A Fantastic Party, But Seriously, It’s All You …
I’ve had the best celebration day for the The Heir of Night going on sale, and I’d really like to thank you all for “making that so!”
I suggested, in the party invite, that people either post—and thank you so much for “knocking on my door” and doing just that :-)—or “tell me why books and/or fantasy rock your world”.
So although you can read all these wonderful ideas by reading through the comments, I thought I’d re-post some of them here, in “large and in lights”, just to underline again what a wonderful party it’s been. As well as those who did “simply post” in order to rejoice with me: how special is that?
Pretty durned special, I think: so here you all are: [Selected excerpts, anyway!]
“Ah Fantasy, some truths can only be spoken in metaphor, and some plots are just too fun to put down. Good fantasy has both, with amazing characters thrown in, what’s not to love?” — AJ Ponder
“Why do I love fantasy novels? Because they are filled with imaginative worlds, complicated characters, and intriguing conflicts.” — Violet
“Fantasy is one of my favourite genres because it takes you to new worlds and makes you encounter amazing things and creatures you can only dream of in real life.” — Sullivan McPig & Carien
” … thank you for creating new worlds” — Harvey Molloy
“Oh, fantasy. The best way of saying true things that are made up.” — Karen Healey
“F&SF – my favourite genre. No limits to the imagination…” — Anthony
“Fantasy has always attracted me and it is what I want my life to be.” — Giada M.
“It’s so thrilling to see all your years of hard work pay off… Looking forward to having the whole series in pride-of-place on my bookshelf! ” — Joffre Horlor
“I want you to plant that kiwi flag right in the heart of the US of A. … (Yeah, I know books don’t have passports… but just this once… for fun…)” — Mary Victoria
“Hooray!!! “— Jane Higgins
“Looking foward to toasting it together soon” –- Viki
“I loved HEIR from the moment I first read the manuscript a few years ago, and I am just so very thrilled to see it in print!” — Beth Miller
“It is such a wonderful story Looking forward to the next one.” — Sharon
“It’s always a pleasure to read good and fascinating fantasy books.” — Seregil of Rhiminee
“Congratulations on the book release!” — Sami Thomson
“Hey, fantastic news!” — Rose-Marie Lillian
“I love this idea of a blog party, and you don’t have to clean up afterward! “— Vanda Symon
“All the very best for your launch/es …” — Micah Timona Ferris
“Fab news – am very excited for you – will have bubbles in November … ” — Jayne Richardson
“Woohoo! Am I late? Sorry. *hands over a magnum-sized bottle of Diamond draught* Go EASY on that stuff, it’s a heady brew…” — Ciaran Fox
“I hope you get to do whatever is your favourite mode of celebration today and that the good news regarding Heir of the Night just keeps coming.” — Nicole Murphy
“Such a blast to see all the great reviews and know that “Heir” is out there doing it’s thing!” — Andrew
[That’s “my” Andrew; so glad he could make the party, however briefly, even on a ‘school day’! 🙂 ]
“… go you. I look forward to reading it. Loved Thornspell.” — Judith Stanley
“I have spread the news of the party on a prominent bird-related social networking tool, so I hope still more revellers (nice, well-behaved ones – not gatecrashers) will join in soon.” — Tim Jones
“I have my best frock and hat on, Helen — what a great party!” — Claire Beynon
“I loved the book and it now sits on the Staff Recommends shelf of the bookstore I where I work (a bit of New Zealand in the middle of the USA as someone put it)…” — Georgette
“A musical ting of champagne glasses to you, Helen!” — Alison Croggan
“A big warm heartfelt congratulations from me! I’m so excited about this book launch. Am tweeting about it now!” — Kim Falconer
Last Friday, I blogged (in part) about that proverbial “journey of a thousand miles”—which may begin with opening your front door and walking out, or may commence when one half-begun manuscript is picked out of the pile and the resolution made to “finish it”. But although all such journeys may begin with that single, first step they are rarely—if ever—completed entirely alone.
In my case, and that of The Heir of Night, I feel very moved by the warmth all of you have shown in joining in my celebration today. What can I say, except a great big THANK YOU to you all!
So now, as the grande finale of our blog party, I hope you will now all raise your—ok, metaphorical! ;-)—glasses and drink with me to The Heir of Night now being officially on sale throughout the United States and Canada.
And, of course, Heir (with the red cover!) is also officially on-sale in Australia and New Zealand next week—7 October is the big day and I have something very special planned, so come back and visit again then! 🙂
In fact—you kow you can always drop by any time you like!
(raising my cup of sweet tea) Cheers!
Go that sweet tea! 🙂
I am so thrilled for you, Helen! I can’t wait to read “Heir.” I’ll be out getting my copy asap!
Thank you, Wen–your sampler is in the post and the mighty Heir will be available here, too, on the 7th. Yahoo!
It’s coffee for me this morning – but I raise the glass (cup?) to you and to your success – roll on P-day in NZ! 🙂
Indeed, I’ll be “painting it red” here next week! Speaking of coffee …
Wonderful news! We are both really excited about this and will try and advertise this far and wide. Looks like this is the first book for our “summer reading” list. 🙂
Thank you so much to you both for posting! Thanks for joining in the fun … 🙂
Wow! What a lot of lovely comments.
Here’s to hoping the book sales will soar to great hights so you will be able to keep writing for a long time to come.
Yes indeed—it has been a great party and more fun to come next week with the launch of Heir into Australia/New Zealand.
Hi Helen,
I’m so pleased your book has been published! Congratulations! But what’s this Blog party all about? It took me some time to realise that it means instead of us coming over with a bottle and plate to your house, we all sit in front of our computers while putting up with the quakes if in ChCh, and pretend to be at your party!! (I know you are “over the quake”, but you mentioned it again!) Sorry Helen, but a virtual party!! Please, next time, let’s have a real one! Down with virtual anything!Bring on real-life celebration, even if it means us saddos getting out of our jarmies and slippers and entering the real world!!
Well, it was a “real” for me and allowed friends and family from overseas to join in the fun, which was nice, too … But I promise you, when the 12-14 quakes a day die down, and the city is a little less under scaffolding and cranes every other block, and my freiends in Avonside are back on sewer, and the friends who were going to do the catering for the “realtime party” are able to open their business again, then yes, we will indeed have that realtime party with real-life celebration! 🙂
Great, Helen. I’ll be there to help celebrate. Let’s hope this shaky city gets back to normal and all our friends can get back to their old lives.