In which Seanan fusses a bit, and ponders the nature of time.

[seanan_mcguire]

One month from today (give or take a few days, given shipping times and shelving patterns), Discount Armageddon will be officially released into the wild. People will be able to buy it, not just pre-order it. Reviews will hopefully become more common, without becoming dramatically meaner. My teetering pile of ARCs will be replaced by a teetering pile of author copies. The beat, as they say, will go on.

This is the first new series I've launched under my own name since 2009, when Rosemary and Rue came out. Feed was released in 2010, and I was a nervous wreck about it, but at the end of the day, Mira Grant was another person; if she failed, I would cry a lot, because Feed was a book I really, really loved, but it wouldn't crush me. But this...

I've had some people email me to sadly ask whether I'm tired of Toby. I'm not, and the sixth book comes out this fall (Ashes of Honor). She's just emotionally exhausting, and it's hard for new readers to get into the series without feeling daunted. Whereas InCryptid is something I've really wanted to write for a long time, with characters and situations that I really love, and it's a series and world I've put together with more experience under my belt, allowing me to avoid some of the flaws in Toby's world. Yes, flaws: Toby's world, for all that I adore it, is innately Eurocentric, and can be confusing sometimes, even though the only type of supernatural creatures to exist are the fae. There's a lot of history, and I sort of assumed everyone understood feudalism. It's my world, I made it, and I love it, but there's something amazing about starting from scratch.

A month before Rosemary and Rue came out, I was vomiting with terror. I'm calmer this time, although I'm still anxious as all hell. Will people like my baby? Will it do okay? Will the other new releases beat it up and call it names? Will sales be strong enough that I'm allowed to continue past the second book? It would make a tidy duology, but you've met me: two is never enough. I want to go much, much further in this world, and whether I get to do that will depend partially on book one. I am a bundle of anxiety and neurosis.

But it's almost here. No matter what else happens, no matter what comes next, Discount Armageddon is almost here.

That's pretty much amazing.

Comments

[anne_d]

For what it's worth, you've already proved to me that you're a good writer, on a par with my (other) favorite authors. I'd love more Toby (especially more Tybalt), but whatever your muses turn up, I'll read. You write it, I'll happily buy it.

[stormsdotter.livejournal.com]

Yay, more of Seanan's books! With a whole new world to explore!

Seanan, please try to be calm. Your new series will probably do as well as Toby's. It may do better; Armageddon reaches a broader range of modern readers than Fae Urban Fantasy. (This is conjecture, since my opinion is biased.)

Rosemary and Rue won the Campbell, and your writing has gotten stronger and more streamlined since then. I'm not just saying that as your friend, I'm speaking as an editor.

[autographedcat.livejournal.com]

Will people like my baby? Will it do okay? Will the other new releases beat it up and call it names?

I will take it to dinner, and then out dancing. And it will shine, shine shine!

Can't wait to read it!

[jenjen4280.livejournal.com]

In the interest of full disclosure, I gotta say that I'm not really into ballroom dancing or cryptozoology. However, I do like the way you write and how carefully and extensively you do your world building, so I am planning on buying Discount Armageddon. And I'm 100% sure that I'll enjoy it.

[dornbeast.livejournal.com]

"Will the other new releases beat it up and call it names?"

Hopefully, some of the new releases will share their orange juice and trade half-sandwiches.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

I'm very much looking forward to this book--- no, this new series.

[markbernstein.livejournal.com]

In honor of your one-month-to-release day, I've replaced the Late Eclipses wallpaper on my laptop with Discount Armageddon wallpaper (the one with the book and the grenades).

I've been looking forward to this one since I first learned about it, as it hits both my humor and SYTYCD buttons. I'll be in my local B&N on March 6th, ready to buy. I'm optimistic that this baby will thrive just fine. (Did you know that it's already broken into Amazon's top 100 list for Fantasy?)

[jacylrin.livejournal.com]

To make the final "where to purchase" decision, I wanted to know if Amazon preorders count on your first week sales numbers. If so, I'll go the lazy let it appear on my door route (OK, 2 copies, or Spawn the Elder will eat me, and swipe my book). If not, I'll go harass B&N mercilessly on release day ;-)

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

Looking forward to the new series. That being said, Toby's world may have been mostly Eurocentric, but, on the other hand, if one Magic System exists, why should it follow that ALL Magic Systems that were cooked up since humans were around should also exist, especially since they probably contradict each other? Besides, we like Toby.

