The Big News
My agent just sold my book! Here's the announcement from Publishers Lunch:
My late friend Cathy Seipp nicknamed me Revengerella. I wrote a good bit of the sample chapters and proposal while with her on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Nancy Rommelmann and I were just e-mailing about how much we miss her. She really supported me in my manners psycho-ness, and without her support, I probably wouldn't have been quite as comfortable going after the rudesters. The book will be dedicated to Cathy, of course. Writing the rest of it now!
Congrats - do I get a free book for being the first to congradulate you on your wonderful blog
lujlp at November 9, 2007 1:55 AM
You get free blog items every day! Nevertheless, thank you.
Amy Alkon at November 9, 2007 4:29 AM
Cant blame a guy for trying
lujlp at November 9, 2007 4:48 AM
Actually, I'm a big supporter of supporting friends who have written books. Lemme tell you, it's not easy! One of the things I love about Gregg is the way he'll usually buy a book when we go to a book party. He even bought one at Matt Welch's, "McCain: The Myth of a Maverick" -- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0230603963?ie=UTF8&tag=advicegoddess-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0230603963-- (great book!) even though Matt gave me a copy (I was mentioned in the acknowledgements...awww!) and I whipped through it and would have loaned it to Gregg.
Amy Alkon at November 9, 2007 5:23 AM
Congo-rats and then some!! Good for you Amy!
I don't want a free book, but one with an autograph would be nice (hint, hint!) o_O
Flynne at November 9, 2007 5:23 AM
Congratulations! You are one busy lady! Best for finishing it up as smoothly as possible.
moreta at November 9, 2007 5:37 AM
It's rare that a good old fashioned w00t is called for.
w00t!
jerry at November 9, 2007 5:39 AM
Congratulations! That is wonderful news.
Angela at November 9, 2007 6:07 AM
Congratulations on your book. We so need as our society grows more impolite by the day.
Although I didn't know her personally, I miss Cathy Seipp too. She was a great blogger about Los Angeles and life in general.
westsider at November 9, 2007 7:06 AM
Thanks so much, everybody. I'm inspired by your comments!
Amy Alkon at November 9, 2007 7:36 AM
cool beans!
André-Tascha at November 9, 2007 7:41 AM
Amy you just hit a triple --
1 - Sold your book
2 - Struck a blow against rudeness without resorting to Hannibal Lecter's methods
3 - Got an agent to actually do something!
Congratulations all around.
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at November 9, 2007 7:50 AM
Fantastic news. Yeah, Mr. Welch's opus finally showed up in my box the other weekend and I've pencil'd it in for this Saturday. C'mon people: book club!
Paul Hrissikopoulos at November 9, 2007 7:53 AM
Totally brilliant, Amy.
Jody Tresidder at November 9, 2007 7:54 AM
Awesome news. Great theme too, which any long-time reader knows is very unique to you. Can't wait.
snakeman99 at November 9, 2007 8:06 AM
Congrats!
Allison at November 9, 2007 8:32 AM
Good going!
Crid at November 9, 2007 8:48 AM
I hope you make it onto the Colbert Report!
DaveG at November 9, 2007 9:04 AM
Amy,
The "revenge" link on this page
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2004/04/revengerella.html
doesn't have the original content, nor does a search on that page yield anything. Can you re-post the story please?
DaveG at November 9, 2007 9:12 AM
Can we preorder?
Dave B at November 9, 2007 9:23 AM
Congrats, I'm looking forward to reading it.
Todd Fletcher at November 9, 2007 9:30 AM
Congratulations! And based on the blurb, I would buy this book even if somebody less awesome wrote it.
Jim Treacher at November 9, 2007 9:46 AM
Sorry, DaveG, don't remember what that was. Sometimes links die. I guess this is one of those times! Sounded like it was a prank call.
And thanks, DaveB, your faith in me is inspiring. I have to write it first, and I'm now on a fascistic schedule. Poor boyfriend called me at 7:30 this morning, after being phoneless for two days (his phone broke and he got the iPhone up and running this morning) and I had to cut him off at 7:59 so I could make my 8am second shift! (First one was from 6am-7:30.) I find that if I don't block out a time, I'll find a reason to bop on over to blogland 3,006 times. I get to do that in between now. I'm a stern taskmaster!
Amy Alkon at November 9, 2007 9:49 AM
Aww, thanks Treach.
Amy Alkon at November 9, 2007 9:49 AM
Congrats!
Shawn at November 9, 2007 10:22 AM
Congrats!
I'm somewhat amazed that none of your confrontations became violent, but I think your gender, your size, and your tenacity all count in your favor when people are confronted by you (plus, the fact that you are confronting people who know they are being jerks, to begin with)
I admire what you do, I think if I tried it (being male, somewhat burly, and vaguely ethnic), blows would be exchanged from time to time (or people would run away for fear of being mugged). Count me as a future customer for your book, though.
Your commitment to craft, ease with spinning a yarn, and the inherent humor with this subject should make this an easy book to sell. Can't wait to see you on the whole promotional circuit after the book comes out (I predict an appearance on The Daily Show, O'Reilly, and maybe if you're lucky, even Oprah).
