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The “coming out” party begins on this side of the pond.
As an experienced, mature, professional writer I am of course experienced in such things and completely…unhinged, in just as much of an emotional storm as when Sheepfarmer’s Daughter made its way to the shelves back in 1988. The excitement of “launch day” hasn’t gotten old yet, and probably never will–and some books have me dancing on the hot needles more than others.
A few pleas from the author:
Please do not post any spoilers here. (Those of you already reading the UK edition have been very good about that–thanks!) Not everyone has their copy or will have for more than a week. I’ll open the gate for book discussion later.
Please don’t tell me about typos (I know there are some)–let my joy be unconfined for awhile. It took a long time to get here, and I need to bask a bit (only a bit–have to finish those revisions…and continue with book three.)
Enjoy yourselves. The week has already complicated itself more than it was two days ago, and I might not post every single day this coming week, but I’ll try. Revisions really do have to trump posts, though. So does getting M- to and from work on time, dealing with the sacrificial lamb (well…going to be sacrificed to a love of lamb curry, lamb stew, rack of lamb, etc.) and scuttling around to all the bookstores in Austin that carry the book, to sign shelf stock.
Comment by Kerry (aka Trouble) — March 16, 2010 @ 8:31 am
Happy Release Day!
Comment by Jenn S. — March 16, 2010 @ 10:14 am
Congratulations!! My friend and I plan to find a bookstore today and each buy a copy. Reading it on the beach will be the high point of spring break. (I will even turn off my inner copyeditor to fully enjoy it.) We’ve been looking forward to Oath of Fealty for a long time and know it will be awesomesauce.
Wishing you the best on Launch Day!
Comment by Kip Colegrove — March 16, 2010 @ 10:15 am
Would that I could be part of the signing festivities in Austin. The thought of it carries me back to bookselling days; of all the aspects of that complex and bustling occupation, the signings were the most fun for me. (I’m pretty sure the authors enjoyed it too.)
But now I’m off to Borders to pick up my pre-ordered copy of The Book and consume a celebratory latte (and a few chapters).
Comment by elizabeth — March 16, 2010 @ 10:23 am
I do enjoy signings, Kip…except the ones I had where nobody showed up and the people who did come in the bookstore looked at me as if I had a contagious disease. (Happened twice, but the memory lingers…)
Hope you enjoy the new one.
Comment by elizabeth — March 16, 2010 @ 10:24 am
I have achieved that pinnacle of writing–I’ve written a Beach Book!! (not entirely a joke, BTW) Let me know how it works as a beach book…but do turn off your inner copyeditor, because it does have some typos. In spite of all of us going over it repeatedly.
Comment by elizabeth — March 16, 2010 @ 10:29 am
So far, release day is comprised of rain, rain, rain, rain, finally getting one printer hooked up (older one), rain, rain, test run with the software for this afternoon’s online chat, rain, rain, rain…and a large quantity of glee casting a sunny glow over everything.
Comment by OtterB — March 16, 2010 @ 10:34 am
Congrats! Wish I could follow the online chat, but I have to work. My pre-ordered copy hasn’t shipped yet, but I shouldn’t dig in with it until the weekend anyway, so I trust it will arrive by then.
Comment by Robert Conley — March 16, 2010 @ 10:38 am
Already bought it and downloaded to my Kindle. Very good so far (up to chapter 6).
Comment by Craig — March 16, 2010 @ 11:52 am
My local Borders is only receiving 5 copies. I don’t know if I’ll be able to get one tonight, but we shall see!
Congrats!
Comment by Kathleen — March 16, 2010 @ 2:08 pm
I appreciate the no spoiler rule. I just found out that my pre-order shipped today. So I’m a couple of days away from reading too. Hope it doesn’t matter to your numbers, but I probably won’t be pre-ordering again.
Comment by Adam Baker — March 16, 2010 @ 3:39 pm
Congrats on the Big Day!!
Read the Suvudu chat, and it was very informative & entertaining.
Comment by Adam Baker — March 16, 2010 @ 3:41 pm
Oops, hit the button too soon.
I just checked my Books A Million account. My book was shipped at 1pm today. My guess is it will probably be Thursday before it gets here. I know what Im doing this weekend!! haha
Comment by Jenn S. — March 16, 2010 @ 3:54 pm
Unfortunately the beach is kinda chilly today. We lost feeling in our extremities after a short walk along the water, which would’ve made it difficult to turn pages.
We shall make a strategic withdrawal to warmer (perhaps indoor) climates to read our copies until such time as the weather improves. I’ll take a picture of your book on the beach if possible.
Comment by Barb — March 16, 2010 @ 4:08 pm
I was at my local Borders (Columbia, MD) at noon and their 5 copies were out on a front display table. YAY!!
