Wednesday, May 13, 2009

It Actually Happened!!!

Wow. I have had the most awesome two days ever!! Yesterday I had four more school visits (I did four the day before as well!) culminating with a signing at the Idaho Falls Barnes and Noble and it was incredible!!! I had so many people there. People I knew from high school and college, people I knew from Phoenix, even a guy I've known since he was two! Lots of familiar faces. I also had several students who I presented to at the schools come which was totally gratifying. I signed books for over an hour. (As a side note, I still feel naughty writing in books.;))

It's very strange to actually start to feel like a real author . . . but I'm starting to. Book one is out, I'm just putting the final touches on my second round of edits for book two, and people I don't know (and don't owe any favors) are reading my book. Weird!!

However, the most surreal thing of all happened today. This evening I got a call from my editor . . . which my phone--to my total and utter dismay--proceeded to drop. *headthunk* However, when someone calls from Harper, it only registers the main Harper number, so I couldn't actually tell if it was my editor or my publicist. Or, for all I knew, the janitor. So I couldn't call back. So I stared at my phone for five minutes, willing it to ring (because all authors know that there is only one reason your phone rings on a Wednesday evening) and finally it does, and it's my agent. Close enough! I immediately answer and Jodi says, "Tara just called me." At which point I proceed to babble about dropped calls and leading a raid to the AT&T headquarters. Luckily, Jodi interrupts me and says that she has her on the line and is going to conference her in because she has something--oh, probably mundane--to tell me. *insert severe heart palpitations here* So Tara comes on and tells me that Wings has debuted on the New York Times Bestsellers List. And not only on the list, at number six.

Can we say Thrilled. Beyond. Belief?!?!??!

So, even though there are not nearly as many people who read my blog as who must have bought my book to get me on this list, it's the only outlet I have. So, for what it's worth, this is the only place I get to publicly say thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you for supporting me and Wings. For sometimes going to great lengths to get the bookstore staff to get it out of the back room. For talking me up or reviewing my book on your blog. For all the little things as well as big things. Thank you.

*sniff*

Ciao!

47 comments:

Molly said...

Hey April. Your dad called us to tell us the good news about being #6!!! and I immediately told all my friends, sister, neighbors, etc. I bought the book yesterday and have been engrossed! All my friends are excited get their hands on the book as well. There were only two copies at our Costco so they must've been selling like hot cakes. We're going to try and get up to SLC tomorrow to see you at the book signing. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Amy said...

Wahooooo!!!! Congratulations!! That is so unbelievably exciting! So does this mean that on your next book the cover page will say at the top "New York Times Bestselling Author"? Because that will freakin' rock.

us said...

Hey girlie, my mom just called to tell me your news. Can we say EXCITING!? You are awesome! I will miss you at your signing tomorrow. Will you be doing any more in Salt Lake? I bought 3 books but already gave them away. I better go get more before they sell out! ;) Oh ya, on a side note, I had my baby naturally! (I thought you would be proud)

ORION said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

JP said...

Jared was so upset when he couldn't find it on the NY Times website...only to find that it hadn't updated since the week ending in May 2! We're so excited for you and take every chance we can to brag about your book! Congratulations!

Unknown said...

That is amazing! Congratulations! WELL DONE!

Why Not? Because I Said So! said...

Wow! Major congratulations Aprilynne!! I had a feeling about your book when you first told me about WINGS. This is just one more fabulous thing to happen to you.

I know that my blog has been getting many hits from people reading my interview with you. So people want to know more and more about you! Enjoy all of this!!

scott neumyer said...

O M G !! HUGE Congrats!!!

JKB said...

SOOOO Fantastic, my friend!

This is wonderful! :))))))

It couldn't happen to a NICER person. :))))

Big hugs from Germany

Karissa Chen said...

wow that's amazing~! congrats!

Mim said...

Wow! Congratulations!

Shelli (srjohannes) said...

congrads April!

JenWriter said...

Congrats! What awesome news!

Rob said...

Wow.
Just wow!
The New York Times Bestseller list!
That is something to be proud of right there. If I were you, I'd buy a copy of the paper and frame that page. You should be proud. We're all rooting for you.

HeatherM said...

Whoo hoo! This is fantastic, I'm telling everyone! I'm so happy for you. I've gotta get up and do the happy dance now.

Valerie Ipson said...

Your MIL already shared the news with her ANWA sisters. Congratulations!!! You must feel like you have wings...

Debbie Barr said...

Wow, that's incredibly exciting! Congratulations! Unfortunately I have no money for even groceries right now, but as soon as I have some to spare I'll be buying myself a copy of Wings. :)

Chelsea said...

