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You are here: Home / Thanks, Everyone!

Thanks, Everyone!

by | 76 Comments

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Blanche_The_Readers

Many, many thanks to Scav, Betty, and everyone here for the good wishes on The Hunt for Vulcan making the Royal Society’s book prize finals.

I feel like I have to thank the book itself as well.  I love all my book-children equally (if not always for the same things), but HoV was definitely the kindest one I’ve ever worked on.  I’d wake up, grab my coffee, and go to my desk, and it would tell me what it wanted to be that day, so I’d write that.  Then damned if it wouldnt’ do it again the next day … and the next, until we agreed that it was done.   That’s kindness.

I’d be remiss in my authorly duty if I didn’t also note that it’s just out in paperback in the US and will be so next week in the UK. (You can always get the hardcover, the e-book, or the audiobook if you’d like — at all the usual suspects. (see below).

ETA, per commenter Mike J.:  here’s the Amazon link for the hardcover, the paperback, the kindle edition, and the audiobook.  As Mike J. notes, buying via the affiliate link helps the site.  I’d only add that communities and all those books that don’t get the Oprah/Fresh Air/zeitgeist boost utterly depend on the support of independent bookstores — and the relatively few remaining Barnes and Nobles and the like too.  So if you’ve got a brick-and-mortar store near you, and you can stand the higher price you’ll pay compared to Amazon, I’d urge you to help them out, and me (and any other writer you like), by telling the actual humans there that they might like to talk the book up.

OK — back to your regularly scheduled programming:

To answer a couple of questions from Betty’s thread:

Alas, no owls.  I found out a few days ago from my UK publisher, Head of Zeus (no, really).  The Royal Society lets the various publishers know under embargo to help with the promotion of the prize and the short listed books.

What am I going to do with the money? A) never price the unborn calf. B) most of the shortlist winnings are already allocated to Q3 estimated taxes ;-( (and whew for the windfall). C)  I might splurge on a new and faster bicycle. (Noting, as ever that the bike may change but, alas, the rider does not.)

Who did I tell first? My wife and son, obviously. My agent and editor over here.  And one more member of my household.  He was strangely unmoved by the news:

Tikka-you talking to me?

Questioned more closely, he restated his position:

Tikka hot c:u

Again:  my thanks to everyone, and especially to those who have or will read about the planet that was and wasn’t there.

Image: Jacques-Émile Blanche, The Readers, 1890.

 

 

Reader Interactions

76Comments

  4. 4.

    Cat48

    Congratulations. May I have your kitty bc mine died 2 years ago & Jeffrey looked like your kitty? I know I can’t, but he looks so similar.

  6. 6.

    Mike J

    Don’t just tell people it;s available at the usual places, put a link to buy it through the balloon-juice affiliate link to keep the server hamsters fed.

    And congrats!

  7. 7.

    Villago Delenda Est

    Tom, this is so huge, that bigfooting John is just absolutely the right thing to do.

    Congratulations!

  11. 11.

    JanieM

    @redshirt: I would love that. I’m in Cambridge for about one week each month and could try to time a trip accordingly.

    redshirt — I was waiting for this opportunity to note your mention of the Portland-Boston bus a few threads ago. I’m on that bus for most of my trips…used to take the train and still love it best in theory, but the on-time performance got worse and worse on the Downeaster, and North Station can be such a zoo. Plus, the bus comes to Augusta now, which is much closer to me than Portland. At the Boston end I get on and off at Logan, and make sure it’s at a peaceful time of day. :-)

    If I knew how, I’d look for you on the bus…..I’m heading down this Sunday in fact, for the work week.

    (P.S. Besides that I just love trains, the train is more spacious than the bus and has food and drink. I have back and hip problems, and the bus seats vary quite a bit in terms of whether they’re comfortable. But the bus has won out in my balance sheet for the past year and half – probably not accidental that I switched toward the end of the winter of 2015.)

    (PPS. Maybe we could have a Maine meetup sometime! I know I’m relatively new around here, but what the heck, I’ll stick my neck out.)

    ETA: Sorry, this isn’t really an open thread. I just had this stuff on my mind and Heather’s AA thread is far down the list at this point. You people move on so fast around here!

  12. 12.

