ON THE ISLAND AROUND THE WORLD

Hello everyone!

 

Some of you have asked on my Facebook page about what languages/countries On the Island will be available in. Lauren Abramo, my awesome foreign rights agent, put together this wonderful list so I thought I'd pass it on. I don't know all the publication dates, but foreign covers are starting to show up on my Facebook wall thanks to awesome readers all over the world. I sure do appreciate when they do that. 

 

 

Here's the Russian cover. I love the starfish and the heart. Look how funky my name is in Russian.

 

 

 

Here's the Italian cover. I think it's gorgeous!

 

 

*And check out this trailer that popped up in yesterday's Google alerts. It's absolutely breathtaking. I probably only watched it a normal number of times. Like 2 or 3. Probably.

 

 

 

 

 

When foreign rights to On the Island first started selling, one of the things I got really excited about was the fact that the publishers would be sending me 2-4 copies of each book. I can't wait to put a copy of each edition on the bookshelves in my office.

 

 

Here's the roundup of all the publishers who have bought the foreign rights to On the Island:

 

 

UK/Ireland/Australia/New Zealand/India/South Africa/Commonwealth: Michael Joseph/Penguin (On the Island & Covet).

 

Brazil: Editora Intrinseca

China: Beijing Zhengqing Culture & Art

Croatia: Znanje

Czech Republic: Euromedia 

Denmark: Forlaget Turbulenz

France: Editions Bragelonne

Germany: Goldmann/Random House

Greece: Papadopoulos

Israel: Kinneret

Italy: Garzanti

Latvia: Zvaigzne

Netherlands: Luitingh-Sijthoff

Norway: Aschehoug

Poland: Albatros

Portugal: ASA/Grupo LeYa 

Russia: Azbooka/Atticus

Slovak Republic: Ikar

Spain: Ediciones Salamandra

Sweden: Forum Bokförlag

Taiwan: Kate Publishing

Thailand: Earnest Publishing

Turkey: Epsilon Yayincilik

 

Hungary: Pioneer Books

 

Indonesia:  PT Kairos Gradien Mediatama

 

 

I'll share more covers and trailers as they come in.

 

Have a great day, everyone!

 

Tracey

 

*Watching a book trailer repeatedly has a negative effect on productivity. Apparently.

 

And The Winner Is...

 

Good morning everyone!

I am pleased to announce that the winner of the Kindle DX is entry #137, Bobbie Desmond! Bobbie, please make sure to send me your shipping address at traceygarvisgraves@yahoo.com. I'll order your Kindle right away :)

*There will be two winners for the $50 Amazon gift cards because there were so many great comments and I couldn't make up my mind.

The first winner is Kar, who wrote "A fully stocked wine cellar. I could sleep in it, Sip some good wine while watching sunset, after sunset, after sunset, after sunset. And if anyone came to rescue me I would already have a thank you gift. (I am hospitable like that)."

Wine makes everything better, am I right? I could probably handle everything else if I knew I could have a glass of wine every night while I'm sitting on the white-sand beach, staring at the water. I love the dual purpose of the wine cellar (shelter and a place to store those bottles), plus Kar is very thoughtful and I'm impressed with her hospitality.

The second winner is Sara Queen! I'm in total agreement with her suggestion because I might have a teeny-tiny crush on this man:

 

Oh, Bear Grylls. I'd take you and your mad survival skills to an island with me in a heartbeat. Don't wash your face. No really, don't.

Seeing things like this make me not want to kiss you, Bear.

Okay, I'll totally still kiss you but wipe your mouth off first, okay?  Then maybe swish some water around in it because I'm pretty sure that's a snake and OMG, gross.

But Bear + wine = I.AM.STAYING.FOR.A.WHILE.

So there you have it! Thank you for a wonderful 4 days of comments and good wishes. If you're a winner don't forget to send me an e-mail. 

xoxo,

Tracey

*Those of you that said baby oil made me smile :)

Now You're All Just Making Me Cry - Day 3 Of The Giveaway

***Update: Winners of the day 2 giveaway are now displayed. Scroll down to the bottom of this page and see if the rafflecopter picked you :) If you're a winner, please e-mail me at traceygarvisgraves@yahoo.com. I'll need your full name and mailing address.

Each night, when I'm setting up the rafflecopter for the new giveaway, I read through all the comments one more time. You outdid yourselves with yesterday's comments about your favorite scene from On the Island.

They made me cry.

Not giant ugly tears like I cried when I wrote some of those scenes. But grateful oh my God, how did this even happen? kind of tears. Once again, words cannot express how much your comments mean to me. Thank you so much.

