Early Shipping Continued: How HP has left us ill-prepared for the real world of publishing!
Don't drink coffee at 11 p.m. after watching High School Musical 3. It's 3:31 a.m. and I'm just beginning a blog post. This has nothing to do with Zac Efron and everything to do with Starbucks.
That said, I can thank the coffee for my late-night amusement, because I keep getting e-mails, Facebook messages and comments from readers expressing their regrets, sadly informing me that my book has been shipped early, and it's too bad that Amazon doesn't respect pub dates.
To this I apply the conversation I had with Cheryl as we awaited the aforementioned Zefronathon at the Court Street Cinema this evening:
Me: "So, my book is shipping. People are reading it."
Cheryl: "I know!"
Me: "It's so sweet - people keep apologizing to me."
Cheryl: ::quizzical look::
Me: "We're Harry Potter fans. We're not used to this."
Cheryl: "Ha!"
Me: "We're getting a book early. This doesn't happen."
Cheryl: "Ha ha ha!" (Her "ha"s were getting louder. Writing laughter doesn't work in line-by-line dialogue.)
Me: "They keep telling me Amazon goofed."
[Cheryl laughs louder. I give up on the "Ha ha"s.]
Me: "...some are panicked, asking if I know who to contact to correct the error."
[Cheryl now laughs in a way that shows she thinks it's not only funny, but sweet, and ironic.]
Me: "I know. We're Harry Potter fans. Ruined for pub dates forever."
So, in short: Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the nice notes suggesting that I inform the Book Police about the early shipping, but this is what happens to everyone except J.K. Rowling and Stephenie Meyer: Your book ships whenever it comes in. And that suits me perfectly fine - I'd much rather you all had it now than later! It's been exciting reading your e-mails and messages, even if I did have a small case of death when the prospect of it finally being distributed first reached my ears. As [a smart person] once said, I'd rather be nine people's favorite thing than a hundred people's ninth favorite thing, and the reaction so far has lived up to that and more. Thank you, nine people (three of whom are my mom). You are very kind.
More soon!
Just wanted to say I love the [title of show] reference!
Haven't picked up Harry, A History yet (was naively waiting for the release date!), but I can't wait to read it!
I am so glad to read this post! I work in a bookstore and bought my copy about a week ago. I have been reading it in secret because I was sure the Book Police were going to come and confiscate it and then fine my store an enormous amount of money! I am totally serious! I was afraid to even ask my boss about it! Lol!
So now that I know it is perfectly legal for me to have your book, I really want to tell you that I love it! It is so much fun to read! It's hard to explain really...it's kind of a diary/memory book for all of us, but one that fills in some blanks. I truly love it and thank you so much for writing it.
Actually...thanks for *all* that you do for the HP fans!
I knew my book had shipped early, this proves it! I had pre-ordered from Amazon about a month or so ago, and I knew the release date was sometime in early November, but with pregnancy and everything I'd been distracted; so I was pleasantly surprised when my next-door neighbor brought it to me and apologetically explained that the UPS driver had delivered it to his house instead, and that was why the package was opened already. I kept thinking, "Wow, this seems very early," but didn't really give it a second thought. I brought it inside, made myself some hot cocoa, and dove in. This was last Thursday! Well, no complaints on early delivery from me! Melissa, I am loving every chapter, every page, every word of it! Talk about a trip down Memory Lane! In short: WOW!
Ok, so... I am new the online Harry Potter community. Very new. I was introduced to the books only a short six months or so before the release of Deathly Hallows. I was aware of the obsession that so many people were caught up in, but I was yet to actually read the books myself. My younger sister was into the books and owned the movies. (I watched the first 3 movies before I read the books). My reading the books came about because my sister urged me to read them. But, after watching the third movie I knew that I had to read the books. Books are always so much better than the movies!! So I read them all, at a relatively fast pace. I too fell in love with the series. And, my sister and I interrupted our vacation to drive home and purchase Deathly Hallows on its release date.
