So the official publication date is drawing near (21st of April) of my first book and I actually have a physical copy in my hands! Oooh! It’s got nice pictures and photos and words and everything!
Obviously I’m very pleased but I am also rather nervous about the whole thing – people will be paying actual real money and I really don’t want to let them down. I know you can’t please everyone and even the greatest books will not appeal to every person that picks up and reads even a few pages but despite the years of blogging and outreach stuff this is a new style and form and it’s rather more global in spread than even online media. So, lots of nerves my end.
However, anyone who does buy it and hurls it across the room a few hours later in frustration may at least be mollified by having paid 30% below the cover price thanks to a discount being offered by the publishers. If you order direct from the publishers Bloomsbury before May 31st and enter the promo code ‘DINOSAUR’ at the checkout, it should be reduced. (This has only just been set-up, so do leave a comment if this doesn’t work, or indeed if it does to let me know it’s working!).
Finally, if you are in and around London there is a small formal book launch on the 22nd of April. Tickets are free (but you need to reserve them here in advance). It won’t be long or special, I’ll talk about the book for a bit, answer some questions and sign any copies going (available for sale there, and also at a hefty discount).
Hope to see some regulars there and I do hope you enjoy the book.
Dave Hone's Archosaur Musings 
The promo code did not work (at least not on the page that it was offered on)… so I waited with ordering. (Maybe the coupon code has not yet been activated for the book by the publisher.) I’ll try again later. 🙂
Ok thanks for letting me know. I’ll report it and try to get this working. Given it’s the weekend, I can’t see anything happening till at least Monday.
No problem! I understand! Really looking forward to the book! Tyrannosaurs are one of my favorites, so i’m really looking forward to the book! I have a few Tyrannosaur fossils in my collection, including an 8 inch pedal phalanx.
Congratulations on your first book.
Congratulations!
The promo code worked two minutes ago, so my pre-order had been placed. Huzzah!
That’s great news! Glad it’s working.
Dinosaur science advances so fast any book will be a bit outdated even when hot off the press. I don’t suppose there’s anything on Timurlengia, or the new study by Brusatte and Carr. But congrats anyway and best of luck. 🙂
The book had been with the publishers for months before that stuff came out. I’ve several comments in places talking about how the book dated as I wrote it and things I’d had to change as I went along, so this kind of thing was inevitable but this was a flurry just too late to even be mentioned.
I like the cover, especially Guanlong. But wait is that feathery fluff on the T. rex outline!?! Controversies started already!! ;’)
Congratulations
Who is this aimed at?
It’s a general popular science book, so hopefully it’s accessible to all adults down to teenagers. It does get a bit technical in places but I try to lead the reader into / through those areas. It’s certainly not just for dinosaur fans and it’s not aimed at researchers.
Thanks
I’ll buy it. I’m a oncologist and immunologist but read around other disciplines. I’ll go from a short guide to galaxies (very well written for non specialist) to tyrannosaurs. Dinosaurs were my first love and I still watch and draw birds as a result.
Congrats, and order placed. Discount indeed worked, so I have (almost) free shipping to the Netherlands now :).
Is the promo for both hardcover and soft cover, or only the soft cover? Love to have this beauty in my collection!
I don’t actually know but I hope / assume both.
Congratulations for the upcoming release of your book!
Are there any plans to make the Kindle edition available to other countries than the UK? (France for instance :^) )
Sorry but I really don’t know. I don’t make any of these decisions and the publishers don’t tell me of every little nuance to the distribution. I suggest you e-mail them and ask – they may know the plans and if not, showing interest may encourage them to release it on extra platforms etc. I do know they are still approaching various international vendors over issues in other countries and even translated editions but have no idea what is set for now and what might happen.
Roger that. Thank you for your answer anyway. I’ll contact Bloomsbury then. And if that’s not in the works, I’ll make room for the paper version 🙂
Looking forward to adding this to my collection. How can anyone not have a soft spot (and a total fascination) for tyrannosaurs?