Jeremy Blachman's Weblog: 2009

New Anonymous Lawyer Post

New post vaguely about the writers strike.  Actually, about a secretaries' strike.  Been meaning to write this one for a few days now.  New post coming on Friday about Thanksgiving as well.

On my flight back to NY on Monday I read the new Bill Bryson book, a biography of William Shakespeare.  Like everything else Bryson writes, it's extremely readable and filled with all sorts of fun facts.  Learned much more about Shakespeare, his life, and the nonsense-controversy over his identity (Bryson spends a good bit of the book debunking theories that Shakespeare wasn't actually the author of his plays) than I knew before, and it almost makes the idea of picking up a few of his plays I haven't read seem appealing.  I have to admit, shamefully, I used the Cliff's Notes to get through the ones I read in high school.

Thanks, Salt Lake County Library System!

I just received an unexpected (and delightful) letter in the mail from the Salt Lake County (Utah) Library System, letting me know that Anonymous Lawyer has been chosen as a nominee for their semi-annual Reader's Choice Award.  Twice a year, they choose about 20 recently published books, display them in their libraries, and let readers vote for the winner.  They said there were almost 3,000 votes cast last time around.

Very neat to have been selected.  I don't know that I know anyone in the Salt Lake County area, but if YOU do, tell them about my book, and ask them to cast a vote!

Dallas Pictures

Just a couple of pics from last week's Dallas book signing.  Which I thought was a really good event, probably the most comfortable I've been at any of the events I've done, although that's not saying all that much.

My book, in Korean

I arrived home to find a package from my publisher -- 6 copies of my book, in Korean!  It's pretty awesome.  There's a website, obviously I have no idea what it says, but those yellow and black images are from the cover art.  Actually, here's a scan of the whole cover.  Really cool.  If you live in Korea, makes a great gift!  And if you read Korean, tell me what that website says!

DC Book Event

I just got sent a couple of photos from my book event last week in DC.  I like this one.

Anon Lawyer Updates

1. I'm featured on The Book Depository this week, a UK book site -- there's a pretty long Q&A there, I think there's even a couple of answers I haven't given before.

2. I'm told my paperback is in stores.  Official release date is April 17, but 2 people told me they saw the book, so, if you're looking for it... it's got a silver cover.  AND: Amazon's already got it in stock.  $10.40.  Just the right price, 3 days from tax day.  Use this link and I get 6% of the purchase price.

3. Two book reading/signings coming up in the not-too-distant future, in DC and in Dallas.

April 26th in DC:

"Moment Magazine Presents An Evening of Humor With Jeremy Blachman, author of Anonymous Lawyer"
Date: Thursday, April 26, 2007
Time: 7:30-9:30 pm
Location: 3008 45th Street, NW, Washington, DC

To reserve your spot, please contact Nonna at ngorilovskaya@momentmag.com or (202) 363-6423.  Refreshments will be served.

And May 22nd in Dallas... and I'll post details once I know them.

Google Books

Not sure how long this has been around, but I just noticed it -- you can read about 10 pages of my Anonymous Lawyer book for free on Google Reader.  Seems pretty cool -- I may poke around and see what other books are up there.  There's something more appealing about getting to read actual sample pages instead of the web-formatted first chapters they sometimes have on the NYT or Washington Post sites.

Favorite Quotes

The New York Times is asking for people's favorite quotes from recent books.

Just saying, you know?

Waterstone's Bookclub

Waterstone's, the biggest UK bookstore chain (according to Wikipedia) is featuring my book in their monthly book club.  Very cool.  Check it out.

I've spent much of the day sleeping or trying to sleep.  Eyes are pretty sore.  Feeling better since taking Tylenol and waking up from a nap at 9:00.  Psych, on the USA Network, is a pretty consistently entertaining show.  Haven't watched Monk in a couple of years, but I like Psych better than I liked Monk when I watched Monk, I think.  Also meant to post about this but didn't -- Friday Night Lights continues to be an awesome show.  Wednesday's episode was really good.  And this cool article about ABC's Brothers and Sisters was a good read, and actually pretty much the only thing I read today.

UK Edition Available

For any readers in the UK: Amazon UK has my paperback in stock for 3.99 pounds, 50% off list price.  Here's the link.  I just got 15 of them in the mail yesterday from my agent (I think that's what my contract said I'm supposed to get for free) and they look pretty cool.  Supposed to be interviewed on BBC Radio 4's "Today" show sometime this week, but I'm still waiting for details.  Exciting to have the book out in a new country....