Word on the street is that Amazon and Barnes and Noble online have Blood of Ambrose in stock (with brick-and-mortar stores to follow shortly). Used copies are running $17.00 more expensive than new copies at Amazon–I have no idea what that’s about. Used bookstores trying to snare a few bucks from injudicious collectors, possibly.
My author copies came yesterday, and it was much just like that scene in Back to the Future where George McFly (2.0) receives the copies of his first novel. Except we have fewer but cooler kids than the McFly household, and my spouse wasn’t there, and Biff was not being so much a character as he usually is, and I’m somewhat less suave but also less greasy than Crispin Glover… Well, maybe it wasn’t just like that scene.
It was unspeakably cool, though: the book itself is a beautiful thing, between Dominic Harman’s great cover and the design and the typography. (Fritz Leiber should have had it this good.) I’ve heard good things about the story, but the source is a little biased, so take that with a grain of salt.
*g*
This guy is easily taken in by a cool cover, so he’s not to be relied on. But I’ll read through the book anyway.
Congrats – I assume you’re walking on air!
The expensive used books might be ARCs – they’re even more collectable than first editions, nowadays.
Thanks!
Hadn’t thought about ARCs–they must be getting as rare as hen’s teeth, what with the shift to e-texts.
That’s awesome.
I always thought that if I got a book published, I would call up every bookstore in the nation pretending to be a customer and order a copy for pick up, because I think a lot of times when someone doesn’t pick the book up they just put it out on the floor. If they don’t order the books for the stores you could do that and might be able to get them in anyway.
I’ll keep an eye out for it, I’m in bookstores a lot. Although I probably won’t be able to get a copy until Fall sometime.
Thanks! There is actually a pretty big order from one of the chains–B&N, I think, so I have hopes.
By Fall the sequel “This Crooked Way” should be out, too.
Congrats James.
Don’t worry about the used Amazon copies they’ll come down to a reasonable price.
When’s your first book signing?
Thanks! (I’m not worried–just confused. But I think Gustavo’s suggestion above makes a lot of sense.)
Domestic crises may keep me pretty close to home for the foreseeable future, I’m afraid, so I don’t know about signings. Sorry if that sounds mopey: I do appreciate the interest and the encouragement.
Groovitude.
Was there a little corner in the back of your mind dreading that moment, thinking you’d open the box, it would be empty, and then you’d wake up?
–Jeff Stehman
Sort of. I keep having these weird oh-so-this-is-really-happening moments. I was reading through one of the chapters, looking at some of the dialogue and saying to myself, “I’ll have to give that a little more snap… Have to fix that before it’s published…” Then I snap into focus and realize that I’m reading the published book.
It needs more snap? Damn, I should have checked here before ordering. If we meet some day, I’d appreciate it if you would write the new, snappier dialogue in the margins for me?
–Jeff Stehman
No problem. (It’ll mostly consist of adding “See?” after every declarative sentence and “Oh yeah?” to every rejoinder.)
I’ve just ordered one from Amazon. They say it can take up to 32 days to be delivered from the US 🙂
Tanti Auguri!
Ego gratias tibi maxime ago–et M. Ambrosius quoque.
I’d rather have him thank me than come after me!
Oh, I’m sure he’d just make something weird but useful and wander off muttering. 90% sure.
Sweet! Grats and thanks for the heads-up. 🙂
Any word on the Audible version?
Thanks! (And thanks for the chick updates: those pictures have been fun to see.)
I think the Audible version is still slated for April 20th or thereabouts.
Congratulations, Mr. Enge. I can only imagine the thrill of it. My copy has been sitting in the pre-order queue for awhile now, so I expect I’ll be getting it sometime next year…
Best wishes on your continued success,
Jason T
Kindle format?
Your book looks interesting, I saw an article about it over on Tor.com.
Do you know if there are any plans to publish it in Kindle format?
Russ
In stock at Borders
I haven’t checked in here for quite awhile, apparently. But I was shelving books at the Gresham, OR Borders, and one of them was “Blood of Ambrose.” “James Enge,” I’m thinking. “Seems like I know someone by that name…”
Congrats! It looks like we have the book featured in a genre bay: 6 copies on the floor at a time when we’re not exactly drowning in stock. I bought a copy, put another in my Bookseller Recommends slot, and talked it/you up to anyone who would listen.
-shawn