It's been over two years since I started writing On the Island, and over a year since I finished it. In some ways I've moved on. I'm almost done with my second book and I'm immersed in a new story, with new characters. But reading all of your comments has brought back wonderful memories of those scenes. I remember how I struggled to write some of your favorites. How I re-wrote some of them three different ways before finally deciding which version I liked best. Thank you so much for sharing your feedback with me.

Now for day 3 of the giveaway! Two wonderful readers will win a Nook Color. As long as I can ship it to you (via the Barnes & Noble website), you are eligible.

In the comment section, tell me who your favorite secondary character is. I'd love to know if there were other characters you connected with. Also, who would you most like to see in a spin-off story? Here are some of the choices:

Mick
Ben
Bones
Sarah
Stefani
Henry Elings
Dean Lewis
T.J.'s dad
T.J.'s mom

I'm having a teeny-tiny bit of difficulty with the rafflecopter for yesterday's giveaway. It's chosen the winners but it won't display them. I'm working on it and as soon as I figure it out, I'll post the names. There are still 7 of you who need to e-mail me your full name and mailing address from Friday's day 1 giveaway (so send me your info at traceygarvisgraves@yahoo.com).

After you leave a comment, make sure you also login to the rafflecopter using your Facebook login or your e-mail address so that you'll be eligible to win today's prize.

Happy Monday, everyone!

xoxo,

Tracey

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Because I love You All, Day 2

Congratulations to the winners of the day 1 giveaway! 13 signed copies of On the Island (original cover) will be mailed out this week. If you haven't e-mailed your full name and mailing address to me at traceygarvisgraves@yahoo.com, please do so and I'll get your package ready. Want to find out if you won? Check yesterday's post and scroll down to the rafflecopter.

Okay, now for the second giveaway. Up for grabs today are 10 signed paperback copies with the beautiful Penguin cover. It's the one that looks like this:

 

 

 

All you have to do is this: In the comments section, tell me what your favorite scene is from On the Island. Then, make sure you login to the rafflecopter. You must do both to be eligible to win. Once again, this giveaway is open to EVERYONE and if you entered on day 1, you can enter this one, too.

 

You all brought tears to my eyes yesterday with your wonderful comments. I have the best readers in the world. Thank you!!

 

xoxo,

 

Tracey

 

 

 



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Because I Love You Guys, Really I Do

****The giveaway for one of the 13 signed copies of On the Island has ended. Scroll down to the rafflecopter to see if you've won! If your name is listed, e-mail me your full name and mailing address at traceygarvisgraves@yahoo.com.

I appreciate all of the wonderful comments; they made me cry!!


A year ago last weekend (September 3rd, 2011, to be exact), I self-published my debut novel, On the Island, with no idea what to expect.

It felt weird. Really weird. It also felt good. The availability of self-publishing programs meant I didn't have to shove my novel in a drawer and hope that someone would take a chance on the next book I wrote. 

Not much changed. I still went to my day job. My kids still fought (constantly). And my husband and I still tried to find time to have an uninterrupted conversation (and maybe a glass of wine).

A few months later, things started to change a little bit. Sales went up, although not dramatically. I received some reviews that were so heartfelt they literally brought tears to my eyes and made me smile for days. I received some awesome e-mails from readers who lived all over the world. It was incredibly satisfying and wonderful and I considered myself lucky.

In the spring, things really got crazy. April and May are one big blur...In June, Penguin publishing offered me a two-book deal and put On the Island on bookshelves everywhere. 

A year ago, I just wanted to find an audience. I just wanted the book I spent 18 months writing to be available to those who might want to read it.

One year later:

Over half a million copies of On the Island have been sold.   
On the Island is available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook. 
Foreign rights have been sold in 23 countries.
MGM has optioned the book for a feature film.
On the Island spent over 10 weeks on the NYT bestseller list, reaching #5 in the e-book category and #12 for the trade paperback.

I no longer have a day job because writing full-time is my day job. I get to spend time with both kids every morning before sending them off to the bus stop. My work wardrobe consists of yoga pants and T-shirts. I spend my days in a quiet house with Chloe curled up next to me.

I don't even know what to say that will convey my true feelings about this. Or how to thank all of you. Because you, the readers, are the ones who made it happen. I'm eternally grateful and I think it's time for one big THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.

Here's how it will work: I'm giving away 1 Kindle DX, 2 Nook Colors, and 23 signed paperbacks (13 with the original cover - because that's how many I have stacked on my dining room table - and 10 with the Penguin cover).

This giveaway will span 4 days and I'll be using the rafflecopter to choose the winners. And this giveaway is open to EVERYONE. I don't care where you live. You're eligible. You can enter every day of the giveaway, but you can only win once.

So let's start with the signed original paperback. The one that looks like this: I have 13 to give away.

