Saturday, May 5, 2012

UK launch for The Underside of Joy

Beginning May 10th, this little girl will be perched on bookshelves in stores throughout the UK. And as if she's not sweet enough, here's a really sweet deal to add to the pot: For a limited time the publisher is offering the e-book here for a special promotional rate of a mere £1.99. Yep. Sweet.

My UK publisher, HarperCollins UK, has done such an amazing job. I was able to meet my editor, Sarah Ritherdon and my publicist, Liz Dawson, for lunch when I visited London last summer, and they were both so kind and gracious and fun that when we hugged good-bye, I felt like I'd known them for years instead of hours.

I'm extremely grateful for Sarah's and Liz's hard work and enthusiasm--along with that of the entire Harper team. Special thanks to: Heike Schuessler, who designed the beautiful cover; Harriet Sands, Laura Fletcher, Oli Malcolm, Sarah Collett, and Tom Dunstan, who've been doing a terrific job with sales; likewise Catherine Friis, who made great things happen with international sales, marketing guru Liz Lambert; and publisher extraordinaire Kate Elton. Everyone has gone to great lengths to see that The Underside of Joy finds its across-the-Atlantic audience.

So far, so good. Early readers have chimed in with truly lovely reviews, some of which are listed here and here.

So I'm excited to see how my book baby does on its first trip abroad. In the meantime, I'm heading up to Alaska as I write this (gotta love inflight wifi) to see my oldest son, Daniel, graduate from the University of Alaska, Anchorage. So proud of him for a million reasons. After graduation, we'll be traveling with Daniel on the Kenai Peninsula, where my novel-in-progress is set. If you've read this blog in the past, you know how much Alaska inspires me. Maybe I'll even have a blog post for you when I return that isn't about The Underside of Joy. Now wouldn't that be something?

9 comments:

  1. What an exciting time for you - both professional and personal.

    Several authors (including Jodi Picault in her early days) have found their UK audience to be more responsive and believe it or not, effusive, than in the U.S.

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    1. Thank you, Pennie. It was wonderful to finally meet you face-to-face at the San Diego reading. Thanks so much for coming!

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  2. I love hearing about all your successes. And I agree with Chelo --- another beautiful cover.

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    1. Thanks, Carol. Yes, I've been really lucky with covers so far.

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  3. Dear Seré!
    My name is Gabriella and I'm the one who is translating your amazing book into Swedish. I really love it and it's getting better with every reading. Right now I have Ella Beene's anxiety running in my body because I dive so deep in the book, but I know that everything will be fine in the end. Good luch with your next book! I hope you will keep your easy-going and sensitive language in that one too.
    Lots of love from Gabriella in Sweden :)

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    1. Hi Gabriella! Thank you! I'm so glad you stopped by. I'm in awe of anyone who can speak more than one language, let alone translate an entire book. It's wonderful to meet you and please don't hesitate to email me with any questions. (sere@serehalverson.com)

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    2. Thank you, I will definitely have questions and who can answer them better than you? :) I'm so glad I get to translate your book! It is very special, because how many books tell you to see both sides of a story, both sides of a person? How Ellas thoughts about Paige transform from anger and loathing to understanding that everyone has a past and are acting from it. Just amazing. And Well done!
      I will stop by again soon and practice my English :)
      Lots of love från Gabriella

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