truepenny: artist's rendering of Sidneyia inexpectans (Default)
Sarah/Katherine ([personal profile] truepenny) wrote2009-11-13 10:44 am

Announcement

Happy Friday the Thirteenth!

I have an announcement: my next book (working title, The Goblin Emperor) will be published by a new publisher under a different name.

As You Know, O Internet-Bob, my sales with Ace were disappointing, which resulted in Ace deciding they did not want to publish me any longer. It also resulted in those disappointing sales figures being irretrievably associated with my name in the computers of the big chain book-buyers. And that, in turn, means that those big chain book-buyers--who are the people publishers have to sell to (Remember that. Everything makes more sense if you remember that publishers aren't actually selling books to readers; they're selling books to bookstores, and the bookstores with the clout to determine what publishers can and can't sell are the big chains.)--are not interested in buying any books associated with the name "Sarah Monette."

Ergo, my new publisher Tor, in order to do an end-run around the computers, will be publishing me under a new name: Katherine Addison.

This is not a "rebranding": the book Katherine Addison is writing for Tor is the same book Ace rejected from Sarah Monette. It also, obviously, isn't a secret; neither Tor nor I see any point in hiding from people who liked my first four books where they can find the next one.

I don't know the publication date yet, but my deadline is February 1, 2010. So you know where I'll be if you want me.

Please feel free to ask questions, although I don't promise I'll be able to answer you, and, as the Bartles & Jaymes guys used to say, we thank you for your support.

[identity profile] heathwitch.livejournal.com 2009-11-13 04:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Congrats on the deal! *hugs*
kate_nepveu: sleeping cat carved in brown wood (Default)

[personal profile] kate_nepveu 2009-11-13 04:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Publication! Woo!

[identity profile] oracne.livejournal.com 2009-11-13 04:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay sale!

Hmm, with a new name maybe you can be a Spy. What kind of Spy, I don't know, but...some kind.

[identity profile] starlady38.livejournal.com 2009-11-13 04:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Do you know the publication format? And can I ask if there's any particular meaning to your new nom de plume?

Anyway, awesome, can't wait to read the book!

[identity profile] bishsticks.livejournal.com 2009-11-13 04:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Looking forward to it no matter which one of your "personalities" writes it. :)

[identity profile] malinaldarose.livejournal.com 2009-11-13 04:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Please to remind us later, yes? Because I will forget.

Also...do the same bookstores who do not wish to buy Sarah Monette's books (stoopid bookstores. I like Sarah Monette's books.), know that Sarah = Katherine? Or are they standing in the corner with their hands over their ears, saying, "La la la la la la la, can't hear you!"

[identity profile] renatus.livejournal.com 2009-11-13 04:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Stupid bookstores. As much as I love them... stupid bookstores.

I'm so glad you got another book deal, and I'll be looking forward to this one, too.
pameladean: (Default)

[personal profile] pameladean 2009-11-13 04:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, good for Tor! And you. I'm glad I'll get to read another of your books.

It's so weird, it's like some strange magical ritual. Just change the name, even though you don't need to keep the connection a secret, and suddenly the bookstores give you a clean slate. They are doin it rong, but you can't tell them anything.

P.
heresluck: (cake!)

[personal profile] heresluck 2009-11-13 05:01 pm (UTC)(link)
BOOK!

[identity profile] stillnotbored.livejournal.com 2009-11-13 05:01 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm thrilled to hear that, Sarah. :) I like your books and new ones are always good.

We do what we have to do.

[identity profile] mrissa.livejournal.com 2009-11-13 05:03 pm (UTC)(link)
I am sorry this is necessary and glad you have the opportunity it represents, if that combination makes sense. And glad we have the opportunity it represents.

I wonder how many of us have a list of pen names in our heads for this eventuality. I know! I shall ask lj!
ext_6428: (Default)

[identity profile] coffeeandink.livejournal.com 2009-11-13 05:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay! I'm glad the book sold.

[identity profile] truepenny.livejournal.com 2009-11-13 05:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Um. The format of a book?

I'm guessing you mean hardback or trade paperback or mass market? I think it's hardback, but I may be remembering wrong.

[identity profile] truepenny.livejournal.com 2009-11-13 05:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, don't worry. You will get tired of hearing me talk about the book.

And my understanding is that it doesn't matter what the people know or don't know. It's all about what the computers know.

[identity profile] truepenny.livejournal.com 2009-11-13 05:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, it makes perfect sense. That's how I feel, too.

[identity profile] michaeldthomas.livejournal.com 2009-11-13 05:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Congratulations! :-)

[identity profile] illian.livejournal.com 2009-11-13 05:20 pm (UTC)(link)
More books from you is always good news. :D (Albeit not to me wallet . . .)

Although it may lead my brain to start filing you as Sarah Katherine Monette Addison Truepenny.

[identity profile] truepenny.livejournal.com 2009-11-13 05:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, the meaning of the name--sorry!

Katherine was my maternal grandmother's first name (which she did not use; she went by her middle name). Addison was my paternal grandfather's middle name. I've always liked the name Katherine (better than I like the name Sarah, honestly), and I am told both by my editor and by my friends who have worked in bookstores that the front of the alphabet is the place to be. So there. Nothing particularly deep. *g*
ext_7025: (pursue happiness)

[identity profile] buymeaclue.livejournal.com 2009-11-13 05:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Best of luck with all of this going forward.
ext_24913: (priestess)

[identity profile] cow.livejournal.com 2009-11-13 05:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Friday the 13th seems like a good day for a publication announcement. :) Congratulations.

Do let us know when you have an ISBN for it, please? (Google doesn't have it either.) Then I can go pre-order it from the shiny local bookstore.

[identity profile] kateelliott.livejournal.com 2009-11-13 05:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Excellent news! Congrats!

[identity profile] stevenagy.livejournal.com 2009-11-13 05:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Good for Tor and good for you on the sale. :-)

[identity profile] dandelion-diva.livejournal.com 2009-11-13 05:30 pm (UTC)(link)
How very interesting. I hope it works. :)

[identity profile] pixel39.livejournal.com 2009-11-13 05:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Great. Now *that* is stuck in my head. :-P

[identity profile] kameron-hurley.livejournal.com 2009-11-13 05:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Bummer on the necessity-name change, but huzzah on the new publisher! Congrats.

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