was born in Japan, and transplanted by Amandine. No one really seems to know why.

Question about LE: Yup.

Question about Amandine: I know, and I'm not telling.

mariadkins

September 11 2010, 00:12:38 UTC 6 years ago

Ordered :)

seanan_mcguire

September 11 2010, 00:18:44 UTC 6 years ago

Yay!

ironed_orchid

September 11 2010, 00:17:42 UTC 6 years ago

I finished it on Thursday and I love it so much.

Also have it ordered, so will possibly pass that copy onto someone.

seanan_mcguire

September 11 2010, 00:18:59 UTC 6 years ago

That's fabulous. Thank you so much.

ironed_orchid

6 years ago

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lyssabard

September 11 2010, 00:19:23 UTC 6 years ago

I just finished it this afternoon and am going through serious book withdrawal-angst because of it. :) This really was my favorite in the series--it was tight, the new characters were awesome (I LOVE MAY!), and I want to spend the next few days rereading my Childe ballads as a result.

Thank you for this wonderful world and everyone in it!

seanan_mcguire

September 11 2010, 00:21:14 UTC 6 years ago

Thank you, for reading. And I love May, too. She's one of my favorite characters to work with (and her arrival makes more sense than it may seem).

lyssabard

6 years ago

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