I was very much aware of the issue of spoilers. My own husband thought it was the funniest thing ever to walk around shouting to everyone that Harry Potter dies. (He is still very much a child and can be even less mature)
Anyway... my main reason for writing is to bring up something that has been nagging at me since I finished Harry, a History (which I stumbled upon while pre-ordering Tales of Beedle the Bard). This issue of spoilers is not over for many people, including my husband. He, for some reason, is adamant about not reading. It's "not his thing". He enjoys the Harry Potter movies though. He anticipates the movies like readers anticipated the books. It absolutely kills me not to be able to talk to him about what happens in the sixth and seventh book. He still doesn't know that Dumbledore dies. Its just that this issue is not hinted at in the books. My husband stills lives in world where he has to cover his ears and hum if people begin discussing Harry Potter. But, it's harder for him to stay in the dark. So many people know the outcome. He has many more people to fear hearing a clue from compared to when only a few select people had read Deathly Hallows. For him the spoiler war continues.
I went to my local bookstore last night and got my copy. I'm not very far yet (darn real life!) but am enjoying it so far.
I got the book!! It's amazing and shiny and new and I love it already. Just read the foreword and even the table of contents (I NEVER do that!), and I'm trying to force myself to slow down before I read the rest of the book - or perhaps I should just read it twice. Anyway, congrats on writing a great book, and more feedback after I finish!
Thanks for such a fun, informative and overall entertaining read! There were many times that I laughed when you "geeked out." Yeah, I can TOTALLY relate.
Congratulations. I'm so very happy for you.
Hey Melissa,
Great book! I'm enjoying the fact that it's a bit more autobiographical than I first thought it might be. It's also great to have peek into the history of the Leaky Cauldron (regular reader/lurker since about 2002) and your involvement there. Congratulations on publishing this truly original book.
Melissa!
The book is GREAT!!!!!!!
I've watched the videos of you reading parts of
the book several times and knew it would be good.
I even ordered one as a Christmas gift for a friend who shares my love of Harry Potter.
I wish you the best in the future and will be
looking for more books.
Love from a book lover,
Rose
I just had to laugh, because, I too, wondered if I should let someone know that I had received the book early! LOL.
I stayed up until 2 a.m. and I finished reading it. I loved it! As others have said, it really brought back so many wonderful memories of the great experience we have shared.
Congratulations, Melissa on all your hard work! It's really paid off : )
Karen
I got mine today as a gift! I hadn't preordered or anything :)
Congrats Melissa, from an elf and now I have to read :)
Joan
Hi,
I stumbled into an English bookstore in Hong Kong, this past weekend, and purchased it. I didn't know it was out, nor was i looking for it, but it was there and I thought, hey why not support Melissa (like i'm on a first name basis with you), all the way over here in Hong Kong... I mean if all else fails,I could be her one sale here in Hong Kong.
I just started reading, i like how the story is about you,how you got involved yet at the same time, it was about how leaky came to be.
I actually came to leaky looking for the thing that first got you involved... i thought perhaps it would still be on leaky somewhere...
well, i'm looking forward to the rest of the book.
Mary
I got my book on Friday. I haven't started yet....kids!!! Going to start tonight. Can't wait!!
Thanks, Mellissa
Melissa
I finished reading your book today. A year for you to write it and three days for me to read.
I really enjoyed it. I came late to the Potter Party so everything you write about before 2005 was all new to me and facinating! I have to say the parts that moved me the most were your experiences on 9/11, raising $24,000 in two weeks for Book Aid International, all of your meetings with Jo and surprisingly the story about the girl who survived Columbine...that part really touched me especially in context with Laura Mallory. Sheesh!
You have a wonderful style and the book was an effortless read.
Now for your "Jo" moment: When does your NEXT book come out!?
