Transcontinental ARC Tour kicks off today!

By On · 12 Comments · In Community, Marketing, The Native Star, World Fantasy

One ARC. 90 days, 20 readers. How many stops can it make?

When I was at World Fantasy last year, I noticed that the ARC for N.K. Jemisin’s book THE HUNDRED THOUSAND KINGDOMS was really making the rounds. It started off with Naamen Tilahun, who passed it to Mike Swirsky, who passed it on to Rachel Swirsky, who passed it on to me. It was fun, like playing hot potato except why would anyone want to receive a hot potato anyway? I would much rather get my hands on a good book.

Anyway, it all gave me the idea to hold a Transcontinental ARC Tour for THE NATIVE STAR—with a few twists. First, instead of a regular old ARC, I’m sending along a special bound ARC of my own creation. Before each reader passes the ARC along, I’ve asked him/her to sign it. Why? Because ultimately, the well-traveled ARC will be used as a prize of some sort, probably at the book launch party at World Fantasy 2010.

Here’s the tour’s home page, where you can track the progress of the ARC if you’re so inclined.

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  • http://twitter.com/jamiescribbles Jamie

    Any chance for those of us not included on the tour to get a (non-special) ARC? Even for a limited time? Or are they all spoken for?

  • http://serge-lj.livejournal.com Serge

    I'll begin reading it this weekend. It's a long weekend after many long weeks of work. I deserve some goodies once in a while.

  • http://www.demimonde.com M.K. Hobson

    I sure hope it gives you a smile or two. You DO deserve it. ;-)

  • http://www.demimonde.com M.K. Hobson

    If you'll promise to review it somewhere, I can get you a PDF … would that work?

    I've only got 5 “non-special” physical ARCs and I haven't figured out where best to deploy them …

  • http://timesygn.livejournal.com/ Jamie

    My intent was to read NATIVE STAR and then write a review – my usual practice when receiving ARCs (I did one for Mamatas that ended up in the IROSF). IROSF is now defunct, so I was figuring either STRANGE HORIZONS or perhaps something local to help boost Canadian sales …

    The responsibility of possessing a .pdf version of an as-yet-to-be-released novel weighs heavily upon me. Thanks for the offer, but I shall have to think on that.

  • hazelwindows

    OMG your book is finally becoming real to me! I cannot wait to be able to go pluck it off a store shelf and proudly take one home. It looks fascinating, and right up my genre alley. MK HOBSON material on my shelves! Maybe I'm out of the loop but I was not aware you had books in the stores. Is this to be your first one?

  • http://camillealexa.wordpress.com/ Camille Alexa

    Woo! The ARC of awesomeness!

  • http://serge-lj.livejournal.com Serge

    I'm sure it will, and not just because it features giant raccoons.

  • http://www.demimonde.com M.K. Hobson

    Oh no, now I'm scared! Should I not send out PDFs? I thought it was normal protocol, but maybe I need to recheck that.

  • http://serge-lj.livejournal.com Serge

    I for one am quite happy at getting the PDF. I ialso intend to acquire a few copies of the paperback as presents to well-deserving friends.

    Am I enjoying the novel? Is the Pope a Catholic?

  • Jamie

    Here's the thing …

    I spent 5 years in the software industry (beta-tested Windows 95 while working at a Fortune 500 medical informatics firm, helped design Microsoft Outlook at a Microsoft “”partner” [read:slave-ship]), so I know all about on-line snoopage and how sophisticated its gotten. I don't want anything on my hard-drive that COULD get snooped, because chances are if it's there, it COULD. (How do you think TWILIGHT novels and feature films get leaked? 'Taint no accident …)

    Mary, I fucking LOVE your work … and am SO thrilled about this new stage of your career … I don't want to do ANYTHING to compromise it (and that includes getting a sneak peak of something I can't WAIT to read, if there's a chance it might get burgled from my hard-drive).

    A solution I came up with is to immediately download it to my flash drive, then destroy it upon reading. That works for me, if you haven't already given up on me as a possible reader (new stage of career, and all … I unnerstand – I'm a late-comer to the party, etc.).

    I swore I'd never do any more reviews. But for NATIVE STAR, I would. If you're still innerested. My phone no: 250-748-7985. Feel free to call and I'll give you an alternate e-mail address (my security e-mail address – RISc servers – the works) you can send er to if you like.

    Whatever happens: kick ass with NATIVE STAR. You've fucking earned it.

  • http://www.demimonde.com M.K. Hobson

    Wow, Jamie. I am so flattered and amazed by your passionate support of
    my work. THANK YOU!

    As it turns out, I'm going to have more physical ARCs than I thought,
    so let me just go ahead and send you one of those. I'll give you a
    buzz sometime this weekend to firm up shipping details and such.

    Thanks again! Your kind words are more helpful than you know … I'm
    deep in the middle of revisions on Book 2 and I need all the boosts I
    can get! ;-p