All you have to do is leave a comment telling me how you heard about On the Island (make sure you also login to rafflecopter with either your facebook login or e-mail to enter the giveaway). I want to know what led you to this book. And I want you to know how much that has meant to me.

So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

xoxo,

Tracey




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Totally Unscientific Poll Results

I took an informal poll and asked readers, via my author page on Facebook, for their input on who they'd most like to see playing T.J. in the film adaptation of On the Island. I've tallied the votes and thought it would be fun to share the results with you all.

The actor who received the most votes to play T.J. was Zac Efron. You guys really, really like Zac. I mean, like, a lot.

In second place was Alex Pettyfer (or as I like to call him, Alex Prettyfer, because OH MY GOD, look at him).

One person suggested Justin Bieber "just for laughs" and I have to agree. I'm sure he's a lovely person and this is a really great picture of him, but, yeah. NO. 

In third place we have Taylor Kitsch, my original choice for T.J. I've mentioned this in a few Q&A's I've done recently, and it pains me to say it again, but I think he's too old to play T.J. which is a crying shame because I really like looking at him.

 

 

 

 

Next up is someone I've never heard of: Steven R. McQueen. Perhaps it's because I don't watch The Vampire Diaries. Perhaps I should start.

 



 

 



Jeremy Sumpter, Steven Strait, and Aaron Johnson were a few of the other suggestions.

 

I have a suggestion to throw into the ring: Jamie Campbell Bower. I can't remember how he came to my attention, but he's adorable and hot - two qualities that an actor playing T.J. will need to have. Plus I think he's just young enough to pull it off.

 

 

 

It was also suggested - and I wholeheartedly agree - that an unknown actor (paired with a well-known actress a' la Christopher Atkins and Brooke Shields in The Blue Lagoon) might be the way to go.

 

And lastly, I've bumped Anne Hathaway out of the starring role of Anna, not because I don't like her, because I really, really do, but because I think one of these two actresses might be a teensy bit better.

 

 

Minka Kelly

 



 

Eliza Dushku

 

 

 

 

Thanks for your input, everyone!!

 



 

 

 

 

On the Island's Book Birthday Pictures

Hello everyone,

On the Island hit bookstores across the country on Tuesday! I didn't realize just how awesome it would feel until I saw the trade paperback sitting on the shelf. This picture is from the Barnes & Noble at Jordan Creek Mall in West Des Moines. I sure do like their sign!

I went to Target next and there on the shelf, sandwiched between Elin Hilderbrand's Summerland and Kristin Hannah's Home Again, was my book.

My last bookstore was another Barnes & Noble. I almost didn't stop, but it was on my way home so I thought, "Oh heck, why not." While I was standing there taking a picture of the display with my phone, I overheard someone say "On the Island" so I totally started eavesdropping stood there, all nonchalant, and a woman and a B&N employee walked over. The customer was looking for On the Island. But she wanted to make sure it was the book written by the woman who lives in Des Moines. She questioned the B&N employee and the employee responded that she wasn't sure but would find out. I couldn't take it anymore because I was literally standing right there so I opened my big mouth contributed helpfully to the conversation. "Yes, that's her," I said. "I mean, I'm her. It's me." The customer looked shocked but then gave me a big smile despite my deranged grin. I explained that the book had just been released and that I wanted to stop in and see it on the shelf. She was buying a copy for herself and her daughter and I offered to sign them because I just happened to have a Sharpie in my purse. She was so nice and she made my afternoon. For the rest of the day I told that story to anyone who would listen.

And now, here are some of the wonderful people who helped celebrate my book birthday. Thank you all!

Release Day!

Good morning everyone!

Today is the day I've been dreaming about for a long, long time. On the Island is on bookstore shelves across the nation. You should be able to find it everywhere with the exception of Costco (it will be available there on 7/16).

If you are out and about and happen to see On the Island, take a picture of yourself in front of the display and send it to me. I'll post it on my Facebook fan page which is right here.

And once again, because I can never say it enough, I want to thank all of you for making this happen, especially those of you who have been following this blog since the beginning. A special shout-out goes to Elisa Abner-Taschwer, Penne Heede Pojar, Keri Stokstad, Bryan Stokstad, Julie Elsner, Missy Pomerantz, and Monica Shadowens.

xoxo,

Tracey

Book Signings!

Happy Monday everyone!

Here's a list of where I'll be in the next couple of weeks. I sure would love to see you, so stop by and say hi!

Tuesday, July 10th

I will be on the radio at KAZR 103.3 "The Morning Moose Show" tomorrow at 8:50 a.m. Tune in and hear me talk about On the Island.

Thursday, July 12th

Live interview, in-studio at Iowa Public Radio "Talk of Iowa" radio show. 10:00 a.m.