    Yutsano

    I see Tikka is taking his job at keeping you grounded very seriously.

    most of the shortlist winnings are already allocated to Q3 estimated taxes ;-(

    The lament of independent contractors everywhere.

  13. 13.

    jeffreyw

    Wow, talk about six degrees and stuff! My closest personal brush with the famous so far has been a conversation with a guy who once sat next to Rod Serling on an airplane. Yay Tom!

  14. 14.

    Tom Levenson

    @redshirt: Sounds great. Let me get a couple more steps forward on the current book and I’ll pop up a thread to pick a night and a venue. Given the summer’s madness (and rapid passing) might have to wait until after I get back from London for the big night (towards the end of September…)

  16. 16.

    redshirt

    @JanieM: How about that?! I take the bus almost every Monday morning and stay over Monday night, heading back on Tuesday evenings. Lately I’ve also been going down on Thursdays.

    I’ve probably crossed paths with Tom as I’ve been around MIT a lot lately.

    A Maine meetup would be cool, but I think there’s only 4 of us, and we’re somewhat scattered. I’d be game if it happens.

  18. 18.

    Miss Bianca

    never price the unborn calf.

    Ha! You’re not a Mary Renault reader, are you? the only other time I’ve ever seen that particular proverb cited was in “The Mask of Apollo”.

    Just ordered the audiobook version of HfV, so I can drive around and listen to it! And let some friends of mine know on the Patrick O’Brian list. Figured since Stephen Maturin was a member of the Royal Society, that they’d get a kick out of it – *and* would be a likely audience for the book!

    Congratulations again!

  19. 19.

    OzarkHillbilly

    B) most of the shortlist winnings are already allocated to Q3 estimated taxes ;-( (and whew for the windfall).

    Not a bad way of spending them if only to reduce the anxiety level that comes with estimated taxes. But yeah, spoil yourself with something, you’ve earned it.

  21. 21.

    Miss Bianca

    @redshirt: I’m coming to Maine sometime – probably not this summer, alas, but possibly fall – two of my sisters live there, and a third lives on Cape Cod – and my parents and my oldest brother are buried in the cemetery up on Deer Isle, where the folks owned a house, so all in all I am way overdue for a visit.

  27. 27.

    Tom Levenson

    @Miss Bianca: Definitely a Mary Renault acolyte — just love her stuff (and yes, that’s where I read that phrase too. Remember — amateurs borrow, professionals steal.)

    Yay Patrick O’Brian! The connection isn’t just to Maturin. Aubrey, after all, became an accomplished astronomer and practical mathematician — and we learn in one of the books (I can’t remember which) that he got help from Caroline Heschel to figure one his mirrors. She figures in Hunt for Vulcan momentarily for the connection through her brother to the discovery of Uranus. (I’m betting she finished off the mirror William used for that observation, but I haven’t gone deeply enough into the sequence of the Heschel ‘scopes to be sure.)

  32. 32.

    Schlemazel

    Tika,”as long as the tinned mice keep showing up in my dish its all good by me”

    Congrats Tom!

  34. 34.

    Miss Bianca

    @Tom Levenson:

    Aubrey, after all, became an accomplished astronomer and practical mathematician — and we learn in one of the books (I can’t remember which) that he got help from Caroline Heschel to figure one his mirrors. She figures in Hunt for Vulcan momentarily for the connection through her brother to the discovery of Uranus.

    I cannot off the top of my head remember either which book it is that features her- at this point in my journeyings thru’ the Aubreyad, the books kind of all run together into one big long one – but with this reference you have absolutely guaranteed that I’d be reading HfV, if I hadn’t already committed to it! Caroline Herschel is a fascinating character. Huzzay! Can’t wait!

  37. 37.

    J.

    Congratulations! The Hunt for Vulcan sounds… fascinating (as do your other books). My stepfather taught a science writing course at Harvard. I shall get him a copy.

    Also, that is one awesome cat. :-)

  39. 39.

    Mnemosyne

    Tikka is calculating how many pounds of catnip that prize will buy him, hooman “taxes” be damned.

    Congrats again!

