As in "over-seas."
The Pay/Pal button has been updated...South America and Europe is an extra $9 to shipping, I'm afraid. But according to the Post Office, it's the same price whether I'm shipping to the UK, France, Finland, Germany, or Brazil.
It still trips me the hell out that I'm getting emails from folks in the UK, France, Finland, Germany, and Brazil...all wanting my game. I don't even speak Portuguese. Or Finnish! Sheesh!
I should mention that the response has been fairly overwhelming the last 24 hours. At this rate, I'll sell out my first print run by the end of the week. Which is...
Well, frankly a little overwhelming, as I said.
Not that I'm objecting! Please, please buy my book! And please use it to play! That's the whole point of writing it! Well...that and to see if I could even complete something like this. But I woke up this morning, checked the emails, and had a bit of a minor panic attack. The phrase "selling like hotcakes" comes to mind...and no one's even reviewed the book. That's just...
Crazy.
Maybe I should explain. I do a lot of "artistic" stuff...or I have over the years. I've never done anything that I've gotten paid for before. Well, I DID get $100 once to dress up as Batman for a kid's birthday party, but I'd hardly call that much of an acting gig. Even in my garage band days, I was playing pro bono or for beer, not cash.
To actually be paid for one's writing (I don't even advertise on the blog!)...even a small amount which I intend to offset my costs and perhaps use to facilitate another book...well, it's extremely gratifying for my own sense of self-worth.
And nerve-wracking in all honesty. What if everyone hates the book and chucks it in the trash? What if I'm flamed around the internet and become some sort of pariah/outcast? What if people threaten to burn down my house unless I give them their money back?
What if I end up despised in seven different countries?
I'm sure this is just paranoid/worst-case-scenario talk...but remember, folks, I am no "insider" of the gaming industry. Despite living in the Pacific Northwest my whole life, I've never worked for Wizards of the Coast, or any of the other independent game companies out here. Hell, I've never even worked for a retail game, book, or comic store...not even as a part-time job. When I was a kid, I was flipping burgers all summer long!
So it's kind of nuts. You Old School types who've written for other game companies and are now putting out quality stuff of your own...you folks may know a little bit (or more than a little) about what you're doing. Me? I'm just stumbling around in the dark waving a book at people and seeing who wants to buy. Damn...I don't even have a "presence" on Dragonsfoot or Knights and Knaves; I'm still a bit surprised anyone knows who the hell I am!
Anyway, thank you folks. I really do hope you get something (fun, useful, both) out of the game. Your encouragement and your support have helped me realize a not-too-small dream of mine. Hell, my buddy Steve now wants me to help him publish HIS (non-gaming) book. That I can be an inspiration to others...well, that's totally cool, too. But I wouldn't have come this far without being inspired by all of you.
Truly, thank you.