Beaverdale Books
2629 Beaver Avenue, Suite 1

Reading and book signing: 6:30 p.m. 

Tuesday, July 17th

Clive Public Library
1900 N.W. 114th St.

Reading and book signing: 6:30 p.m. 

Thursday, August 2nd

Barnes & Noble
333 Collins Rd NE, Bldg 1
Cedar Rapids, IA

Reading and book signing: 7:00 p.m.


I'll post more dates and events as they become available.

On the Island UK Edition!

Hello everyone!

I hope your summer is off to a great start! I know the season doesn't officially begin until later this month, but I've already received my first sunburn and enjoyed my first boat ride. As far as I'm concerned, summer has arrived!  

I want to tell you all about a fantastic, wonderful thing that happened across the pond. I'm absolutely thrilled to announce that the UK edition of On the Island will be published by Michael Joseph, an imprint of Penguin.

Look at the beautiful cover!

*swoon*

The UK edition can be purchased on Amazon here (the e-book is on sale now and the paperback is available for pre-order) and WHSmith here. It is also available on iTunes.

I'm very excited because On the Island will be hitting bookstore shelves in the UK later this summer and will eventually make its way to Australia and India. How wonderful is that?

I may need to travel to some of these far away places someday so I can see it for myself, but for now I think I'll stick to my own backyard :)

xoxo,

Tracey

Fiction Friday And Some Big News

Happy Friday, everyone!

I know I've been missing in action lately, and I haven't given this blog much attention over the last couple of months. I'm doing my best to respond to all the well-wishes I've been receiving via Goodreads, Twitter, Facebook, and e-mail, and I'm hard at work on my next book, Covet. I appreciate all the comments you've left here at funny in the 'hood, and I'm so thankful that you're still dropping by.

I've received a large number of inquiries from readers asking if On the Island will ever be turned into a movie. Many of you have cast your vote for who should play T.J. and Anna, and I always smile when I think of seeing my characters on the big screen.

Especially him. Hello, Taylor Kitsch. You'd make a fantastic T.J.

Could Anne Hathaway be any lovelier as Anna? I don't think so.

I love you, John Goodman. You'd be wonderful as seaplane pilot Mick. Sorry about killing you in the first chapter. 

All kidding aside, I received some fantastic news yesterday and I'm beyond thrilled to announce that On the Island has been optioned for a feature film by MGM. I never thought I'd ever type those words.

I want to give my heartfelt thanks to my agent, Jane Dystel, of Dystel and Goderich Literary Management, and her co-agent in Hollywood, Steve Fisher, of the Agency for the Performing Arts, for making this happen. I couldn't be in better hands.

I want to thank all of you, especially those of you who have been with me since I started blogging almost four years ago. You were there when I announced I was going to spend my blogging time attempting to write a novel so I could cross it off my bucket list. The result of that endeavor has been a dream come true, and my gratitude is endless.

I also want to thank the readers who have written to me to say that On the Island made them laugh and cry. Your wonderful feedback has made me laugh and cry, too, and none of this would have been possible without you.

Thank you.

xoxo,

Tracey

P.S. Some of you may have noticed that all the pictures have disappeared from my blog. If you're ever on Google+ and you want to delete a photo album and you get a warning that says, "If you delete this album all pictures contained within will disappear from the Internet completely - do you still want to delete?" Don't be a ding-dong and think, "Eh, that probably won't happen, click!" Because, yeah, it will.

A Tale of Many Reviews blog tour for On the Island - Giveaways! Lots and lots of giveaways!

Happy Friday everyone!

I've been on a virtual blog tour this week, hosted by the awesome Julie at
A Tale of Many Reviews. Click on over and enter the drawing for a signed paperback of On the Island. Julie has also included my dream cast post so you can see who I envisioned in the movie version of the book.

I wasn't sure of the best way to share all the stops with you but finally decided that a link round-up would work best. The bloggers are all doing a giveaway of the book (print or electronic) so head on over, check out their blogs, and enter to win.

These women are a truly fantastic bunch, and I've been overwhelmed by all the wonderful things they've said about On the Island this week. I've mentioned it before but it bears repeating: readers are the game changers in publishing right now and book bloggers are so very important in spreading the word about books they love. On the Island is a word-of-mouth book, and these wonderful bloggers have shouted their love for the book from the virtual rooftops. I am forever in their debt.

Please click on each blog for a chance to win a copy of On the Island.

Jana at That Arty Reader Girl
Damaris at Good Choice Reading
Shawna at Dreaming in the Pages
Racquel at The Book Barbies
April at Sim ~ Sational ~ Books (and a trailer!)
Autumn at The Autumn Review
Asheley at Into the Hall of Books
Andrea at The Bookish Babe
Amy at Book Loving Mom
Chandra at Unabridged Bookshelf

And a massive THANK YOU to all the tour participants. You made my week.

xoxo,

Tracey

A Special Giveaway!

