Friday, November 29, 2013

Give the Gift of Books

So it's Black Friday and I know many people will be hitting the streets and doing their holiday shopping today. Personally, I hate crowds, traffic, and parking so I do all my shopping from home.  For those looking to give books this year I have a few tips for you:


As for my books, I'm offering discounts of 15%-20% off and that includes pre-ordering Hollow World and you'll receive a copy in March (a month earlier than the April release). If you want me to ship to someone you love, just specify their shipping address in the notes field. I'll also provide free gift wrapping on request.


So if you are like me and don't want to fight the crowds and the traffic.  Go online and buy books for holiday giving.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Happy Birthday Riyria


It's hard to believe by Theft of Swords came out two years ago! A lot has happened since then and to say that the series has exceeded my expectations is an understatement. Technically the series is older than that, as it was first small press published in October 2008, and when disaster struct with the small press, we had to reclaim and self-publish (starting in April 2009). But to me it's the relaunch of the series by Orbit that the series really was born and that was November 23, 2011.

When we started self-publishing, Robin was taking the lead for getting the world out. I remember a cold winter day when we were walking to the Metro that she asked, "So how many copies do I have to sell for you to consider this whole thing a success." 

I thought hard and replied, "Fifty." But then added the qualifier, "But it has to be to people who I don't know and who have never met me."  

"I think I can do that she said." 

While it is difficult to get exact numbers as reporting happens infrequently and in the distant past, I do get periodic numbers from my publisher indicating how many books have sold through ebooks and how many print books have left the warehouse. I also recently got some interesting data on the number of audio books and man - you audio listeners really love the series - so thanks for that.  From the best we can put together it looks like 435,000 English language books have been sold between the self and traditionally published versions.  So yeah, Robin, you beat the 50 I had originally anticipated.

Those numbers are amazing, but the truth is that the outstanding sales of Riyria really has more to do with you, the readers, than anything that I or Robin have done.  I wrote the best books I could, Robin got them in front of a few people, but it is you who have told your friends and family about the books and recommended that they pick them up that made all the difference. Even simple acts like leaving reviews that has shown others that the books are worth taking a chance on is all your doing. So any success the series has enjoyed is your doing - and I give you my heartfelt thanks.

Long story short....I'm thrilled that the books are still going strong, especially since many books have their six weeks in the sun then disappear. I just wanted to take a moment to celebrate this very small milestone and to thank all of you for getting the series to where it is now. I guess it's time to come up with some new milestones to reach.  I'll put my thinking cap on.

Monday, November 18, 2013

Signing this week at Barnes and Noble as part of Discovery Friday


This Friday (at 7:00 pm) I'll be at the Barnes and Noble in the Tyson's Corner Mall as part of Discovery Friday. This is a nationwide event that will be offering:
  • A chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree
  • One day discounts throughout the stores
  • Special events (like having me sign books)
  • Personalized recommendations from booksellers
  • Activities for the kiddies
I'll be signing books, of course, and also passing out signed bookmarks and maybe even a few Hollow World posters. For those not in the Virginia area, here is the full list where you can find other Orbit authors:
Oh, and if you are a fan of David Baldacci, stop by Thursday night at the store I'll be at Friday as he'll be there for that.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

An honor to be nominated...goodreads Best Books of 2013 Choice Awards


From time to time fellow authors, or aspiring authors, ask me about what I attribute my success to. The first thing I always mention is, "Write a good book." Where "good" is defined as a book that people love enough (for whatever subjective reasons they have) that they recommend it to others. The second thing I bring up is that getting the word out about the book is just as important (the whole tree falling with no one to hear it thing) and as far as that goes I always bring up (a) goodreads and (b) book bloggers, both of which have been very good to me and my novels.

We are now in the second round of voting for the Goodreads Choice Award, and I'm honored to say that once again I have a nominated title, The Crown Tower (first book in the Riyria Chronicles). Round one which ran from Nov 4 - Nov 9 picked fifteen titles based on the number of people who shelved the books and the ratings and reviews they gave them.  Round two (which runs from Nov 11 - Nov 16) added five titles based on write in ballots.  The third round will limit the field of twenty to a final group of ten. I, of course, am hoping to make that round, but truly it was an honor just to be nominated originally. Especially in such an amazing field.


The full list includes:
  • Blood of Dragons by Robin Hobb
  • Companions, the by R.A. Salvatore
  • Crown Tower, the by Michael J. Sullivan
  • Daylight War, the by Peter V. Brett
  • Firebird, the by Susanna Kearsley
  • Ghost Bride, the by Yangsze Choo
  • Emperor of Thorns by Mark Lawrence
  • Forged in Blood by Lindsay Buroker
  • Golem and the Jinni, the by Helene Wecker
  • Memory of Light, a by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
  • Natural History of Dragons, a by Marie Brennan
  • Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
  • Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan
  • Republic of Thieves, by Scott Lynch
  • River of Stars by Guy Gavriel Kay
  • River of No Return by Bee Ridgeway
  • Seduction by M.J. Rose
  • Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic, the by Emily Croy Baker
  • Third Kingdom, the by Terry Goodkind
  • Vicious by V.E. Schwab
I was fortunate to be nominated two other times:
I have no illusions (or delusions) of winning, so I'm not even going to ask you for your vote. But please do go here and join the over 1,000,000 people who have already voted.

One last thing that I should mention. That to celebrate the nomination I'm going to be giving away some signed copies of The Crown Tower. There are two contests running, and all you have to do is enter to win.  The books will be signed and dedicated however you wish, and they should be shipping December 6th which will mean they can arrive in time for gift-giving. I'll even gift wrap before mailing if you are giving to a friend or family member. Her are links to the contests:
Because non-US people can't participate in the first one, those outside the US will get an extra ballot when they sign up for the second one - to help even out the odds.

Lastly, I'd just like to thank all the readers of goodreads for shelving and rating my books over the years. Your support is what got me in not just one, or two, but three years worth of nominations. I'm thrilled and surprised and already feel like a winner just for being included.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

A Very Riyria Halloween

The other day I got an email from a reader who mentioned that she and a friend dressed up as Royce and Hadrian for Halloween.  I must say they are the perfect example of great friends to mirror my pair of rogues. They did a fabulous job on their outfits so here is Isabeau as Hadrian on the left and Ivy as Royce on the right.



Didn't they do a great job?  Pictures posted with permission of Ivy. Thanks for sharing this with me guys and for allowing me to show your fine work to others.