Cause for celebration or one big yawn? Things Without A Name is in stores from today.
June 1st 2008 05:01
Today’s the Big Day. Things Without A Name is officially ‘out.’
Funny, you’d think that the day your book is released, there’d be some kind of fanfare. You’d wake in the morning to the sound of trumpets, there’d be flowers and cards and throngs of well-wishers lining the pavements. Unfortunately that’s not how it happens. It arrives in a box at various bookshops and someone opens the box and unpacks them and puts them on the shelf. That’s the best one can hope for.
I always like to make a ritual pilgrimage to my favourite bookshop to see for myself that my book has in fact made it all in one piece. But since there seems to be no skywriting across the sky ‘Things without A Name in bookstores today’ (funny that); no major headlines urging all readers to get themselves to a bookshop before stocks run out (bizarre when you think about it) and no-one but me seems to give a flying hoot, I may just wait until tomorrow.
It is all strangely anti-climactic. Since I’ve lived with Things Without A Name in my head for the past two years and am well into writing my next book there’s a kind of jetlag to the response this book is likely to get.
Nonetheless. One needn’t be blasé about it. Later on I’m going to crack a bottle of champagne and toast its birth into the world. No harm in a little revelry and ceremonial libation.
I’d like to extend an invitation to all Sydney-based Orblers to the official launch which is taking place on 14 June at 5.30 at Bowen Library, 669 – 673 Anzac Parade, Maroubra. If you’d like to attend, please RSVP to agentzed@optusnet.com.au so we can make sure we’ve got enough nibblies and champagne.
Finally, we’re running a competition on my website around the topic of ‘things without a name.’ You can score an ipod shuffle as well as signed copies of my previous books. Check out www.joannefedler.com
Here is the blurb to give you a sense of what the book's about and thanks to Mountain Fog for the great suggestion, I'll be posting the first chapter here next time I blog:
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.’
At thirty-four, Faith Roberts isn’t so different from most women her age. Okay, so her cleavage is rather disappointing and she’s still single, but she has a busy job, the usual dysfunctional family, a clinically depressed best friend and a younger sister who is getting breast implants as an engagement present. Practically normal.
Faith used to think about falling in love. But that was a long time ago.
It’s not like she doesn’t want to see the good in the world, it’s just that the bad keeps showing up on the other side of her desk, day in and day out. Having heard one too many love-gone-wrong stories, Faith is worn thin by her work as a legal counsellor in a women’s crisis centre. So it’s hard not to give up on the big things like love, hope and trust, let alone the chance of getting a decent hair cut or meeting a halfway normal bloke.
Then one night an odd twist of fate finds Faith wringing out years of unshed tears in a suburban veterinary clinic. It is a night that will slowly change the way she sees herself, and begin the unearthing of long-buried family secrets; a night that will allow Faith to finally understand what she has always needed to know: that before you can save others you have to save yourself.
A beautifully written, big-hearted love story that grabs you by the scruff of the neck and will not let you go, Things Without a Name will resonate with anyone who’s ever thought about giving up but chooses not to.
Book trailer for Things Without A Name
Funny, you’d think that the day your book is released, there’d be some kind of fanfare. You’d wake in the morning to the sound of trumpets, there’d be flowers and cards and throngs of well-wishers lining the pavements. Unfortunately that’s not how it happens. It arrives in a box at various bookshops and someone opens the box and unpacks them and puts them on the shelf. That’s the best one can hope for.
I always like to make a ritual pilgrimage to my favourite bookshop to see for myself that my book has in fact made it all in one piece. But since there seems to be no skywriting across the sky ‘Things without A Name in bookstores today’ (funny that); no major headlines urging all readers to get themselves to a bookshop before stocks run out (bizarre when you think about it) and no-one but me seems to give a flying hoot, I may just wait until tomorrow.
It is all strangely anti-climactic. Since I’ve lived with Things Without A Name in my head for the past two years and am well into writing my next book there’s a kind of jetlag to the response this book is likely to get.
Things Without A Name
Nonetheless. One needn’t be blasé about it. Later on I’m going to crack a bottle of champagne and toast its birth into the world. No harm in a little revelry and ceremonial libation.