Hello everyone!

The absolutely delightful Shana is talking about On the Island on her blog A Book Vacation today.

There will also be a giveaway for 7 copies of On the Island (5 ebooks and two signed paperbacks) because she's awesome like that.

Please head over and check it out!

Tracey

Book Clubs!

Last month, I was thrilled and honored to be the featured guest at two book club meetings. The first was at the Principal Financial Group, a financial services company in downtown Des Moines. I used to work there and my husband still does; he's been there since the ink was barely dry on his college degree. He was the one that told the book club about On the Island, and I was thrilled when he said they had selected my novel for January.

I drove downtown over my lunch hour to join them and I was kind of nervous. It's not like I'm shy or anything, and - hello! - I'm a talker, but this was my first book club and I wasn't sure what to expect. I needn't have worried. Stefanie met me at the reception desk and from the minute I walked into the conference room I felt at ease. I signed some books and they asked me lots of questions about the writing process. I also talked a little bit about Covet (the book I'm working on now) and explained the difference between contemporary romance and women's fiction. They were all so nice and they made me feel very comfortable; I had a blast. I did, however, forget to take a picture of them and didn't remember until I was on my way back to work. *face palm*

The next book club meeting I attended was with the members of A Novel Idea. Linda had read the book and then pitched it to the other gals. Linda and I used to work for the same company and we'd once been in a meeting together although I have no memory of this for several reasons: one, it was 13 years ago, two, our tenure at the company overlapped by only a short time, and three, I was suffering from a horrendous case of the PREGNANCY STUPIDS. This is the same affliction that caused me to jump on the wrong shuttle bus when the shiny new park and ride system opened during the final month of my pregnancy. I spent a lovely 15 minutes touring downtown Des Moines until I finally shouted at the bus driver, "Hey, that's my building. Stop!" He let me out and probably wished I had taken another bus (the short one, I bet).

Anyway, I showed up at the book club meeting the other night and Linda said, "We weren't sure you were coming. I saw your tweet. Didn't everyone in your house just have the stomach flu?"

Um, maybe?

Curses! Foiled again by social media. Must remember what I've announced and who might see it.

Me: Oh yeah. We're totally over that. I went back to work yesterday and everything (possibly sparking a company-wide flu pandemic). I brought crack dip (great! flu-girl shows up with food). The members of A Novel Idea weren't scared off by a little recent norovirus so they ate the crack dip and said it was awesome (and so are they).

We drank wine, I signed more books, and we talked about On the Island. They also shared some of their previous book club selections and talked about next month's pick. And this time, before I left, I remembered to take a picture.

I had a wonderful time with both of these groups, and I sincerely appreciate that they selected On the Island and invited me to join them. Writing is a solitary endeavor and sometimes I need a little incentive to put down my laptop and get out of the house.

And an excuse to make crack dip, of course.

Winners!

The offspring drew two names this morning and the recipients of a signed paperback copy of On the Island are Jody and Lyn!

Thank you to everyone who shared the news about my book. I really appreciate it!

And to Lyn and Jody - I'll get your books mailed out tomorrow, ladies :)

Tracey

On the Island - Now Available in Paperback!

Happy Friday everyone!

On the Island is now available in trade paperback.

See the little box above? If you pull up the Amazon listing for On the Island, scroll down a bit and you'll see that underneath the Kindle edition it says paperback. Click on it and it will take you to the listing for the book. Want to head over to Amazon now? Click here.

If you'd prefer to read the book electronically, you can choose the Kindle option. If you don't have a Kindle you can still read the ebook by downloading one of these free reading apps.

If you're a NOOK user, you can by the NOOK book here.

I've got two signed copies of On the Island to give away and Matthew and Lauren are *dying* to draw more names out of a hat. Here's how to enter: share this on Facebook by copying and pasting the link into your status update or by using the little share button thingie, mention it on your blog, tweet it, or e-mail the news to someone and copy me in (my e-mail address is traceygarvisgraves@yahoo.com). You'll automatically be entered to win, but please leave me a comment here or on Facebook so that I don't miss anyone. You have until midnight Saturday night, and winners will be announced by noon on Sunday. Copies will be hand-delivered if you're local, or mailed as soon as the post office opens on Monday.

I also have a new author page on Facebook. If you get a chance, please stop by and "like" me. And if you're on Goodreads click here to send me a friend request. Goodreads is a wonderful place to discover new books and new authors.

