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I was thrilled to wake up this morning to discover that One Brother Shy has hit the Paperback Bestsellers list. I’m honoured to have Margaret Atwood ahead of me. That feels like a big win to me. It’s also very cool to see just how many Canadian writers are on the list. Two-thirds of the two 15, including the top five, are Canadian.
My deep thanks to all those who made this happen by picking up a copy of the new novel. I’m grateful. May it continue!
In the first few weeks of its life, it’s been very gratifying to see Poles Apart grace a number of bestsellers lists in various positions. I just wanted to note them here for posterity’s sake, as this blog is a kind of digital scrapbook of my writing life. Here’s hoping Poles Apart hangs on for a few more weeks before it inevitably slips off these ever-changing bestsellers lists. I’m grateful to the many readers who have bought the book and helped propel it into these rankings.
This is a thrill and a half. The fine folks at BookManager, the organization that tracks sales from independent booksellers across Canada, has released their annual list of the top-selling books of 2012. Narrowing the focus to this country, what an honour it is to have two of my books among the ten topselling Canadian novels of 2012. It’s wonderful to be on the list with two other Leacock winners, Will Ferguson and Patrick deWitt, my friend Eva Stachniak and so many other fantastic writers. It’s also nice to see that three of the top ten are comic novels. I’m not sure that’s happened in a long time. This is great and encouraging news as I dive into writing “No Relation, my fourth novel. Happy New Year? It certainly is…
I happened to check BookManager last night and was surprised and delighted to see both The Best Laid Plans and The High Road still in the top ten Canadian Fiction bestsellers list. It’s been four years since TBLP won the Leacock Medal, and coming up to two years since THR hit bookstore shelves. I couldn’t be happier with how they’re still doing, all this time later. This unexpected longevity is another manisfestation of the Canada Reads effect. I certainly didn’t expect TBLP to be still so high on the list more than a year after the Canada Reads win, but such is the power of CBC’s annual battle of the books. With my third novel, Up and Down, due in bookstores on September 11, 2012, I’m certainly grateful for this good news.
Thank you Canada Reads! As I’ve noted before in this space, winning Canada Reads has been an extraordinary blessing. In case there are doubters out there, here is some more evidence to pound home my point. Bookmanager, a company that tracks book sales across the country, has released their topselling fiction list for all of 2011. I don’t mean the Canadian ficiton list, but all fiction, regardless of origin. As you can see, The Best Laid Plans came home in third place for the year. What a thrill. Again, I say, thank you Canada Reads.
Okay, you know when I wrote in an earlier entry that I would try not to be quite so self-indulgent in my blog posts? Well, I’m still committed to that, but am requesting special dispensation to record the good news that The High Road has for the first time, cracked the BookManager Canadian Fiction Bestseller List, checking in at number eight. Undoubtedly pulled along by The Best Laid Plans, which is still basking in the Canada Reads afterglow. It’s a thrill to see both of my novels in the Top 10.
I promise a humbler writing update on novel number three shortly…
I had a quick look at BookManager the other day and clicked on the Canadian Fiction bestseller list that they compile through their dealings with book retailers across the country. I use BookManager to get a barometric reading on whether my novels are heading up or down the charts. The Best Laid Plans has been number one on BookManager for quite some time now. But for the first time, down at number 14, is The High Road. It had been steadily moving up the list, dragged along by TBLP, but THR has now broken onto the list. What a thrill to see them both there. Again, thank you Canada Reads!
Wow, the list moves fast. Having just posted about TBLP hitting #13 on the BookManager National Canadian Fiction Bestsellers List, I was surprised to see that this afternoon, it’s actually moved up to the #6 position. Unbelievable. My friend and fellow Canada Reads finalist, Ami McKay, is still shooting up the charts with The Birth House now sitting at #4. Looking at the other amazing authors on the list, I’m humbled by the company I’m suddenly keeping. What an honour. At the risk of repeating myself to the point of annoying, thank you all…
I’ve been told by a number of folks in the publishing biz that Canada Reads really does move books in this country. The Canada Reads books sell. Well, I certainly believe it. The impact of being a Canada Reads finalist has been swift and significant for my novel. BookManager, a supplier of software and data solutions for the publishing industry, releases a national bestsellers list weekly. The Best Laid Plans has never come close to appearing on the list, until now. On a whim, I checked out the Canadian Fiction Bestseller list and was bowled over to see TBLP at lucky number 13. Another Canada Reads finalist, Ami McKay, is well up near the top at number five! I’m not surprised. The Birth House is a great read.
This is just another reminder of how lucky we are to be on the Canada Reads list…
Well, I guess it’s really official now. I was checking BookManager a few minutes ago. This is a site used primarily to track book sales to and through independent book sellers. I check it periodically to see whether TBLP is still in demand. Tonight when I looked, lo and behold, The High Road has magically appeared in my listing, slated for publication on September 7, 2010. This is the first time I’ve seen a firm publication date. Here’s what it looks like:
When the cover design is completed and approved, it will appear as well. The High Road somehow seems more real now than it ever has.
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