Getting a deal isn't easy, pleasing your toughest critic (which I assume is you) will be the hard part. Write away Revengerella, get this done so I can read it already.
(I'm hoping for a 2008 stocking stuffer, but if it comes out even earlier, I'll find some other excuse to buy it)
xwl at November 9, 2007 10:26 AM
Yay, Amy, I'm so stoked for you, too! I can't wait to get a copy when it comes out! Congrats!
Sarah at November 9, 2007 10:31 AM
Be sure to let us all know how to buy the very earliest release. And I hope you get lots of good promotional spots, the world needs more Amy.
martin at November 9, 2007 10:43 AM
Congrats Amy! I'm sure it will be a good read, and who knows - you might even draw some attention to better manners.
justin case at November 9, 2007 11:02 AM
Wow, this is so exciting, Amy! Those are the posts I always read all the way through, sometimes twice, and I can't wait to read your book! You might remember that the first time I wrote to you (after we met) was when I read your old stolen car story. I told many many people about that, and I link to it, too. Now I can link to your book!
I never knew how much Cathy inspired/helped you on how to deal with annoyances. Can you include some of that in your book, or post it here when it gets closer to publication?
xwl, I think you're right on how Amy gets away with some of these things, as I, too, have a history of changing the world, one bad person or service at a time (although maybe not as elegantly as Amy). Being tall and female are almost essential to me, to feel safe at times.
Donna B. at November 9, 2007 1:11 PM
Congrats Amy!! I def want to read it.
Jack's Kat at November 9, 2007 1:11 PM
I hope it's gonna sell like hotcakes!
(And that it will be available in Germany without Amazon charging an arm and a leg for flying it over the ocean in an otherwise unpopulated airplane all by itself just for me...)
Good luck for your deadlines, but don't be too harsh upon yourself, stern taskmistress...
Rainer at November 9, 2007 3:18 PM
Revengerella: The world will never be the same again. CONGRATS!
Kaja at November 9, 2007 3:22 PM
Awww! Thanks, everybody. I'm blushing!
Amy Alkon at November 9, 2007 3:27 PM
Oh my...so revenge now qualifies as the vehicle to promote good (or better) manners. You are such a hypocrite.
Brian at November 9, 2007 3:34 PM
Brian, do you see asking people sweetly to behave a little more considerately making much of a dent in anybody's behavior?
Amy Alkon at November 9, 2007 3:44 PM
So I guess bad behavior begets bad behavior. This is a real vicious cycle you have created. I wish you much happiness in your life as the perpetrator of viciousness.
Brian at November 9, 2007 7:00 PM
It's really not like that, Brian. Important clue: the word "humor."
Amy Alkon at November 9, 2007 7:57 PM
That does it - when I take over, I'm demanding that all other Brians change their name.
Amy - congrats on getting picked up. Unfortunately, the rude people of this world are the ones who never grew up, so acting like a parent is the only thing they respond to.
Although I wouldn't call what you do 'revenge'. After all, revenge is a dish best served cold.
brian at November 9, 2007 8:39 PM
Thanks, brian. And it really isn't "revenge" -- but, it seems you get the joke.
Amy Alkon at November 9, 2007 8:58 PM
Yay, Amy! V. impressive. I look forward to reading it.
marion at November 9, 2007 9:19 PM
Congratulations, Amy! It couldn't have happened to a nicer, more deserving person. I'll certainly run out and buy a copy when it's in the book stores, and buy copies for friends, too!
Norm Nason at November 9, 2007 10:29 PM
Hey, thanks, Marion and Norm!
Amy Alkon at November 10, 2007 2:13 AM
Congratulations Amy. I only met Cathy three times, but I'm sure she'd be chuffed.
Can't wait to see Revengella on the shelves.
Antoine Clarke at November 10, 2007 8:04 AM
Congratulations Amy. I'm looking forward to reading it.
For some reason I'm picturing a Lifetime series, with Wanda Sykes playing you, fearlessly (and sassily) working to make the world more civilized.
Kimberly at November 10, 2007 1:18 PM
Félicitations!! This is great, I'm always recommending your advice column and website to people, now I can tell them about your book--after I read it, of course!
Debra Stanley at November 10, 2007 3:58 PM
Greetings from snowy Berlin! Mazel tov on your well-deserved book deal, Amy. I expect to see a gorgeous author's photo of your gorgeous self on it. Cathy would have been thrilled with the news. And, as she would have said herself, she had impeccable literary taste!
Debbie Gendel at November 11, 2007 12:38 AM
Oh, hooray! Congratulations!
Jessica at November 11, 2007 7:40 AM
Very cool news. Congrats. Several years ago I began a book about civility (uh, lack of) in U.S. society but never really got around to pulling it all together. Was just too preoccupied with lots of other stuff. But I've collected a bunch of books on the topic -- and yours, when it comes out, will find a special place in my library.
Cable at November 12, 2007 8:44 AM
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