I'd like to take a moment to thank everyone who has bought the ebook of On the Island. I truly appreciate the outpouring of support I've received since the book was released. I've made a lot of new friends and every time a reader sends me an e-mail to tell me how much they liked the book, I totally squee! I count my blessings. I want to give an extra-special thank you to those of you who have chosen On the Island for your book club selection. I am honored.

I'm grateful that so many of you have connected with T.J. and Anna. After spending 18 months with them I'm having a hard time letting them go, but it's getting easier because I've got brand new characters to keep me busy.

Covet. Fall 2012.

What if the life you wanted, and the woman you fell in love with, belonged to someone else?

Have a great weekend everyone, and thanks for stopping by!

Tracey

The Power of an Informative Review

As a debut indie author, I depend heavily on reader reviews. The more reviews I receive, the more likely a reader is to take a chance on me, especially if the reviews are positive.

A favorable review is a helpful tool for prospective readers. It gives peace of mind and lets them know ahead of time what kind of reading experience they can expect to have. When I buy a book on Amazon, I pay attention to not only the number of stars given, but more importantly, what the reviews say about the book. I want to know if the book is well written, with fully developed characters and a plot that is fast-paced and engaging.

But sometimes I need more from a review. I have an ever-shrinking amount of time to read these days, so if I'm on the fence about choosing a book, I read the reviews carefully, looking for not only the positive attributes of the story, but also answers to any questions I might have. The question is usually, "I'm not sure if I'll like this book due to _______." Sometimes it's because the genre may not be one I usually read, and I'm looking for a review to sell me on it. Maybe it's because I'm not sure if I'll like the subject matter or premise. Sometimes it's because I'm skeptical of the recommendation become I've been burned by the source too many times (I'm looking at you People Magazine). Reading a book's reviews to see if any of these questions are answered will usually make or break my decision to buy it. A favorable review is a wonderful tool, but I've come to realize just how important informative reviews are. This type of review goes beyond whether the reader liked the story, and examines in more detail why they decided to read the book.

I've received several informative reviews for On the Island. One of them was from Raven. She wrote:

"I was hesitant to buy this book but after reading all the reviews I decided to read it. I started reading it last night & read until my eyes wouldn't stay open. I stopped because I didn't want to miss a word of this book. During the night I woke up several times thinking about the book...couldn't get it off my mind. I just finished the book and I can honestly say I haven't read a book this good in so long. What they endured on the island was so real. I loved TJ & Anna. I can't wait for the author's next book although I don't know how she can top this one. If you haven't read this book, read it, you won't be disappointed."

The reason I like this review so much is twofold: for one, it's a wonderful review that brought tears to my eyes when I read it. I didn't know who Raven was, but I greatly appreciated the fact that she read On the Island and then took the time to leave a review. What I also liked was that she was honest. She didn't know whether or not she wanted to read the book (unanswered question: Will I like this book?). She used favorable reviews to help her decide, and she wasn't disappointed. But the other thing I like about this review is the fact that she admitted she wasn't sure if she wanted to read it. She was hesitant. And yet not only did she take a leap of faith and read it anyway, she liked it. A lot.

I know that potential readers who read the product description for On the Island might have some questions. The premise is very easy to have pre-conceived notions about; it's a desert island book with a teacher and her much younger student. They're probably thinking, where in the world is the author going with this? Will I want to go there with her?

I understand this hesitation, and I'm happy to report that those who have read the book know that I didn't take the storyline anywhere they didn't want it to go. They were surprised at how invested they became in the characters. Some of them have reached out to me to ask about a sequel because they want more T.J. and Anna.

I also received this review from heath1005.

"i was very reluctant to read this story, didnt know if i was going to like the premise of the old trapped on a deserted island relationship, especially with the age difference between the characters. i am soooo very glad took the chance though because this story was so much more. i never once thought about the age difference, just the characters. i believed this to happened due to the great amount of detail that went into this book. i found myself feeling as though i was right there with t.j. and anna and felt every triumph defeat and love that they went through during their ordeal on the island. i really loved that it was not all romanticized and perfect especially during the 2nd half of the story. i would highly recommend this story to anyone looking for a great love conquers all story!"

The reason I appreciate these reviews so much (disclaimer: I appreciate ALL my reviews, and I'm grateful to anyone who takes the time to leave one) is because they are answering questions potential readers probably have, too. And they're answering them in a positive way. It's like they addressed the elephant in the room and said, "Yes, the elephant is there but you won't care and you should totally read this book."

Last weekend, Raven reached out to me via e-mail. In her message, she elaborated a bit more on her decision to purchase On the Island. She told me it took her about 3 weeks to finally decide to download it, and she reiterated again how glad she was that she did. She said she wasn't sure if she wanted to read a book about a teacher and a student (which I totally understand, because at one point I thought I was TOTALLY CRAZY for writing one). She said she adored Anna and T.J., and if I hadn't already guessed, she loved the book. Frankly, her e-mail made my entire day.