It is a very handsome and substantial book in hand. And the cover just sparkles, the embossed lettering is great.
Your publisher did you proud.
No, I didn’t buy one of the copies, as I had pre-ordered from another seller, but I did want to actually see it and flip through it and make sure it was out on the floor.
Comment by Tobias — March 16, 2010 @ 5:17 pm
Oath of Fealty is the recommended fantasy of the month for March at sfbok.se, Sweden’s leading SF book store. Yay!
I was so looking forward to buying Oath of Fealty as an ebook today, but I’ve searched and searched, and I can’t find it anywhere in a usable format (such as EPUB) being sold to non-US residents. Please tell me I missed it somewhere. My last hope is that the usual good sites are just a bit behind. This is getting really depressing. I want to join the party!
Comment by David — March 16, 2010 @ 5:43 pm
I am on my way home from work and am seriously hoping my preordered copy is sitting on the table waiting for me.
Unfortunately I can’t check for tracking because it was a Christmas gift from my mother-in-law who lives in Texas. I however am in Massachusetts.
Yes, I am rambling because I am torn between the anticipation of getting home and finding it there, or having my hopes dashed by it not being there.
Comment by Gillian — March 16, 2010 @ 5:56 pm
Hi! I’ve just finished my copy this evening (UK edition here). I really enjoyed it and am now champing at the bit for the next book in the series.
I’d like to add (if it doesn’t sound a bit patronising or anything) that one thing that added significantly to my enjoyment was the way you dealt with having several different major POV characters in this book. Specifically, I liked that after the early scene-setting / character introductions you’d spend a good bit of time with character A, and get to a good stopping point, before going back to character B. POV-switching every other chapter on a cliff-hanger is something that often spoils a book for me, although it’s something I’ve often seen recommended ‘to increase the tension’. It does the exact opposite for me.
Congratulations on it being out in the US. I’m seeing ads for it all over the internets today.
Comment by Amanda — March 16, 2010 @ 6:09 pm
I was very excited to find my copy waiting for me when I returned home from work tonight. I am already nearly 200 pages in and just wanted to say Thank You for bring us back to this world!
Happy Release Day!!
Comment by Cyndi — March 16, 2010 @ 7:42 pm
Congratulations on Release Day!
My copy wont arrive for a few days (I am hoping tomorrow…) but I am throughly excited and anxious!
**woot! Does a small jigging dance and cant wait, peering through the window, every 10 minutes, in search of a Amazon Box**
Comment by David — March 16, 2010 @ 7:59 pm
Curses!! My hopes were dashed by the unfeeling Amazon/FedEx hordes. Well there is always tomorrow. Unfortunately I won’t be home until after 10:00PM but heres hoping it arrives before I leave for work at 10:30AM.
I am glad everyone who got their copy is enjoying it, but I really want mine!!!
Comment by Adam Baker — March 16, 2010 @ 9:03 pm
I feel your pain David, haha. I did get a good piece of info though, the shipping information estimates my book will arrive on Thursday. Its coming from Alabama, so its not too incredibly far away, but too far I think, for it to arrive tomorrow.
Comment by Victor — March 16, 2010 @ 9:31 pm
Congratulations!
I was at your book signing in Book People today. Really enjoyed meeting you and having my Paks omnibus personalized certainly made my day!
The release kinda caught me by surprise – I only knew of it today thanks to a friend. Will try to spare some book budget to get Oath of Fealty. I didn’t get to pick up a copy today…
Comment by elizabeth — March 16, 2010 @ 10:04 pm
Thanks to all for your comments and I’ll get to answering them tomorrow but now–must…have…sleep….
Comment by Marty M — March 17, 2010 @ 3:14 am
Oh my, so good it cost a nights sleep
Going to be a long wait till the second book comes out.
Comment by Cyndi — March 17, 2010 @ 3:52 am
Only a year, lol!
Sleep well, Elizabeth!
Comment by FrancisT — March 17, 2010 @ 6:10 am
@Tobias
You can buy it in the UK as a (DRM-crippled) epub from foyles – http://www.foyles.co.uk/results.asp?sf_01=kword_index&st_01=oath+of+fealty&sort=eh_nbd_rank%2Fd&CID=&x=0&y=0
It is of course cheaper to buy the dead tree version from either foyles or thebookdepository.co.uk (which is where mine is coming from).
Comment by beth — March 17, 2010 @ 12:40 pm
I had forgotten to click order on my amazon pre-order, so I was feeling all bummed when I ordered it yesterday (when I checked to see where it was). Now I see that it is scheduled to be delivered today! Sometimes I do love me these modern times. I won’t be online much starting in a few hours… Thanks!
