Tuesday 25 March 2008

Travels in Xanadu-du: The Book, it has Landed!

I know most of you are desperate to know about the progress of my novel, Travels in Xanadu-du. Not least because some of you have actually paid good, hard cash money to get a hold of a copy. Only a month late, I am pleased to announce that it is shipping! Not without glitches, of course. Life would be so boring if everything went to plan, now wouldn't it? The plan was that the printers would make a big pile of books. The bulk of these would be shipped to Liverpool where my publisher is based, and ten copies would be delivered to me in sunny Madrid to do with whatever I like. Hmm. Some bugger got it wrong. The doorbell rang at about noon today, and the nice (but sweaty) young man from UPS delivered box upon box of books into our micro-piso (if you've been following the plot, you'll know that we live in the world's smallest flat, but we love it because it's right in the middle of Madrid).



I've seen my name in print many times. But to stack up a bunch of books like this, well; it's a bit unusual.

So, I spent the afternoon printing shipping notes and address labels, printing and signing maps of Xanadu-du, signing the books themselves, and then packing up the pre-ordered books and taking them to the Post Office to wave goodbye to them. Please take note: no author that you've ever heard of went to such great lengths to keep his punters happy!

Actually, this cock-up didn't work out too badly: we saved a good old British pound on postage to the UAE. But we gained an extra one on postage to the UK.

Until the current stock is exhausted, you can get your book signed and personally taken to the Post Office by the author, and a signed colour map if I feel like it. So get on over to Xanadu-du, and place your order NOW!!!

I love you all.

6 comments:

dubaibilly said...

I got my email saying it was on the way - I guess it should be here within the decade, then. Given, of course, the vagaries of Emirates Post.

Looking forward to it mate and I will post a review on my blog when I have read it.

Cheers

B

Jayne said...

I'm so pleased for you keefie :-)
Now, on my 'to do' list for today is to get Hubs to order my book cos he's got the paypal thingy that doesn't like me! So, the order that I made won't be dispatched because I haven't paid for it, but the order that Hubs makes tonight will hopefully wing its way over in the very near future - yay! *sigh*

Grumpy Goat said...

The Goat has ordered a copy and even succeeded in the department of Pay-Pal.

He naturally expects the author's signature, map, director's commentary and blooper reel...

Keef said...

Dubaibilly: I had a horrible thought today - the front cover features highly-stylised silhouettes of a man and a woman. Definitely neckid, though. And all that stuff about du.
Jayne: Nag him a bit more!
Goatboy: Book, bells and whistles in the post.

Anonymous said...

I wonder where mine is at the moment? I received notification it was on its way at least a week ago.

I think there must be a postie somwehere reading it from cover to cover before he'll let me get my mitts on it :-(

I should have ordered two of them :-)

Anonymous said...

Ooh! Mine arrived today.

I can't wait to get stuck in.