Back From Chicago!
March 8th, 2009 at 9:30 am by --KALEB NATION--
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- Bathroom Mirror TV
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- The Book Cow
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- My Agent
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- My publishers
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- The team
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- Sourcebooks Publishers
The trip to Chicago and Naperville to meet my publishers went wonderfully! So many things happened in 48 hours that I can hardly list them all here. Suffice it to say, from the photos above, that everything went even better than I expected, and this book release is going to be awesome!
Here’s the rundown of the trip. I left Dallas around noon, and arrived a few hours later after a flight filled with turbulence and The Dark Knight on my laptop. When I arrived at the Chicago airport, I was immediately picked up by a sedan. I’ve only been picked up by a sedan once before — this new one was quite different. There was a remote control built into the arm rest that would allow me to change the radio and the temperature of the car, as well as move the driver’s seat forward without even asking — clearly built for those who wish to avoid speaking with the peasants . Also, the car was stocked with magazines one does not normally see. The one I read had an article aimed at those who make over $50 million per year. One listing was selling a jet (yes, a full featured, private jet) and another was a $39 million vacation home in France (note the word vacation).
Bathroom Mirror TV
As evidenced by the photo I brought back, the hotel was wonderful. I got a big screen, HD TV in my room (Norbit was on, ha ha) plus, the infamous Television-In-The-Bathroom-Mirror my Twitter followers have so enjoyed. Whilst brushing my teeth, I managed to catch the news. I don’t know how I would have survived otherwise (I might have been forced to watch the news while not brushing my teeth — the horror!).
The first evening of the trip, my publishers, agent and I met at a wonderful restaurant to discuss plans for the next day’s meetings. I got to talk with my publishers for the first time in person, and meet most of the core team that will be managing my book. They have so many wonderful and exciting ideas coming up, especially with the release only about six months away (this Fall!). It was very odd, since it seemed that nearly everyone in the company had read The Farfield Curse already! I can’t even begin to say how thrilling it was to see how everyone was behind the book.
The Book Cow
I got a tour of the offices of Sourcebooks while I was there. The most interesting thing of all was the Book Cow, which is covered in writing and stacked high with books on its back. Notice the drum on the left: as my editor explained, it is company tradition that anytime someone has big news, they must immediately dash to the drum and pound it until everyone comes out of their offices to find out what happened. He told me it will get a good beating the day my book is released 
Most of what we discussed will be slowly released via my website here and BranHambric.com (which will be receiving its new design soon!). However, there are some things I can say. First, the Kaleb Nation Facebook Page (which is being run by the same people who manage the Twilight Facebook with 2 million members!) is now the official page for me on that site! I know many of you have been adding my personal page, but I only add people I personally know: if you join the official page, I check in a lot to see what people are saying.
Another thing, since we have such a short time until the release, I will have many big updates coming up, including things like the release date, the cover art, preorder times, etc. We are planning something at least once a month, so be sure to check back or follow me on Twitter so you get the latest (the cover art, I will say, should be here VERY soon!). I’ll keep everyone updated!
ADDED: I just realized that I had the meeting with my publishers on March 6 — exactly 1 year after I got the call from my agent saying Sourcebooks was interested in my novel! Fate is a funny thing…
Posted in Bran Hambric, Photos
Tags: Dominique Raccah, Lyron Bennett, Publishing, Richard Curtis, Sourcebooks
March 8th, 2009 at 9:41 am
*sniff*
so proud ksleb. so proud. tears of proud are in my eyes.
March 8th, 2009 at 9:44 am
First comment!!!!! welcome back Kaleb! I hope you had a good time in chicago!
March 8th, 2009 at 9:44 am
Awwww, never mind the first comment…
March 8th, 2009 at 9:52 am
It looks like you had lots of fun. Congrats, again!
Corinne!
March 8th, 2009 at 9:53 am
OMFG, THE BOOK COW!
AND A BATHROOM MURR [[lol xD]] TV!
Wow.
I would die.
