Today, we do page proofs

[rolanni]

Page proofs for The Gathering Edge hit the mailbox yesterday.  This means that, today, I will set up station here on the desk, with our submission copy up on the screen, and the proofs in paper, compare one against the other, and mark any errors on the paper copy.

At the very least, this is a tedious process, and I enter into it with a strong sense of trepidation.

Most of you who read here are aware that the arrival of page proofs in our mailbox means that the release of the Baen eArc is not far away.  We, personally, do not know the name of that happy hour, 'k? So it's no use asking us.  Usually, we find out that the eArc has gone live because an alert reader drops us a note, which we do appreciate. So, if you notice that the eARC is up for download, do let us know, and we'll help spread the word.

You will perhaps recall that, last year, Belle and I had a wager about how many Alliance of Equals eArcs we could sell.  At that point, Belle was of the opinion that we wouldn't sell more than 500 (which would have been about 150 more than the total eArc sales of Dragon in Exile).  Sprite, who last year was too young to wager, had it as her Strong Opinion that we would earn out our advance on eArc sales.

Neither was right, though Sprite came closer to the truth.  We exceeded Belle's high figure by a factor of twelve, indicating that a lot of Liadens were into eArcs last year, but we did not earn out the entire advance.

This year, Belle is taking the position that last year was a fluke, and that no one wants to read a Whole Book about a Tiresome Kitten, anyway.  Sprite, who this year can place a formal wager, has modified her position to Edge sales equaling sales of Alliance.

My position is that, with All the Uncertainty in the air, it could go either way.  People could hunker down, and hold their purses tight, hoping that the storm passes them by, or they could figure wotthehell; a short life but a merry one.

And now, it's time for coffee and the first shift of proofing.

Everybody stay safe.

Comments

eARCs

[charlie russel (from livejournal.com)]

I'm pleased that Alliance eARCs sold well, but I think Sprite is too cautious. I'm betting that we can manage to not only surpass Alliance, but earn out on the eARC sales. And we've all been bugging Madam the Editor for weeks and weeks to get it up there, but I'm not averse to trying a bit more persuasion. Of course, with my luck, it will show up on Tuesday, just as the release of Wen's Black Wolves comes out, and I'll have to decide which to read first. Having read the eARC of hers, however, I expect to put everything aside and focus on The Gathering Edge.

[gerald heaton (from livejournal.com)]

I'm in the hunkering down mode myself.

I used to buy both the Earc and the dead tree copies.
Now do to AGE and medical bills, I can only afford the E-book when it comes out.

eARC up on Baen Site!

[charlie russel (from livejournal.com)]

The eARC is up and available. I won't try to post a link, but go to the front page of BaenEbooks.com and you'll see it!

[charlie russel (from livejournal.com)]

Well, that didn't work

The eARC is up and available. Check the Baen eBook site. I've already purchased my copy and downloaded.

eARC - squeeee!

[kajsa anderson (from livejournal.com)]

I agree that Sprite is likely closer to right, but still too cautious - consider the number of fans that have been impatiently waiting for more Theo. (Though personally I'm more excited to find out more about Dancer and the seedling!)

eARC

[nancy wyman (from livejournal.com)]

FWIW, I got mine this afternoon. Not the first off the mark, I'm sure, but doing my part.

[thewol.livejournal.com]

Now that the Trump of Doom is echoing throughout the land, I find myself disposed to snatch up whatever joys I happen to chance upon, clutch them (figuratively, in the case of eARCs) to my meager bazoom, and sneak off to my lair with them. Why else did Ghod give us raspberry chocolate chip gelato if She did not want us to be happy?

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Why else did Ghod give us raspberry chocolate chip gelato if She did not want us to be happy?

I had not been aware that Ghod had bestowed this particular blessing upon us. *adds to praise list*

[thewol.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes. This one (http://www.talentigelato.com/products/black-raspberry-chocolate-chip) and many more (http://www.talentigelato.com/product-category/all-flavors)

[polanka221.livejournal.com]

Then there are those of us who are so bound up in the story as it unfolds that we can't bear not to hear/read the rest of the story.

[gilraen2.livejournal.com]

I have been asked on my Hugo nomination ballot what book pubbed in 2016 makes you eligible for the best series Hugo. I put down Gatherong Edge but it seems perhaps that is a 2017 book. Which title should I use for eligibility?

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Alliance of Equals was published in July 2016, so I suppose that's our qualifier.

The Gathering Edge won't be published until May 2017. What's available right now is an eArc.

Neogenesis will be published in January 2018.