  43. 43.

    bryan

    Delurking for a moment to put in a plug re: a possible Boston/Cambridge meetup – Mamaleh’s Delicatessen is a ‘traditional’ Jewish deli just opened by the owners of State Park and the recently closed Hungry Mother, which some local foodies may be familiar with. Seems that they aren’t yet open for dinner, but supposedly will be soon.
    Disclaimer- I did some of the work on improving the acoustics of the space before it opened; from what I understand its been getting great reviews so far.

  45. 45.

    Origuy

    @Tom Levenson: I’ll be in Boston around September 19-21, in between the US Classic Orienteering Champs at Ward Pound Ridge, NY and the North American Champs around Hanover, NH. If the meetup happens then, I’ll definitely make it. Don’t go to any trouble for me, though.

  48. 48.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Shell:

    But whats this about owls?

    In Betty’s thread, below, I asked Tom a series of questions, the first of which was “How did you get the news?” To which the witty and completely on-the-ball Mike J responded “I’m pretty sure they send an owl.” Tom was picking up on that exchange (proving he actually reads threads, unlike some I could name).

  49. 49.

    seaboogie

    Congrats, Tom! I just ordered a HC copy for my father who is educating himself in physics as a hobby in retirement. Bookstore is a local independent at which I work occasionally, so I get a staff discount and you get the largest portion of your vast, vast royalties ;-)…..everybody wins!

    Another book mention for your Sci-Fi fans out there. I may be going to a reading tonight in Sonoma for local author Eliot Fintushel’s new Sci-Fi novel “Zen City”, which is a post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi/Spiritual sort of thing that’s been well reviewed. This genre is not my cup of tea at all – but kind of want to be supportive – Eliot is my soon to be former landlady’s ex-husband.

  52. 52.

    Mnemosyne

    Totally OT, but I am about to commence a months-long campaign for my nieces in Florida to be allowed to accompany me on a trip to Disney World next March. Yes, March. I’m hoping allowing that much lead time will help break down the resistance of their narcissistic mother (and I don’t mean that casually — I’m pretty sure the woman has NPD after the various shit she’s pulled).

    Since this is a site where there’s always someone who knows something, any advice on convincing a narcissist to do something that’s not their idea short of a cash payoff?

  54. 54.

    1,000 Flouncing Lurkers (was fidelioscabinet)

    @Mnemosyne: She’s so brave dealing with the girls by herself, and you know she deserves some time for herself where she doesn’t have to put the girls first every minute.

    In other words, smooth but hard-core flattery and concern for her happiness, with any mention of pleasure for yourself and nieces far in the background. If she says she can’t take advantage of you, well, you know no child of hers would behave badly…and so on. She deserves relief! She deserves respite! Taking them off her hands for a weekend (or whatever) is the very least you can do and you feel badly you can’t help her more. No, of course you don’t expect her to spend anything for this! The very thought! You would never be so inconsiderate!

    Rinse and repeat, and also reinforce, in case she shows signs of changing her mind.

  55. 55.

    Dadadadadadada

    @Mnemosyne: Have the nieces bang on and on about how much they’ll love their mother if she lets them go. Or, if she’s the vindictive type, about how much they’re dreading having to travel to lame old Disneyworld with their lame old aunt/uncle. (I’ve always assumed you’re female, for possibly inscrutable reasons. Am I right?)

  57. 57.

    Mnemosyne

    @1,000 Flouncing Lurkers (was fidelioscabinet):

    That’s the plan, if I can ever get the woman on the phone. Many heavy doses of, It’s so hard to be a single mom, we just want to take some of the burden off you!

    I have zero moral qualms about kissong this woman’s ass if it gets me what I want, namely time with my nieces away from her, but it’s tough since they’re in Florida and I’m in California.

    @Dadadadadadada:

    I am the lame old aunt. Having the kids downplay being excited could be good if they don’t overplay their hand and make her decide that a “good mom” wouldn’t make her kids do something she doesn’t want them to do anyway.

  59. 59.

    Patricia Kayden

    @Mnemosyne: Could you make it seem as if it was her idea in the first place? Kind of play a psyche game with her where you introduce a topic and lead her in the right direction.

  60. 60.

    Roger Moore

    @Dadadadadadada:

    I’ve always assumed you’re female, for possibly inscrutable reasons.

