A Literary Quickie

Compass Books, the fine and packed bookstore/hub at San Francisco International Airport, picks one book each month for their "Mile High Book Club." This month, it's Hooked. Details on the web posting below.
Finally, you can join the mile high club and for only $25 in hardback. and no mess.

http://milehighbookclub.blogspot.com/

Sneaky Comic Strip Cross-Marketing

http://www.comics.com/comics/rudypark/

See the Rudy Park comic strip from July 22 and bear witness to modern cross-marketing at its most insidious (don't get us wrong; we're proud).

PS - i write the rudy park comic strip under the name Theron Heir

THE question

It is asked furtively, soda voce, in code or euphemism.
"Do you have any metrics?"
"How's it doing?"
Rarely right on point: "how many books have you sold?"
Answer is never cryptic: I have no idea.

Really. No clue. I could take a better stab at answering the question of how to bring down health care costs, or what gift you’re getting from your spouse/parent/kids next Christmas (probably a sweater).

Book sales...I don’t know – even though there has been ample opportunity to ask my agent, publisher, and various folks I know who have access to the sales numbers from Bookscan.

What would be the point?

Some background about the book business – most of which you doubtless know. Authors get paid an advance. This is a typically modest amount but can vary widely. The authors don’t get paid again until the publisher sells enough books to have broken even on the advance. How many books? Depends on the advance (and a bunch of other publisher “expenses,” like “marketing” and “miscellaneous” and “because we can.” I digress).

Until my publisher has recouped the advance and his other expenses, I don’t see another dime. Without disclosing my advance (which fell on the continuum between modest and healthy), it’ll be many months, if at all, before there are enough sales to bring in more dough.

This is not to suggest that I’m in it for the money. If you’re in the writing business to make big money, then your medication has probably run out.

But the other reasons to track book sales are even less worthwhile. I could check to pad or undermine my ego. But since I can’t control how many sales there are, checking for my ego’s sake would fall on the continuum between idiotic and my-medication-has-run-out. (note: mom, the only thing I take regularly is benedryl for the periodic cold. Also, I like doughnuts).

I care about sales for one primary reason. I loved writing Hooked and I’d like to have the capacity to sell another one. If Hooked don’t sell, the odds of selling another one ain’t as good. Still, even if sales aren’t good, I’m not precluded from writing another book – even if it don’t sell – so that’s where I’m putting my energy. Writing.

That would be a nice and nifty tale of fine mental health. Except. There’s probably another component, which you doubtless know. Fear. I wouldn’t put it past me to be to ignore the sales numbers because I fear I’ll learn that the only buyers of my book are family members and people to whom I owe money. Though, I suppose, those two groups combined are large enough that sales could still be in the thousands. Maybe I should borrow more.

In short, the answer is: I don’t know. Hopefully enough sales to someday buy more doughnuts.

naughty tech talk (in a hot sizzling way)

check out the radio show and podcast of tech guru Michael Kastler:
http://techtalk.podomatic.com

And, if you're not bored with hooked talk already, here's the radio interview:

http://techtalk.podomatic.com/entry/2007-07-01T18_53_10-07_00

Direct link right to the mp3 for download is
http://techtalk.podomatic.com/enclosure/2007-07-01T18_53_10-07_00.mp3

Here's Kastler's review of hooked
REVIEW TEXT FOLLOWSHooked starts off quite literally with a "bang" – and then just keep srolling! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and couldn't wait to read the next chapter to find out what our hero, Nat Idle would get himselfmixed up in. Nat is styled after a Hitchcockian everyman anti-hero in a high-tech world, where things seem to just keep happening to him,not due to him. This muddle through it, "why me?" attitude gets tossed out the window (along with his cell phone) mid-way through thebook and Nat evolves into a Fletch-like character intent on resolving the mysterious ways of evil VC's and big-shot tech corporations – even at the risk of his own life and sanity. Overall a great read that deserves the category "high-tech thriller" but with technology never entering at the expense of reader involvement, understanding, or plot development. Matt does a fine job of giving vent to some of hispredictions and insights about technology without letting us in for a diatribe on the topic – a tricky edge that many authors have difficulty with.

Q&A with the author (read: me)

an interview with that discusses the Hooked's origin, the attack of a muse, technology addiction, and porn:

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/07/13/022759.php

Good until the last CD

The first review (that we know of) of the Hooked audio book
http://myshelf.com/mystery/07/hooked_audio.htm

"It’s an addictive storyline that will keep you listening until the last CD is played. Hachette’s audio version is read by Jason Singer. His reading is spot on and he makes Nat even more likable. Hooked is an unexpected surprise. Do your friends a favor and tell them about one of Hachette’s best audio mysteries out today – Hooked."