Raven and heath1005 have done something for On the Island that I couldn't do myself: they've provided a positive and, more importantly, an informative review that will greatly assist other readers in deciding whether or not they want to read On the Island.

As a debut indie author, you can't ask for more than that.

Tracey

P.S. I'm waiting patiently for the paperback version of On the Island to go live on Amazon. I thought it would be out there by now, but it's not. I'll let you know as soon as it shows up :)

Fiction Friday - Virtual Launch Party For On The Island!

***Edited to add that links are not all clicky. You'll have to copy and paste. Blame Blogger. I have (it's probably my fault, though).

Good morning and happy Friday everyone! My debut novel went live on Amazon and Barnes and Noble this week and I'd like to welcome you to the virtual launch party for On the Island.

Time: Now until 11:59 p.m. tonight.

Place: The Interwebz (Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc...) If you're reading this but we aren't already Facebook friends, send me a friend request! You can never have too many friends (or too much wine, am I right?) Also, are you following me on Twitter? If you'd like to, my Twitter handle is @tgarvisgraves.

Dress code: Island wear, naturally. I know a few of you will probably arrive full of Captain Morgan rum but sans pants but that's okay because it's virtual.

So, how does a virtual launch party work?

Well, first of all, check out the book on Amazon. If you click on the book cover in my sidebar in the upper-left hand corner, it will take you right to it.

Or, if you're a Nook user, here's the link for the listing on Barnes and Noble (sorry, you'll have to copy and paste. Blogger is not letting me insert the link. Or I'm too tired this morning and I'm doing something wrong).

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1105386598?ean=2940012993908&itm=1&usri=on%2bthe%2bisland%2btracey%2bgarvis%2bgraves

There will also be a paperback edition, but it has not been released yet.

So if the paperback isn't out yet, and I don't have an e-reader, how can I read On the Island?

There are several free Amazon apps you can use to read On the Island. This one is my favorite:

***You'll have to copy and paste links. Thanks for nothing, Blogger.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/kindle/pc/ref=kcp_pc_lnd_dtl_3

It's the Kindle app for PC. Before I got my Kindle, I downloaded this app to my laptop and read many, many books on it, sitting in my comfy reading chair. When I got my Kindle all my ebooks transferred to it which was super cool. But if you've been thinking about buying an e-reader now is the time (and not just because I wrote a book you can read on it). You can get a Kindle for as low as $114 and YOU WILL LOVE IT. Here are some links for other devices that you can download free Kindle apps to:

Copy and paste:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/kindle/iphone/ref=kcp_pc_ddp_dtl (iphone), http://www.amazon.com/kindlebb_lnd_dtl (BlackBerry), http://www.amazon.com/gp/kindle/ipad (ipad), and http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=kcp_red_ddp_dtl?ie=UTF8&docId=165849822 (Android). Personally, I'd rather stab myself in the eye than read a whole book on my smartphone, but that's just me.

There are a whole bunch of free apps for Nook too. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/free-nook-apps/379002321/?cds2Pid=28709

Now, back to the virtual launch part of the party. I will be pasting this blog post into my Facebook status update and I'm asking anyone who'd like to participate in the launch to copy and paste my link into their status update, too. That way, all their Facebook friends can check out the book. If you've read On the Island, make sure and mention that, too.

Many of you have already done this and I am so very appreciative. If you have, there is no need to do it again, but I do want you to know that your fabulous PR has already garnered me several sales. And some of the people that have purchased the book have finished it and sent me messages on Facebook about how much they enjoyed it. I don't know if you understand exactly how it feels to get feedback like that. It's surreal, actually, and it makes me so happy I want to cry. Reviews are starting to trickle in and that is the single most important thing you can do to help a debut author. For that I thank you.

And because you have all done so much for me, there will be prizes awarded when the virtual launch party is done.

If you copy and paste my status into your Facebook status, or you tweet about my book, or you link to it on your blog or just WHATEVER, please let me know about it. You can leave a comment on Facebook, include @tgarvisgraves on Twitter, or you can comment on this blog post. I will be putting the names of everyone who participated in a hat and will let the offspring draw two names on Saturday morning (this will include those of you who have already told your Facebook friends - I've been keeping track). There will have to be two winners because the offspring will have a knock-down, drag-out fight about who gets to draw the name because God forbid only one of them gets to do it.

So, what are the prizes? Well, don't get too excited. Dave put the big kibosh on the prize I really wanted to give, so we'll have to settle for two $50 gift cards (one per winner). I'll have plenty of options to choose from and I'll notify the winners on Facebook sometime Saturday (in between drinking beer and watching the Iowa game). So, maybe Saturday late afternoon.

