Brent Weeks

Fictionwise, Stanza, and Ereader have ironed out their issues, and will be selling The Way of Shadows for $1, but only until the end of the month! (Joining Amazon and Sony – where I’ve got the #1 best seller!

So yes, this means you can now read my book on your iPhone. Just read fast. That battery dies quick.

Oh, and if it helps… A fan writes in, “The Way of Shadows was written in Oregon! And you know how they write quality books in Oregon!” [Insert more breathless shilling here.]

I’m happy to announce I’ve signed a deal with Eksmo Publishing (Эксмо) to publish The Way of Shadows and Shadow’s Edge. And of course I hope we sell well enough that they’ll buy Beyond the Shadows as well. I’d hate for a reader to never get to read Beyond after SE’s ending. It’s just cruel. (But it’s not a cliff-hanger. Really. There’s a satisfying ending. It’s just that there’s a big twist in the epilogue. Don’t peek!)

I’ve also had lots of queries about what’s next. I’ve addressed this on the forum, but you don’t want to pick through posts on some forum, your mouse-clicking finger is tired, you just want the deets, man. Fair ’nuff.

I’ve signed a new three book deal with Orbit. I submitted an outline, and so much happened in the story, they were like, “Looks like three books to us, but do what you think is best. We just want your next three books.” Sweet. “And we want them fast. Your deadline is a book each November.” Gulp. So the trilogy is (extremely) tentatively titled Black Prism. I’m working as fast as I can, and I’m really excited about what’s forming. It’s set in a new world. Think more 1500 Mediterrean Sea, rudimentary fire arms and magic together. Woot. But don’t worry, it’s not a pirates-and-their-peg-legged-mateys book. Cross my heart. But there are awesome characters, lots of action, much cooler magic this time out, secrets, lies, betrayal, and butt-kicking. You know, the good stuff. After this trilogy (if it is indeed a trilogy), I will be returning to Midcyru with a new series. And yes, numerous of the important characters who actually survived the end of the Night Angel Trilogy will show up.

Next week, I hope to be able to announce another foreign deal, announce the pub dates of the foreign deals we’ve already got, and maybe post a cover or two…

So, I still haven’t been mentioned by the New York Times or Oprah. Go figure. But, I now have my reviews and interviews page totally up-to-date with a total of 57 reviews and 8 interviews. If you think that people who don’t live in New York City and don’t have an eight-figure income might have something worthwhile to say about books, you can CHECK IT OUT. Or click on the big “Reviews” tab to the left.   —————->

No! The other left.

<—————- ?

That’s right. Doh! Nevermind.

Complicated. No, really. According to Bookscan (the most accurate measure of book sales available), the best-selling fantasy debut of 2008 in the United States was Russell Kirkpatrick, with Across the Face of the World (excerpt HERE). I came in at #2 with The Way of Shadows–not bad for a book that’s only been out three months! Congratulations, Russell.

In the UK, however, I did grab the big chihuahua. #1 in the land of Shakespeare and Scary Spice, baby. Brilliant!

I have to confess to being particularly pleased by this tidbit from the press release: “Tim Holman said, ‘This year has also got off to a great start for Brent: this week, the three books in the Night Angel Trilogy are the first, second, and third bestselling mass-market paperbacks in the UK SFF market.’” Aside from the obvious (it’s great to be selling well), I like to think that means something. You can fool a reader with a great cover, and I do have great covers. But if what’s between the covers stinks, most people aren’t going to come back for more punishment.  Right? Unless people in the UK are such art-lovers that they decided that the covers alone are worth eight pounds. Which is possible. Crap.

In other news, the Great Arbiter of All Things Worth Knowing (Wikipedia, natch), now lists your humble correspondent. (Thanks to you fans who took it upon yourselves to make sure the world knows I exist.)

Rejoice, all e-book readers. If you read books through the Amazon Kindle, Mobipocket or Sony, during the month of January, you can get The Way of Shadows for $1.

That’s right, for the same price you spent in a moment of weakness on that last shamefully lip-synched song by an over-produced Disney boyband from iTunes, you can get the first book of the Night Angel Trilogy.

Have a fear of commitment? Hey, it’s only a dollar! Poor because you spent $359 to read $8 books? Hey, it’s only a dollar!

Technophiles, this is what you’ve been waiting for. Here’s your line: “Look how cheap the books are on this, honey. In the long run, we’ll save money.”

A fancy new Kindle (sold separately),  none of the guilt that comes from supporting a boyband–and for a limited time, this special offer even comes with a halfway decent book! And hey, it’s only a dollar! If it were any cooler, we’d have to hire that guy from the Sham-Wow! commercials.

And even if you want to pass on my book, Orbit will be running the same promotion with different authors every month. Check it out HERE.

(Wow, being a breathless shill is tiring. I think I’ll go back to being a nerdy novelist, and I promise my next post will contain no more than one exclamation point.)

UPDATE: Due to sad “territoriality issues,” Mobipocket has bailed from this cool promo. Good news–well, for me–is that The Way of Shadows has been #1 in the Sony e-store for the past week. Good news for all Sony readers is that Sony has finally got book 3 (Beyond the Shadows) into its store. (A mere two months and dozens of emails later!) Sorry for the extra snark this morning–I haven’t had my coffee yet.

Too late for Halloween costume contest–breathe a sigh of relief everyone else–Sam writes in, “This is me being Kylar. I reckon my costume smashes yours. =D

(Click to enlarge.)

(I’m standing in the corner next to the window, opposite the camera.)”

Uh, no arguments here. Sir.