I'd even joke about my name being misspelled on one of my books someday. Wouldn't that be a scream, I'd say.
Well...
Today my first official hardcover copy of The Wheelman arrived, and like a parent with a new baby, I examined it front, back, top and bottom, from title page to jacket flaps. It was sweet and perfect and good. The smell of fresh cut paper was intoxicating. And it wouldn't spit up on me.
Then I looked at the spine, and saw this:
The version on the dust jacket (and the rest of the book, thank Christ) is correct; the one on the spine is missing a "c."
This, roughly, was my reaction:
I'm not sure if it's too late to do anything about this; probably is. Maybe St. Martin's can fix it if we do a second printing.
And if so... hey, I guess it will be easy to spot a first edition, eh?
If anyone needs me, I'll be in the garage with an IV bag, needle and a gallon of Johnnie Walker Black.
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16 comments:
Oh hit (computer left off the s)
OK, save this one, it going to be the collectors item of your career. I can see it now....eBay. Rare one of a kind, debut novel of Duane Swierczynski. Starting price $1,000.00.
As for the Johnny Walker Black, save the cap for me to lick. Us educators can only dream of that taste.
perhaps it will relieve you to know that not too many people are ever going to take off the dust jacket to even notice the mistake.
The collectors are gonna be sooooo happy.
Jeez, you're just on a roll today.
"Maybe St. Martin's can fix it if we do a second printing."
WHEN, Duane, WHEN they do a second printing.
I always solve that problem by referring to you as "Duane Swizzlestick."
They'll fix it in all the subsequent printings. And you'll have collectors paying gobs of cash in small,. unmarked bills for a first edition!
I want me one of those special first editions.
As for the review in PW, I'm with Ray. Did they give it to an amoeba to review? Do they think readers want a 'Janet met John, John stole Janet's money, Janet hit John over the head with the Encyclopedia Britannica and buried his body behind the rhodedendrons, Mr Policeman arrests Janet, Janet gets her ass fried in the electric chair' sort of book?
I loved The Wheelman. The plot is twisty and twisted, but definitely not confusing. I read it on the plane home from Chicago, tucked as I was in between a snuffling weasel of a man, and a teenage girl who'd imbibed far too many E numbers and squealed "cool" to her friend sitting in front, every 30 seconds for 7 goddamn hours. And despite such distractions I still didn't find it confusing. In fact, I sank into it like a warm cosy duvet and immersed myself in murder, mayhem and sheer unadulterated violence and joy for the whole journey home. So fuck 'em.
Donna
That is utterly inexcusable. Unbelievable.
you gotta watch 'em every second.
i've gotten cover copy with my name spelled wrong, and not consistently wrong. three different spellings on one cover. i've seen full-page ads with my name spelled wrong. for two years my books couldn't be found in the order catalogs sent to bookstores or in the chain databases because they were listed under my real name rather than my pen name. i only found out about the mistake through a bookseller who knew my real name.
Poisoned Pen sent around ARCs of Libby Hellmann's latest novel with her name misspelled on the spine, though it was spelled correctly on the cover. Haven't seen the final copies, so I don't know whether they caught the error in time.
But you're in good company, anyway... and yes, the collectors will love this. Save a few copies for your grandkids.
Anonymous, you're completely right -- I think I'm the only obsessive who looks at the spine of the actual hardcover. Still, once you know the birth defect is there...
For all of my complaining, I really did laugh when I first saw the error. I mean, it's just too perfect.
Then I sat down and cried.
No Exit has me as Jason Star (missing an r) on the back inner page on of my books...It happens. And with all the consonants in your name God knows it will happen again!
Jason Starr
Swierczwhatever - you poor thing. but Sarah's right - this will be a collector's item when you're king of the world. and I, as the picture queen, wholly approve this post with pictoral reactions.
I gotta make sure my copy has this spelling. Maybe I'll have to buy two now. One to sell when you get really famous and its worth a mint and the other to keep for myself.
Clair, I didn't notice the mistake on the galley of Libby Hellmann's latest, but you're right. They did correct it on the hardcover, though.
An even bigger error happened to Denise Hamilton with the galleys of Last Lullaby. Scribner actually printed them with Eve Diamond (her character's name) on the spine for the author. I thought that was hilarious.
Duane,
I sympathize.
David Terrenoe
David Toronado
David Tarantula
David Tornado
David Whatthefuckisthat?
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