Liar is now out there

Yesterday and today at TLA (Texas Library Association) I signed 200 ARCs (advance readers copies) of Liar. That’s right, there are now copies of Liar out there in the wild.

This is a little unnerving. I’ve been thinking about Liar since I first got the idea in February 2005. Here it is just over four years later and Liar is almost a real book. Which other people will be reading soon.

Gulp.

I was not feeling at all nervous about Liar being read by people who aren’t my agent, publisher, or friends until I started signing the ARCs. Suddenly it dawned on me that my book—the actual solid paper thing—is now going to be read and thought about, or put down in disgust, or lost on a bus, or whatever.

This is a strange feeling. I’m deciding whether it is good or bad. I’ll let you know.

TLA has been wonderful. I particularly enjoyed today when a whole bunch of teenagers were let loose to create havoc and mayhem. They were all most excellent. I especially loved the session I did with the fabulous Neal Shusterman where we got to talk with around 40 teenagers and answer their most wondrous questions. I just hope that next time they do it there will be longer sessions.

And now I must nap before the cocktail party.

My life is hard.

Posted by Justine at 17:52, 2 April 2009 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Liar | 12 Comments »

Comments

Rebecca Says:

WHAT?! NOOOOOOOOOO! I thought they weren’t ready yet! NOOOOO. I MISSED TLA. I almost went but decided not to at the last minute. NOOOOOOOOOOOOO. ALAS AND WOE AND SADNESS. HOW WILL I WAIT TILL SEPTEMBER LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE? I will go sulk now.

April 2nd, 2009 at 7:28 PM
J Says:

Yay! First comment! i love neil shusterman, although i have only read one of his books (Unwind) which was awesome. Justine, i think you will do awesome with Liar. it seems like an great book, and as long as u r proud of it, it doesn’t matter what others think. (thats is how i managed to let other people read parts of my novels.) i’m sure it will be excellent. Can’t wait to read it!

April 2nd, 2009 at 7:28 PM
Rachel Says:

Clarification: Is Liar the official title? And if not, what is/can you tell us?

April 2nd, 2009 at 8:04 PM
Mary Elizabeth S. Says:

“…a whole bunch of teenagers were let loose to create havoc and mayhem…”

This is what makes the world a better place. This is where awesome comes from.

~Mary

April 2nd, 2009 at 8:47 PM
Karen Says:

!!!

I am so excited for this one.

April 2nd, 2009 at 10:45 PM
Joey (in SF Bay Area) Says:

Yay for Liar! (And yay for cocktail parties, too!)

April 3rd, 2009 at 1:50 AM
eric luper Says:

Yay for ARCs! Best of luck for LIAR’s big debut in the world.

April 3rd, 2009 at 11:29 AM
Nichole Says:

So great to see you again! You were fabulous, as usual. I’m super excited about Liar. I plan on starting it tonight. When I’m done, I’ll pass it around to the Austin Librarians. I was SO bummed I couldn’t be there for the cocktail party. I heard it was a good one.

April 3rd, 2009 at 4:24 PM
9. Justine Says:

Thanks everyone!

Nichole: It was great fun seeing the Austin gang again! Here’s hoping I’m sent to TLA in 2011 when it’s in your wonderful hometown. Hope youse all like Liar.

April 3rd, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Doselle Young Says:

Congratulations, Justine!

I am very much looking forward to the new book and wish you every success!

Cheers!

D

April 4th, 2009 at 5:25 AM
Chris Barton Says:

Hey, Justine — I really enjoyed getting to talk religion and chickens with you and Scott Thursday evening. And I’m so sorry about that thing with Sa****tha Sch***pe — I hope you didn’t let it spoil the rest of your visit.

April 4th, 2009 at 8:22 AM
12. Justine Says:

Chris: Thanks!

Heh hem! What if she googles?

April 4th, 2009 at 9:31 AM