I was one of the very lucky bunch who received my copy of your book early. I just finished it and it was magnificent! Cheers to you for creating such a worthy companion to the Harry Potter books that will forever hold a top position on my bookshelf. (Harry, A History looks very comfortable up there sitting next to Deathly Hallows.) Again, thanks for all your hard work in reporting on HP over the years. I'll keep my eye out for Harry, A History: Year 2!!
harry potter does leave everyone ill-prepared... but it's going the other direction for me.
while everyone gets their book early, I probably have to wait quite a while to get my hands on your book... you see, I live in a different country (Philippines) and usually, with Harry Potter books, our local bookstores release them at the same time the books are released in the US and UK. unfortunately for me and for all HP fans around here, none of our bookstores thought of getting Harry, a History. I don't know if they know it existed. Or maybe they just thought it wasn't worth getting because there are only a few people who would buy it. Crazy idea, really, considering the number of people who line up on Harry Potter release dates (both on the books and movies). And I can't order from Amazon too... So, sadly, I'll probably have to wait until next year.. I'm trying not to get too frustrated about it.
Oh well, at least they're selling Beedle this December. They're not completely useless, apparently. But Harry a History!!! argh! I can't believe they didn't think of getting it! Okay, I'm getting frustrated..
Melissa,
Just wanted to take a break from reading to congratulate you on a wonderful job. I just finished the part where you flew to London and met Jo for the first time. It made me cry. You really are Every-Potter-fan. You validate all of our experiences, and you're the one out of all of us whose dreams came true.
Way to go!
Deb
I received my book on Friday. I'm about half way through. What a great read! Good work Melissa.
Melissa,
Thank you! Thank you! Stayed up all night and read your book and loved it. Lots of happy tears. I look forward to your next book.
Lisa
P.S Also Thanks to Sue, John and Frak and all the Leaky Cauldron staff!
All I can say is ... WONDERFUL! and I agree with all of the comments above. :-)
I stayed up late last night reading but saved the last few chapters for today. The book is charming and I just don't quite want it to end.
Congratulations on the first of what I hope are many books for you, Melissa.
Jess
Yes I got my copy early from Amazon and I am now half way through
Congratulations!
Dude, everywhere is shipping early. Barnes and Noble says mine should be here Tuesday, and yes, I am excited. But no HSM3 for me. I'll just watch it when it comes on Disney Channel in a few months.
Oh, and nice [title of show] reference too. I was just singing that today, badly but the words were right at least. You can probably count all of us as having your book as our favorite thing that makes one, two.. a lot more than nine, to say the least.
My only regret was not pre-ordering the book early enough!! WHY!! WHY!! WHY!! And I must say I was one of those people who immediately asked someone else (Your Facebook group leader).. what'd we do? tell Melissa? tell Amazon?
You're so right in the fact that having lived with set dates all our book-lives has made us surprised by any book coming out early!
I can't wait to read this book. I've been a fan since 1999, but since I was only 6, I'm looking forward to reliving some of my earlier memories with an older perspective (the first movie releases and the first midnight parties stand out the most as things I wish I had experienced when I was older, so I could really appreciate them.)
And may I also say that seeing a [title of show] quote on a Potter-related site may have just made me squee a bit. Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell are indeed very smart.
Yesterday afternoon, after a long and messy meeting with kids (we were making smoothies), I came home and threw off my shoes. To my surprise, there was an Amazon package sitting there for me. At first I wondered what could be in it, until disbelief came crashing down upon me.
"MELISSA'S BOOK?! NO WAY! IT CAN'T COME 11 DAYS EARLY! OH MY GOSH IT DID!"
I then decided to check on her website, www.harryahistory.com, to see how many other people this had happened to.
After finding out I wasn't the only one, I greeted the book with open arms and devoured it.
Melissa, I cannot tell you what an amazing book this has been for me to read. I loved being able to relate with the different parts of fandom illustrated in your book, and at the same time I loved learning more about areas I hadn't been that involved in (i.e., Wizard Wrock. The transitions in this book were seamless, to the point where a chapter would start off in the timeline of the 6 months leading up to Deathly Hallows, and I would be halfway through the chapter reading about 2001 when you first started working for Leaky. Only then would it occur to me, Hey! How did she take me from 2007 to 2001 without me realizing it?! Which would then make me stop and turn back to find out just how you had managed it.
The narrative was smooth and flowed freely as I read it, like a long drink of ice-cold milk.