I’d like to extend an invitation to all Sydney-based Orblers to the official launch which is taking place on 14 June at 5.30 at Bowen Library, 669 – 673 Anzac Parade, Maroubra. If you’d like to attend, please RSVP to agentzed@optusnet.com.au so we can make sure we’ve got enough nibblies and champagne.
Finally, we’re running a competition on my website around the topic of ‘things without a name.’ You can score an ipod shuffle as well as signed copies of my previous books. Check out www.joannefedler.com
Here is the blurb to give you a sense of what the book's about and thanks to Mountain Fog for the great suggestion, I'll be posting the first chapter here next time I blog:
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.’
At thirty-four, Faith Roberts isn’t so different from most women her age. Okay, so her cleavage is rather disappointing and she’s still single, but she has a busy job, the usual dysfunctional family, a clinically depressed best friend and a younger sister who is getting breast implants as an engagement present. Practically normal.
Faith used to think about falling in love. But that was a long time ago.
It’s not like she doesn’t want to see the good in the world, it’s just that the bad keeps showing up on the other side of her desk, day in and day out. Having heard one too many love-gone-wrong stories, Faith is worn thin by her work as a legal counsellor in a women’s crisis centre. So it’s hard not to give up on the big things like love, hope and trust, let alone the chance of getting a decent hair cut or meeting a halfway normal bloke.
Then one night an odd twist of fate finds Faith wringing out years of unshed tears in a suburban veterinary clinic. It is a night that will slowly change the way she sees herself, and begin the unearthing of long-buried family secrets; a night that will allow Faith to finally understand what she has always needed to know: that before you can save others you have to save yourself.
A beautifully written, big-hearted love story that grabs you by the scruff of the neck and will not let you go, Things Without a Name will resonate with anyone who’s ever thought about giving up but chooses not to.
Book trailer for Things Without A Name
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Comment by Jayne Kearney
Writers In Writing (and other writing)
And here I was thinking that a book was not released until its 'launch'. In anticipation I have been trawling the Allen & Unwin site and, last night I came across the exerpt from Things Without a Name . I gave myself a teaser of the wonderful first page. But reading on a screen is not the same as reading with book in hand. I shall run to my bookseller tomorrow for my copy.
Well, well done and if I had a trumpet I would play you a fanfare!! (Is that how it's done?)
I also saw the fabulously intriguing Things Without A Name competition on your website and have been composing entries in my head ever since!
Enjoy your ceremonial libation!
Jayne
Comment by Joanne Fedler
Secret Writers Business
Actually, most books don't get a launch. But I consider it a gross waste of an opportunity for a new dress and a lot of champagne, if a new book is not actually celebrated. I mean, how many of these will I get in my lifetime? With a modest financial contribution from my publisher, and a very generous response from the Randwick City Council, I'm putting this launch together with 'the more the merrier' as my mantra. So far we've got about 120 rsvp's, and counting.
I really look forward to your entry to the competition. At least I know there will be ONE fabulous contribution
Jo
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Tracy
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Deep Pencil
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Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Daily Inspirations
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Comment by Michaelie
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Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
getting published, particularly in Oz, is a difficult thing to do!
Look forward to seeing the book!
I acted as literary agent for a family member, I've dealt with A&U, they, like all publishers, promise the moon, and deliver dust, once you are signed!
Anyhoo, we need publishers, so, there we are!
I would love to attend your book launch, but will have to see if I can be in town that day. (I live in the country)
cheers and let us hope it makes the best seller lists!!
fog
P.S. Are you going to post a first page or a blurb on it here on Orble?
Comment by Anne from SA
Hope to see available in SA soon.
Enjoy the celebrations, you deserve it.
Love
Anne
Comment by tlcorbin
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Comment by Priyanka
History
Mumbai Corner
Congratulations!
Comment by Joanne Fedler
Secret Writers Business
Mountain Fog, you've made a great suggestion - I'm going to modify this post to include the blurb and will post the first chapter here tomorrow.
Jo
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Congratulations on the release of the book and the book launch. Sorry I missed the invitation - evidently I've had my head up my bum.
Now that I know the title I can casually drop into conversation.
"Read any good books lately?"
"Well, actually...."
Hope it goes gang busters for you Jo.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Joanne Fedler
Secret Writers Business
Really Long Link
Cheers,
Jo