Wow, it’s been a crazy few weeks since my book launched. I’ve been a bit slack with updates to the blog, but here’s a summary of everything that’s happened:
Shipping Options for Aussies
If you previously thought about buying a paperback copy of Charlie Weatherburn and the Flying Machine but baulked at the $9 shipping cost from the US, then I have some good news!
Australian customers can now order the book directly from me and pay a much more reasonable $3 postage and handling. I’ve decided to fulfil these orders directly, so I placed a big order with a local printer and bought a ton of tough bags from Australia Post (I get a discount if I buy more than 100!).
That means a copy of the book will now cost you under 20 bucks, delivered to anywhere in Australia. And if you email me when you place your order, I’ll happily sign the book or write a message in it before putting it in the post. Place your order here.
Media Coverage
A while ago I took the bold step of applying to be a contestant on the television game show Letters and Numbers. My stint on the show was filmed last week, and it will go to air in early October. I can’t talk about the result, but I will say that my book received a massive plug on the show! It was a massive buzz to hear the incredibly smart (and drop-dead gorgeous) co-host, Lily Serna, comment on air that she loved the book and read a page from it during the closing of the show!
And just today I had a surprise phone call from Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, who hosts a science Q&A show on Australia’s national youth radio network, Triple J (I’d sent him a book a couple of months ago). He just called to thank me for the copy I’d sent him and pass on the fact that he loved the book! In his words, he thought it was “delightful,” which needless to say put me on Cloud 9 for the rest of the day! Who knows what doors that will open, but hearing that he’d enjoyed the book was a huge ego boost.
Readings at Primary Schools
This week is book week, so there has been a fair amount of interest from primary schools for me to come along and read the book to prep, grade 1 and grade 2 students. I love doing readings at schools, and have been getting some very interesting and thoughtful questions (my favourite today was “Would you be able to draw as well if you didn’t use a computer?” My answer was: “Yes, but I’d might have to use my eraser a bit!”)
If you’re in Melbourne and would like me to come along to your child’s school (or a school that you teach at) to read Charlie Weatherburn, then send me an email and we’ll arrange a date that suits.
Public Speaking
Unexpectedly, I’ve also had a number of offers to speak to even larger audiences, such as conferences and arts festivals, about the book. The details for these haven’t been announced yet, so I’m reluctant to talk about them, but I can say that at one of the upcoming conferences I’ll be on stage in front of nearly 3,000 people. As you can imagine, I’m pretty chuffed to be given the chance to talk to so many people about the book, and plan to seize the opportunity and give the audience a killer presentation that they’ll remember.
That’s all for now!
Matt