So, Brava, Melissa, and many kudos for the work. I have no doubt that this book will never be one that is read and then tossed aside. It will be enjoyed by fans as a final farewell to the series and as a door opening to the future of the fandom; and also by those who have always been a bit confused about why their wife/sibling/coworker/etc. has been spending hours at a time on some Harry Potter forum debating over maddening things such as "If Bellatrix listened to muggle music, what would her playlist be?" and "Nitwit, Blubber, Oddment, and Tweek: The meaning of life?".
Melissa, you don't have to thank us. It is we who must thank you for publishing a book about... well, us (in part).
Thank you for your constant attention to things Potter and helping us all to better appreciate them.
Keep Smiling.
OMT
My book was delivered from Amazon today :)
As a (relative) newcomer to the Potter Fandom, your book filled me in on the years that I missed.
Thank you Melissa!
ugh! I ordered mine through bn and it still hasn't come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Melissa
Just wanted to let you know that I received your book today and was so excited. Right on time for me to take on vacation tomorrow. I look forward to reading it. Thanks for all the great work you do to keep all of us fans in the know.
Joanie
Melissa,
Early shipping ROCKS! I got my copy yesterday and started reading last night. I am about half way though and I am having a great time!
My wife (who got me interested in Harry Potter - but she lost interest with OOtP) saw what I was reading and the title Harry, A History. She asked how it was and I said it was great, you were just going to Georgia to talk with Laura Mallory...and she stopped me. "Oh I didn't realize...I saw the cover, the round glasses and thought it was a book about Harry TRUMAN"!
I am enjoying your stories even if they don't involve a U.S. President.
I was one of those that got the book early as well.
When my dad handed me a package i knew exactly what it was, but i didn't want to open it because i knew what had happened. Amazon sent their books early again. I'm sorry they're so dumb, but i'm happy to have the book in my hands at last! I'm in the process of reading it, Melissa, and i'm enjoying it very much! Congratulations on finally having your book out there for others to enjoy! :D
All I can say is "Wow." I absolutely loved your book, Melissa. I finished it last night and really wanted to post a comment, but was nervous about announcing the fact that I'd read it before the release. Thanks for the post, now I don't feel so guilty. :)
It was great to relive all those special moments with you and I'm not ashamed to admit I cried more than once. Congratulations, you should be proud!
I got mine! YES! Promptly fell into it and have laughed and cried and groaned abit...sorta like reading an HP book just after release, reminds me so hard of release parties. Loving it. Really chuckled hard over the prep work done by one and the a few questions on a tattered napkin. :)
Yay [title of show]! Just remember to keep killing all those vampires that make you worry about the book, I'm sure it's gonna do great! I look forward to reading it very much!
Hm... thats interesting XD
BUT WOOHOO! I GOT MY SHIPPINH CONFIRMATION EMAIL TODAY!
I got the book yesterday from Amazon! I read it through in one day and it caused me to reflect and relive so many things that were special to me, such as where I was for midnight release parties, the R/H, H/H shipping arguments, the interview that Melissa and Emerson did with JKR which I read so eagerly on this site as soon as it came out. It was awesome to read Melissa's account of what occurred prior to and after that interview. I really enjoyed the book, Melissa, and it really made me look back at my own experience as well. I hope you write more books because you are good at it.
Woo! High School Musical. I guess it must have already come out in America, then? I'm going to have to go to the cinema in disguise. At least when it was on TV I could watch it in private.
Oh, yeah, and I'm excited about the book too. :)
Wow, I'm glad I had something to read at 4AM.
To be honest, I haven't been this excited about a book since Deathly Hallows. Not even Paper Towns or Beedle the Bard have got me this hanging off my seat jumping out of it and staring at the email for several minutes trying to detect if it was fake or seriously from Amazon, alerting me that my book was now completely shipped- Early.
Sadly, I don't think there are any release parties in Ontario, and if there were, Melissa I can assure you I would have been the first one in line.
Once I receive, and read the book, will most likely be proud, proud of being part of this wonderful experience and being able to share it with thousands and thousands of people...
Much love, hope, happiness & wizardry,
Sylvie