We're #1 (But George Steinbrenner Would Yawn)

In baseball -industry parlance, there are big markets, and small markets. Then there is Boulder, Colo. Population: not so much. But it's my hometown, home to the Boulder High School Panthers, The Sink (bar and grill where Josh and Noel Repeatedly Fell Down Drunk, in a good way), and to many other warm and fuzzy-visioned memories.

It also is the site of Hooked's conquest over the Yiddish Policeman Union and Michael Chabon.

In this week's Boulder Daily Camera (the local paper of record), Hooked was the #1 bestselling book at local bookstores.

I can't claim this as any momentous victory, for a variety of reasons. Chief among them: the list reflects the fact that I did a reading at the Boulder Bookstore in late June, an event that doubtless temporarily inflated sales. After all, friends and family cajoled everyone they knew to attend and purchase book. Nevertheless, I am thankful for this tiny moment of extreme dominance over the world's big-market literary heavyweights.

Separately, but surely not unrelated, Hooked was #3 this week on the Rocky Mountain News bestseller list.

Meantime, herewith, a spate of new reviews:

"A jolting debut..Richtel manages to produce one entertaining, and dare I say, addictive, read." -- Fredericksburg, Va. --Virginia Freelance Star -- http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2007/072007/07082007/297514

"In the aptly titled Hooked, his first novel, Richtel accomplishes this by keeping each of the pop thriller's chapters short (usually less than five pages) and ending them with just enough of a hook to demand that all but the heavily distracted or previously engaged keep reading. The Internet-age story — which features café explosions, dirty cops, espionage and a grisly acupuncture torture scene, among other plot-propelling devices — is difficult to deny or walk away from" -- Westword (Denver's weekly newspaper) http://www.westword.com/2007-06-21/calendar/hook-line-and-sinker/


"This novel is written with an intensity and plotting that is unexpected in a debut...The mixture of medical and technological factors heightens the mystery. The writing is fluid, the story intriguing. A very good read." -- The Mystery Morgue

"What I had never considered is that electrical stimulation, along with subliminal suggestions, could lead to the perfect crime. I dare not say more as I want everyone to read this book! I truly believe this is the first great pop thriller of the digital age. This book is guaranteed to become a classic." -- ILoveAMysteryNewsletter.com

"This novel has a great title because "Hooked" is exactly how you will feel after reading the very first page... This is an action packed novel that is written around the technology world we live in today. The chapters are short and that is something I like. It always makes me want to go on and read another chapter before I turn out the light. " - Bestsellersworld.com


"HOOKED by Matt Richtel (Twleve, an imprint of Grand CentralPublishing)is a debut novel that is highly suspenseful and a thriller of the first magnitude. Revolving around the hight tech world we live in the book opens with the visit of a dead girlfriend saving Nat Idle from an explosion. From there it picks up the pace. Touching on our addiction to all things tech, this book will freak you out." - Central Crime Zone - http://centralcrimezone.blogspot.com/2007/06/summer-reading.html

Tie Goes To The Author

Eons and dozens of reviews ago, Publishers Weekly gave Hooked a tepid review and a stumbling start. The review incorrectly spelled my name, that of the protagonist and of the protagonist's love interest. Other facts were wrong too, raising a real question about whether the reviewer actually read the book (at the time, we took such a thing seriously). It was a chilling and proper introduction to the vagaries of review process. Some publications like your book, others don't.

BUT WHAT IF A SINGLE PUBLICATION BOTH LIKES YOUR BOOK, AND ALSO DOESN'T? (all caps indicates HYPERTENSIVE YELLING)

In a move that only the current upreme court could love, a Publishers Weekly Reviewer recently went against the publication's precedent and actually endorsed Hooked - warmly.

Publisher's Weekly reviewer Bethanne Patrick recommended Hooked as one of her summer reading choices, writing: "You can't wait to find out what happens next. Hooked? Addicting."

The full review and link is below.

What can we say? Did Bethanne write the first Pub Weekly review? Did someone else? Is any sense to be made of this schizophrenia, other than the obvious: HEY, MATT, STOP READING THE DAMN REVIEWS.

Still, we look forward to a Publisher's Weekly rubber match -- a third and deciding review that will settle this matter until the fourth review comes out and finds us tied again.


http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?&aid=71266&search_result=1&stid=237
Hooked by Matt Richtel Hooked A brainy update on classic noir novels, this thriller isn't perfect – but it's a great and different read for fans of the genre waiting for the next big book from their favorite author. Richtel "hooks" readers in with his intricate knowledge of the wired-to-the-hilt Silicon Valley demimonde (is there such a thing?), so that even when his plot twists and characterizations fall flat, you can't wait to find out what happens next. Hooked? Addicting.

Bestseller x2 - At Altitude

Hooked debuts at #4 on the Denver Post bestseller list

http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_6308686

Go Broncos

Hooked is Bestseller

Hooked debuted today at #9 on the San Francisco Chronicle Bestseller List.

http://sfgate.com/eguide/books/bestsellers/