[spectralbovine.livejournal.com]

I think people may be confused about paying full price for a discount armageddon, but, as others have said, it's more accessible (so many monsters! something for everyone!) and you have super street cred now!! I hope for boffo sales.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

I am sure it will go swimmingly.

[ladymurmur.livejournal.com]

I'd say I wished it was next month already, but I have deadlines between now and then that I'm happy to let come in the fullness of time. What I WILL say is that knowing there will be a new Seanan book waiting the very same day that the Project-o-Doom-d'jour finishes is one of the carrots that makes me happy to keep dodging sticks.

And a new series to boot? WHEEEEEEEE!

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

I love all your writing, so I will be buying a copy.

And who knows? Inspiration might strike and let me do my little bit to alert people to its existence. Can't promise, of course, but past experience suggests the odds are good.

I'm sure it will be wonderful.

[tereshkova2001.livejournal.com]

Yay new series!!
I may have to make a subtlety (edible table decoration) of the mice worshiping some cheese and cake. (I did one for Cat Valente's kingdom of the mice in The Orphan's Tales, with bright food coloring added to the mouse cookies.)

[anthimerian.livejournal.com]

I so very dearly want ALL the books in this series, and I haven't even read it yet! I wish you good sales. At least one of them will be me.

When I read this post it occurred to me that there were probably icons and wallpapers for DA up on your website, and Lo! Now I have grenades and mice on my desktop. I'm going to squee every time I see it.

[evaleastaristev.livejournal.com]

*huggles the Seanan*

It'll do fine. I know that everyone up here that I know is going to buy it. And I'll be buying it hard copy, not on the Nook. Because firsts are amazing.

[bettie turner (from livejournal.com)]

I'm a huge fan of Toby, but quite willing to branch out! I haven't gotten your zombie books under the other name... I will - i'm just a little fried on some of the zombie stuff. Even if I don't win an arc, I've got Discount Armageddon on my wish list on Amazon! Best of luck with the release.

[gwynnega]

Yaaaay new series!!!

[wednesday]

Things will work to the good. I have faith.

[mithriltabby]

As a longtime subscriber to the Fortean Times, I am very much looking forward to InCryptid. And I am contemplating commissioning my pals at Stuffe and Nonsense to make a Flamboyant Gryphon as a mascot for my tiki bar.

Completely offtopic: I have honorary nieces aged almost-4 and almost-2 who have heavily gone for princesses and ponies. (I’ve already pointed out My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic to the family and am planning to give jimhines’ Princess books to the parents next time one of them has a birthday.) Have you run into any wicked-girl media suitable for that age group?

[yellowblackhaze.livejournal.com]

I was lucky enough to get an arc of this, it's already in my favourite reads of the year thus far. I still intend to buy a copy when it hits shelves down here. I really do think DA, the whole In Cryptid series actually, is going to be BIG, it is totally made of AWESOME and WIN! I'll post a review on my blog a little closer to release date.

[melchar.livejournal.com]

'Discount Armageddon' is a great name for a book! I'm sure it will do just fine, out among the other books. They will look at its cover and decide that it's one of the 'cool kids' and -everyone- will want to be its friend

[joyce.livejournal.com]

Something I've been wondering... if one is buying a book (such as Discount Armageddon :) ) in e-book fashion, are there retailers that give you a better cut over others? I'm not wondering about specific numbers, but just if Books on Board is better than B&N or Amazon is better than Omnilit or whatever for you. If I have an Ipad full of different reading apps, I might as well pick the format that's best for the author when I can.

[mbliss.livejournal.com]

Maybe people say this to you all the time, I dunno, but I really appreciate how much you care. You are one of our gifted storytellers and the world is a better place because you tell us your stories. So thanks because I know it isn't easy and it's risky and it's worth a price above rubies.

[pointedulac.livejournal.com]

I first found you through Mira Grant. After hitting all of my friends over the head with Feed and Deadline and insisting they read them right the hell now so we could discuss my many feelings, I learned Mira Grant was your alter ego. I was ecstatic to know there was more of your writing in the world and I bought the first two October Daye novels immediately. They're different but in a good way, and so, so great.

I don't know much about InCryptid yet other than the basics, but you're awesome at world building and character development and I'm sure it will rock.