I want to thank everyone again. On the Island has been 18 months in the making and it has been a wonderful experience. Many of you have been so supportive throughout the process and I'm lucky to have such great friends.

So, happy Friday everyone! Let's launch this thing.

Tracey

P.S. Please don't think I'm ignoring anyone today. I'll be at work, so I won't be able to interact on Facebook until I get home. I can use my BlackBerry at lunchtime to moderate blog comments or check tweets, but that's about it. But I'll be there in spirit, and I'll lift my virtual wine glass to you. Cheers!

Fiction Friday - A Cover, Some Jacket Copy, and a Playlist

Happy fiction Friday (and Labor Day weekend) everyone!

I wanted to show you the awesome cover my blogging bestie Penne made for me (blogger wouldn't let me upload the PDF, so I had to settle for the JPEG. It looks much clearer on my computer screen so I'm not sure why it doesn't show up better here, but you get the general idea). You can also click on it a couple times to make it bigger.

Here's the jacket copy/product description:

When thirty-year-old English teacher Anna Emerson is offered a job tutoring T.J. Callahan at his family's summer rental in the Maldives, she accepts without hesitation; a working vacation on a tropical island trumps the library any day.

T.J. Callahan has no desire to leave town, not that anyone asked him. He's almost seventeen and if having cancer wasn't bad enough, now he has to spend his first summer in remission with his family - and a stack of overdue assignments - instead of his friends.

Anna and T.J. are en route to join T.J.'s family in the Maldives when the pilot of their seaplane suffers a fatal heart attack and crash-lands in the Indian Ocean. Adrift in shark-infested waters, their life jackets keep them afloat until they make it to the shore of an uninhabited island. Now Anna and T.J. just want to survive and they must work together to obtain water, food, fire, and shelter. Their basic needs might be met but as the days turn to weeks, and then months, the castaways encounter plenty of other obstacles, including violent tropical storms, the many dangers lurking in the sea, and the possibility that T.J.'s cancer could return. As T.J. celebrates yet another birthday on the island Anna begins to wonder if the biggest challenge of all might be living with a boy who is gradually becoming a man.

Next up is the playlist I listened to while I was writing On the Island. I used to play "Roll With the Changes" on repeat, especially in my car, and I wanted to use the first verse as an epigraph at the beginning of a certain chapter but you can't unless you pay for the right to do that and, even more daunting, get the members of REO Speedwagon (or whoever owns the rights) to say it's okay (hello? *waves hand* Kevin Cronin? I have a question for you). That sounds like a lot of work and money. So no epigraph.



I wonder if those of you who have already read On the Island could guess where I would have put the epigraph. It might surprise you.

The rest of these songs all have meaning and it's strange how much a playlist can influence the writing. For Covet, the book I'm writing now, I've been in an adult contemporary phase which is weird because you know I'm a 70's girl.

"Long, Long Way From Home" - Foreigner
"Fins" - Jimmy Buffet
"Island Girl" - Elton John
"Sweet Child 'O Mine" - Guns 'N Roses
"Roll With The Changes" - REO Speedwagon
"Coconuts" - Widespread Panic
"Changes In Attitude, Changes In Latitude" - Jimmy Buffet
"Wish You Were Here" - Pink Floyd
"Don't Drink The Water" - Dave Matthews Band
"Don't Let Him Go" - REO Speedwagon
"Have You Ever Seen The Rain" - Creedence Clearwater Revival
"I'll Be" - Edwin McCain
"Ridin' The Storm Out" - REO Speedwagon

I received my ebooks from the book formatter last night and I'll be able to upload to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords on Sunday when there will be a break in our weekend festivities. It will take anywhere from 6-48 hours to go live (although I heard it's usually closer to 24). Next week's focus will be sending everything to Amazon's CreateSpace for the paperback version. I've heard that process can be...difficult. But ignorance is bliss so for now I'm assuming a couple mouse clicks and woo hoo, paperback!

I'm also planning a virtual launch party on Facebook (date: TBD). I am hoping for sometime next week, maybe Friday? A virtual launch party is just a fancy way of asking my Facebook friends to copy the link for my blog post announcing the book's release into their status update so that their friends can check out the listing on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. If you would like to participate in this launch, please let me know. I'd be honored and I would appreciate it so much. I will be holding a random drawing for some fabulous prizes for those who help me launch. If you'd like to be included, please let me know, either by commenting on this blog, or replying on Facebook.

It's a good feeling having this preparation behind me. After 18 months, I'm ready to move on and immerse myself in the new book.

Thanks to all of you who have helped me along the way. Your kind words of encouragement mean a lot. More than you'll ever know, actually.

Have a good weekend!

Tracey