We dont have anything that fancy here in Ireland
*Fail.*
ANd I could imagine all the fun I could have with my drum…
Even though my dad owns a Lambeg Drum [[Google it- Nearly bursts your ear drums]] and I could either roll it at people that annoy me, or bang it in their ears
*Imagines*
Atleast your trip was awesome and you enjoyed it :3
Kitty
xzx
March 8th, 2009 at 9:54 am
I meant ‘that drum’, gah at me and my spelling x_x
March 8th, 2009 at 9:57 am
[...] people, I’m back from the great state of Illinois! My trip was wonderful. Check out this page if you’d like to see the trip photos (including one of a book cow, and another of the [...]
March 8th, 2009 at 10:06 am
Wow. Love the magazines.
I get Travel&Leisure at my house (I got a free magazine subscription, and it had pretty pictures in it 
), and it always makes me feel intimidated. Affordable for them is about $400/night!
You are very very lucky to have had such an awesome trip! Congratulations on being so awesome!
March 8th, 2009 at 10:10 am
@Krista: the magazine in the sedan had hotel rooms listed for over $1200 a night. My eyes nearly fell right out
–Kaleb
March 8th, 2009 at 10:10 am
HI KALEB
zomg u were in my hometown and didn’t come to see me?! how dare you!
can’t wait for the new book, i’m gonna be the first one in line. xD
March 8th, 2009 at 10:24 am
SQUEEE! Gah! I can’t wait to hear all the big news you brought back for us!
March 8th, 2009 at 10:45 am
I like the mirror, I think I’m going to have to get one!
Glad you are following your dreams and making them real.
March 8th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Why would anyone want to control the driver’s seat without them knowing? Isn’t that dangerous anyway??? Weirdness… Wow, never thought that those kind of magazines actually exist! Anyway, all this news about Bran is making me really excited now! I may not last long enough to see it come out!!!
March 8th, 2009 at 11:32 am
You wrong everything that’s happened is because of you and your passion! Really happy for you.
March 8th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Wow! The trip sounded soooo amazing! I honestly cannot wait until your book comes out; I’m already telling everyone I know to look for it this Fall. =]
Rock on, Kaleb!
<3
March 8th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
If only people could drink literary knowledge from the book cow.
March 8th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
I just added the Book cow to my christmas list, lol
Can’t wait for the Artwork
March 8th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
I love the tribal drum haha. And the lovely pictures of Marie Antoinette (I had to study her for my history minor). The weekend sounds amazing, I hope I get a weekend very similar in the future =)
March 8th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Wow Kaleb. You’re getting so close! It’s so exciting to follow along and see what happens as you get closer to publication. I will definetly be visiting the book store on whatever day your book comes out. Congratulations!
March 8th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Well I can say I’m behind ya Kaleb! I really want to write a book myself and seeing somebody else going through the process is fantastic!
March 9th, 2009 at 9:58 am
That is SO Awesome!!!!!
March 9th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Wowsome… A TV in the mirror? That is totally… Wowsome. I think I’m speechless. Or textless, technically, seeing as I’m typing.
And no-one needs a $39 million vacation home. Though I wouldn’t mind being able to afford it…
I really can’t wait until Bran Hambric comes out! Do you have any idea if it will be released in England at the same time? Or will I have to wait ages? That would suck. =[
Anyway, thanks! I hope you had a ‘wowsome’ time!
Rebecca.
March 9th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
ahaha, when we rented a car once they upgraded (possibly by accident, lol) us to a 2008 Lincoln towncar and it had the controls in the backseat like that. It was awesome. But it didn’t come with cool magazines
Just thought I’d share that randomly.
Daylight savings (curse the inventor of such a thing) always makes me a little weird, lol.
March 10th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
About the $39 million vacation home in France, don’t they call a vacation a holiday in Europe? I may be mistaken, I’m not completely sure.
But anyway, WHOA! That would be a wicked place for a party, I bet.
April 14th, 2009 at 12:28 am
That is SO Awesome!!!!!
August 13th, 2010 at 6:32 am
Funny and interesting ! Great article !
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August 13th, 2010 at 11:32 am
Funny and interesting ! Great article !
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