    Her namesake was most definitely female; she was the mother of the Muses. And yes, the our Mnemosyne is also female, or at least the person who shows up to B-J meet-ups claiming to me Mnem is female.

  61. 61.

    chopper

    @chopper:

    you do have to be careful about it tho. one thing that will really set a narcissistic sort off completely is the realization that they’re being manipulated.

  63. 63.

    Technocrat

    @Mnemosyne:

    If you can, a gesture that is completely centered on the mother might help. Something like a spa session if she’s into that, or tickets to a game, or a show. It’s not bribery at all, sometimes you forget how hard as she works, anyone would need some time to recharge. =)

    @chopper:

    To be fair, that sets ANYONE off, lol

  65. 65.

    Mnemosyne

    @chopper:

    Trust me, this woman is a textbook narcissist. You may have missed the story of her showing up on the doorstep of her estranged husband’s house less than 6 hours after he died with a U-Haul, expecting to take stuff from the house that wasn’t hers.

    I have more stories, but that’s probably the one that takes the least explanation.

    @Patricia Kayden:

    Hm. I already hinted at it in a note I included to my nieces when I sent them some school stuff, so that ship may have sailed, unfortunately. But I’m definitely re-thinking what I’m going to put in the email for my niece to show her mom.

    (That would be the 16 year old; the other one is 10 years old.)

  67. 67.

    Mnemosyne

    @Roger Moore:

    You missed meeting G at the last meetup — he’s still working for Pasadena Library, so now it’s easier to convince him to come drink beer with total strangers.

  68. 68.

    Mnemosyne

    @chopper:

    I think I can sell the “you deserve a break!” message with a fair amount of sincerity because, frankly, I would be doing this even if she wasn’t a crazy narcissist.

    The balance I need is figuring out how far I need to go in my pretense that she’s a normal mother. Most of the women I’ve talked to at work say that if a trusted relative offered to take the kids off their hands for a week, their first question would be, “What time do you want them there?” So the fact that I’m having a hard time getting her to call me to discuss it is already abnormal.

    She’s convinced that we’re all trying to steal her children because we think she’s a bad mother and, well, she’s not entirely wrong. So I have to walk that fine line of only wanting them for a short time.

  69. 69.

    Prescott Cactus

    Tom,

    Loved the book and congrats on the prize !

    What am I going to do with the money?

    Purina Owl Chow ?

  71. 71.

    The Fat Kate Middleton

    Such an honor, Tom. Congratulations! My sister also received good news this week – she’s having TWO books published in the next few weeks (a memoir and a collection of short stories), and has already received a pretty prestigious award for one of them. She also teaches writing (started the Writers Workshop at the University of Maine at Farmington), and has worked long and hard for this. I’m so happy for her.

  72. 72.

    debbie

    @Mnemosyne:

    Since she’s a narcissist, catch her when she’s frazzled and overwhelmed by single motherhood, and tell her you’ve decided to take her up on that idea she had for you to treat her kids to Disney World. She’ll say she doesn’t remember having that idea, and you’ll tell her that’s because she’s got so much on her mind. Then tell her she can use the alone time to regather her strength and work on her memory.

  73. 73.

    stinger

    Congratulations, Tom! I’m well into The Hunt for Vulcan, and it is a hard-to-put-down story, so well told!

  74. 74.

    seaboogie

    @Mnemosyne: Second the flattery route and relief of time alone for heroic mother who has surely earned a break after all she’s been through this last while….

    Trust me, if she’s NPD, she is really only thinking about herself. Assuming you act truly sincere and don’t lay it on too thick so that she becomes suspicious, it should work.

    I know that Disney is astonishingly expensive (do you get an employee discount?), buy maybe if you could throw in a spa day for Sainted Mother, that would sweeten the “me me me” pot.

  75. 75.

    Mnemosyne

    @debbie:

    If I can swing that, I will. Right now, I can’t even get her on the phone to try and blow smoke up her ass. ?

    @seaboogie:

    I get very, very nice discounts, including free admission and a steep hotel discount. But it may be true that I may have to sweeten the pot in some way. I may need to play that by ear, though.

  76. 76.

    Bruce Baugh

    Tom, a question about the book. How much is there is the way of illustrations and diagrams? I’m considering either audio or Kindle, and this’d make a difference.

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