Comment by Tobias — March 17, 2010 @ 4:32 pm
@FrancisT
Thanks! You made my day!
Comment by Moira — March 17, 2010 @ 5:53 pm
And despite Amazon’s dire predictions of a March 22 ship date, my copy was waiting for me when I got home last night!
Only several chapters in, but already I must agree with and quote Anne McCaffrey: “It’s quite simply a smashing story, and I am panting to read the next installment from this consummate storyteller. Hurry up, Elizabeth!”
Stopped reading to answer the door (how dare they interrupt?) do I had to post and do a virtual bouncy-bouncy dance of glee, but uhh… bye for now.
(I’m in “Rome is burning? I’m in the middle of a good book, dammit – don’t disturb me!” mode.
)
Comment by Cyndi — March 18, 2010 @ 1:37 am
I got the book today (FINALLY!) And started it. I am trying to read it slow (I will fail in that attempt…) But I do have to say, I am thrilled to see Anne McCaffrey critiqued(?) it. I do love the Planet Pirates you wrote with her.
So far, book is WONDERFUL!
And, Elizabeth, I wanted to say, thank you. Thank you for letting us come back to Paks’s world.
Comment by Marissa — March 19, 2010 @ 8:31 am
My pre-ordered copy came on the 18th, but I was pleased because the estimated delivery date was the 23rd! I’ve started reading, and it is simply refreshing already. Not many other fantasy books capture me the way your writing does. It’s the little details that you put into every conversation between characters, that make me get lost in the story. Unlike Cyndi, I am already a slow reader; so I have to try to read fast, because I have a line forming behind me of people who are eager to get their hands on my copy! Thank you for all your hard work, Elizabeth.
Comment by Thom Morris — March 20, 2010 @ 12:14 pm
Got my copy of Oath of Fealty from my local library; finished it last night (3/19). Everything I hoped it would be! It was so good to be back in Aarenis and the Eight Kingdoms. Please, be sure that your local library purchases copies of Oath, and if they no longer have copies of the Deed of Paksenarrion, recommend that they re-purchase so that those who come to Paks’ world for the first time through the Oath of Fealty have access to the original.
Comment by AtlanticJim — March 20, 2010 @ 5:08 pm
Paks, or maybe even Gird, must have pushed me to a book store today.
I had no idea that this was coming out, but just stopped in to kill a few minutes. There it sat! An Elizabeth Moon book with a lady holding a sword on the front cover!
Now, onto page 1……….
Comment by Hiren Desai — March 20, 2010 @ 10:34 pm
Just finished Oath of Fealty (started it this morning). It was just as brilliant as the first trilogy. Can’t wait until the next book comes out! Guess I’ll just read Deed again in the meantime
Comment by elizabeth — March 20, 2010 @ 10:59 pm
AtlanticJim, I have to ask….if you didn’t know this was coming out….when/how did you find this blog? ‘Cause if you’d been here before, you’d have known.
Hope you enjoy it.
Comment by AtlanticJim — March 21, 2010 @ 11:42 am
From the introduction!
Loving it so far. It’s like running into old friends you have not seen for years.
Comment by Jenn S. — March 22, 2010 @ 1:41 am
Here’s your book on the beach! (I love the dust jacket, but took it off to keep it in good condition.)
http://twitpic.com/1a78ko
Comment by elizabeth — March 22, 2010 @ 11:03 am
Ooh! LOVE that picture!! If you emailed it to me, I could resize it and post it here…if you wanted.
Comment by Jenn S. — March 23, 2010 @ 11:19 am
Sure thing! It’s a cell phone pic, so it’s not high quality, but feel free to post it. I emailed it to your sff.net account; hope that is correct.
Comment by Kelly Gardner — May 14, 2010 @ 12:22 pm
I was not aware the book was coming out. I received a copy for Mother’s day. Just finished it. It is as gripping as the original stories from years ago. I have read the Paks book so many times I have lost count. I am so glad to be back in Paks world. I can’t wait for another book to come out. I will recommend this highly to friends but won’t loan out my copy. Had trouble getting books back because friends loved and and wanted to hang on to it.
Congratulations. A book well written!!!!
Comment by elizabeth — May 14, 2010 @ 3:40 pm
Thanks, Kelly, and welcome to the blog. I’m so glad you like the book. I’m waiting for permission to display the cover of the next one, Kings of the North (and I have to draw the maps for it realsoonnow.)
Point of information: Where could Del Rey Books–or I–have waved the Oath release date in front of you so you’d have seen it? (Not that getting it for Mother’s Day is a bad thing, but I’m trying to figure out what holes we didn’t plug.) Publishers these days are convinced that certain online venues work better than others…but I’ve found that some of the people who didn’t know it was coming don’t use those venues.