Oh, that's awesome!!! Maybe you'll become super famous-- or at least famous enough to be on Dancing with the Stars. :D

Travis said...

Congrats Aprilynne. It was fun to see you and your family. Enjoy it and be ready for the sequel to debut at #1 (am I first to make the prediction?)

Hoontah said...

Congratulations. When I heard your reading at LTUE, I knew your book was something special!

Melanie said...

I just wanted to drop by and say congratulations! I bought your book and thought it was great. I have been looking on Barnes and Noble's website, and your book keeps climbing in the rankings! Congrats again and can't wait for the sequel.

Patti said...

That is totally awesome. It must be so exciting. Can't wait for the second book.

Amy MacKinnon said...

Aprilynne, I've been following your journey all these years (two?) and to see this -- THIS! -- is amazing. Congratulations, you did it.

Drifter said...

Aprilynne, that is amazing. Wow.

I'm reading Wings at the moment and it's lovely. I read the first 60 pages in one go. Your prose is effortless to read.

DeadlyAccurate said...

Congratulations!

cindy said...

CONGRATULAIONS! is it nuts that i'm as jealous over the fan art as i am over NYT list? haha! so so exciting!!! celebrate, aprilynne!!!!

Kayla said...

Hi. I just finished reading your book, not even fifteen minutes ago and I wanted to tell you how much I loved it! I read Wings in a day. Literally, I could not put it down.
You should come down to Florida. The climate is nice and warm!

Maureen Lipinski said...

Congrats! That is so amazing! I just bought WINGS and can't wait to delve into it this weekend! Fellow AW-er does good! :)

storyqueen said...

Congratulations! I am going to go out and buy your book today....I love faerie stories.

Take care,

Shelley
www.storyqueenscastle.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

WWWWWWOOOOOOO!!! YYYAAAAAYYYY APRIL!!!! SOOO EXCITED!

Micaela!!

Carolyn V. said...

That is so AWESOME!!! I can't wait to pick up the book. I'm coming this Saturday to your book signing.

Woo Hoo!

Sandra Cormier said...

Omigod! That's so great! I'm laughing out loud here!

Congrats over and over!

Michelle said...

Aprilynne, I received your book as a birthday gift this morning. What a wonderful day, spent wrapped up in the beautiful world you've crafted! I am oming to your appearance at the Orem library for certain! Excited for the sequels!

Dal Jeanis said...

Yay, Aprilynne!

(I'd enter more exclamation points but my editor would remove them again.)

Sari said...

Hi April.

I just picked up your book yesterday at Changing Hands! (signed, even!) I wanted to come see you when you were there but my son had a baseball game.

I'm looking forward to reading your book and wish you the best!

Don said...

This is great news. Congratulations!

Laurel said...

I just linked through from Nathan Bransford's blog and am stoked about buying and reading this book! Looks right up my alley, plus the MC has a fabulous name ;)

Congratulations and happy basking.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations times a million, Aprilynne!!! How absolutely amazing. :)

Other Lisa said...

Way, way cool! Congratulations!!!

Kelfa said...

I read your book. It was amazing! I am telling all of my friends! All of them. You are off to a great start.

K. M. Walton said...

Major kudos to you. Exciting stuff. You must be so proud of yourself, and you should be.

Awesome.

Heather Zenzen said...

So, first off, CONGRATULATIONS on such a great debut! Now, can you tell all us wanna-be-published authors what magical formula you believe helped such a great debut happen? I mean, OF COURSE you have a great story, but what else? Was it the cover? Product placement? What's your theory?

Jamie Ford said...

Congrats! Now you will forever be known as: NYT Bestselling Author Aprilynne Pike...

Yamile said...

Hi Aprilynne, I come from Nathan Bransford's blog, and I'm so thrilled you're a Utah author and a mom, and that your novel is having such success. You certainly inspire me not to give up and keep dreaming. Congratulations!!!!!
PS: You should add a followers button to your blog. I'm sure you'll get a lot more blog traffic now.
Chau!

Maggie Stiefvater said...

OK, I know I'm late to the party and to say congrats but I know you must still be over the moon. CONGRATS!!!

Unrepentant Escapist said...

Big congrats. I met you at a conference (Life the Universe and Everything) and just saw the news. Late me :)

Alex Moore said...

This is so totally awesome -- and it couldn't happen to a more wonderful dear :) i took your book to school last week, plugging it in every class, and already two of my students have read it!

But this success has nothing to do w/ anything but you. your writing. your commitment to the page. Kudos to you, girl.