Friday, March 27, 2009

Mystery Box

Yesterday afternoon a postal worker I had never seen before showed up at my door with a mystery box. I signed and checked the return address...no one I knew. Not even a name, just some mystery address. The box was quite heavy with all sorts of customs forms plastered all over it.

Hmmm...

I grabbed the scissors and cut off all the tape, opened the box. Then it hit me. This could be a bomb. I considered briefly who might want to blow me up.

After placing it gently on the floor I sent in my bomb sniffing dog. He checked the paper.




He checked the lid.



A few minutes later he then gave me the All Clear signal, a kind of sad no-doggy-jerkies-in-this-one look.





I flung the paper to the floor and this is what I found!


My book!





A whole bunch of them.




I am totally stoked. I think at that moment I realized I hadn't been dreaming the last twelve months. The release date is May first, so I really wasn't expecting them so soon. I checked Amazon and saw that instead of a May 1 publish date it reads 'in stock'. Could it be?


For those who don't know, A Robe of Feathers and Other Stories is a collection of 17 short stories. Every story is set in Japan and involves Japanese superstition and folklore as well as a creepy mythical creature or two...or more.


Here's a blurb I received:


"A delightfully insightful collection illuminating the place where reality falters and slips into the strange and fantastical."
There's more description on the Amazon site. Or, hey, if you really want to have fun go to Amazon and search "A Robe of Feathers". I'll be number one but the third hit will take all the sales away from me (maybe SNFW). So, yeah, whatever you do, don't do that.

27 comments:

Pat said...

You wrote a book? How did I miss this? That's pretty fantastical in and of itself!!!!! I knew there was something special about your writing. Congratulations, Terrie!

(BTW, the links are showing up in yellow for me.)

Kappa no He said...

Pat, thank you! Yeah, I've been pretty dreamy about the whole thing afraid if I mentioned it it would all blow away. And thank you, I went and changed the colors myself but forgot to take off that bottom part...need to go fix that.

Anonymous said...

I received a note from Amazon two days ago that they had shipped my book. Haven't received it yet, but am eagerly awaiting it. Best wishes from Builderhog.

Tigermama said...

Well well well...the cat's out of the box! And look at my comment from your last post!! Congratulations. I will buy your book, but only if you promise to sign it for me some day. :-)

Hilary said...

Huge congrats, Terrie! That's wonderful news. I'm very happy for you. :)

Mary Witzl said...

Congratulations, Terrie! What a wonderful collection this looks like, and what a great premise. Omedetou! Time for some heavy partying, I would say.

Kappa no He said...

Builderhog, aha, so they ARE shipping (theoretcially). How very nerve wracking.

Tigermama, I will totally send you a bookplate. Just send your address to:
feather(at)thersamatsuura.com
I'm working on some nifty ones!

Hilary and Mary, thank you so much. I had a girls' night out when I got the contract that was like none a forty-year old should have. I'm still recovering.

**Signed bookplates (with extra secret something made by me) to anyone who wants.**

Anonymous said...

Hi Darling! Congrats! I did not know what a nice surprise!!! I'll have to buy the book so I can give you a fab review on Amazon!!!

Jim Melvin said...

I'll definitely buy it right now! Is Amazon best for you?

Kappa no He said...

Girl Japan, oh you DO know how much I love you.

Jim, thanks so much. Amazon should work fine. And I'll send you a signed bookplate and a special something.

Woman in a Window said...

You wonderful wonderful girl. Congratulations. I can only dream.

Kappa no He said...

Thank you and I'll be there when you sell yours!

Jim Melvin said...

I just now bought it. Can't wait to read it!

Kappa no He said...

Thanks a million, Jim. And I'll send you a bookplate!

Unknown said...

Terrie - how wonderful! I'm off to amazon now to purchase my copy. I definitely want a bookplate!

Kappa no He said...

Muwa! I'll be sending you one soon. Thanks sweety!

Jim Melvin said...

Your book came in the mail! I'm going to start reading it tonight.

Kappa no He said...

*bites nails*

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! Amazon says my copy is on the way!

Kappa no He said...

Thank you sweety! I'm always sneaking over to your blog to see if you got your big news yet.

Jim Melvin said...

Sorry, I didn't get a chance to read last night. I'm involved in a big work project that is killing me, time-wise, and I ended up going to bed earlier than usual. But once I get some time to read, I'll get back to you pronto with some positive thoughts. Just didn't want you to think that I was being silent because I didn't like it. :)

Frank Baron said...

Woohoo! Congrats Terrie!

I guess *somebody* is going to have to mail me a bookplate....

I'll let you know when. :)

Kappa no He said...

In a Japanese Christmas card, baby! (Oh, with garlic/cheese ramen and something less garlicy and cheesey for H).

Gina said...

Congratulations!!! I will be buying the book sometime this week too!

I was thinking a signed copy like Tigermama said too. But a book plate sounds awesome. Should I email you?

Kappa no He said...

Thanks a million Gina, yes, just shoot me an e-mail and I'll get one to you.

Anonymous said...

Hey there Darling- would you send me a signed copy -- is that possible if I buy via Amazon?

Ello - Ellen Oh said...

Terrie that is so awesome!!!!! I'm running over to amazon to order my copy! I am so excited. I want a bookplate too!!!

I've been so busy I've missed lots of posts but so glad I came in time to see this!