Thursday, March 20, 2008

I'm a What!?!? -- Jay

Exactly twenty-one hours ago I found out Thirteen Reasons Why will be making its debut on the New York Times Best Sellers list. That means, of course, that I’ve been freaking out for exactly twenty-one hours now.

After getting phone calls from my editor and publisher, calling my wife and parents, and opening a ton of awesome e-mails from other writers, my brain took a brief detour to The Silly Side. For example:

During my first conversation with the first girl I ever went on a date with, I noticed my shoelace was untied…yet I never would’ve thought the awkward moment which followed would make it into a NY Times best selling book.

When I slipped on wet grass, my friend tumbled over me, and two girls we were trying to impress began laughing hysterically…I never would’ve thought that embarrassing moment would make it into a NY Times best selling book.

And when I finally identified the bizarre flavor of my first real kiss…I never would’ve thought that taste (slightly adjusted) would make it into a NY Times best selling book.

But it’s true!

So I’d like to send a heartfelt thank you to everyone who read Thirteen Reasons Why. And I’d like to send a gigantic heartfelt thank you to everyone who told their friends that they needed to read it, too.

Wow! You made me a New York Times Best Selling Author!!!

- Jay

33 comments:

CJ Omololu said...

And it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy! I like to think that my TWO copies of 13RW helped.

Congratulations- that is soooo cool!

helgor said...

Yayyyyy!!!!

This is amazing! Enjoy it all, every last bit.

Anonymous said...

And it's not even out in paperback yet, Jay! Look at you!

As Howard Dean would say: "Yeeeeeeaaaaaarrggggghhhh!"

Congrats, dude. You rock.


-- Christian Fuenfhausen

Kim / POWER OF RUN said...

YAY, Jay! I'm so excited for you. Congrats!!!! Go Mermaids!

Disco Mermaids said...

I must admit, a whole lot of the success of this book is due to Mr. Fuenfhausen's awesome cover design.

So many teens told me the cover art practically demanded that they take the book off the shelf...and that's when I took over. (Tee-hee!)

- Jay

Sarah Michele said...

Wow, congratulations, Jay! You deserve it (even if us losers in Maryland don't get to see you talk at book stores)!

Emily Marshall said...

Such great news Jay. Congrats!

Katie said...

AWESOME!!

Disco Mermaids said...

Oh, dude...DUDE!!! This is so amazing. I've been a blubbering mess! But tears of joy are so much fun.

I agree that Christian's cover totally drew people to the book...and then you sealed the deal. I had a feeling this would be a book that teens would flock to and now we know how true that is. Wow. Wow. Wow.

You totally deserve this, Jay! Even though the fact that Eve and I have to bow down and throw rose petals at your feet when you enter a room is a little weird. And the scalp massages? Really?

Nah, it's worth it. Maybe you can do the same for us some day when we become NYTBSA's. Or maybe just for fun.

;-)
Wuv you man!

Robin

Joey said...

The Jay Man! Nice work!

Disco Mermaids said...

YOU are a NYTBSA!!!

Sounds like I'm calling you a bad word, or like you just got diagnosed with some rare skin disease, doesn't it??

So so so proud of you. Words cannot express. Since you called yesterday, I've been speechless. Sort of. Well, after I called everybody I know and told them. Then ran around the neighborhood shouting the news. And then I rode my friend's kid's razor scooter around downtown and hollered into a bullhorn.

After all that, I was speechless.

Did you ever know that you're my hero? I want to be you when I grow up.

xoxo
Eve

Anonymous said...

WOW

Your GREAT Uncle

Natalie said...

Wow! I'm not surprised, though. I had a feeling this book was going places...can't wait to see it on the shelves in Italy!

C.R. Evers said...

Congratulations! And what a great way to make those embarrassing moments useful! :0)

Way to go!

Christy

Jessica Burkhart said...

Yay, Jay! :)

Susan Sandmore said...

Hey, Jay--when I heard your news, this song started playing in my head. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rCPwhC6R8A I know you're not exactly Melanie Griffith, but . . .

Stephanie J. Blake said...

Congrats, man!

And now I can sell your half-eaten sandwich on Ebay. Didn't know I kept it all these months, did you?

Unknown said...

WOW and YAY and what flavor was that first kiss?

This is incredible and well-deserved news -

Congrats Jay!

Disco Mermaids said...

Colorado!!! Did you keep the napkin I wrapped that sandwhich in? Cuz I wrote some notes on it about my next book and I really need it back.

My fingers are crossed...

- Jay

Anonymous said...

Wow! Congratulations! And your book's been out awhile now. I guess it has legs, eh? Big strong legs.

Laini Taylor said...

Oh my god, Jay, that's so fantastic!!! Yay yay yay! I'm so happy for you!!!!!!

~Mrs. Stu said...

Hurrrrrrrrrrrray Jay!

There's a little town called SLAPOUT, ALABAMA nestled amongst the cotton fields and cow pastures of Elmore County that is VERY PROUD OF YOU!

And if anyone deserves this honor...it is definately you!

Congrats Galore!

Stephanie Roth Sisson said...

Wonderful news, Jay! The reading public has good taste- and ahem, on that note, I have and unsigned copy of 13 Reasons that needs a signature.

A big congratulations!

Steph

Don Tate II said...

Very cool! I haven't read my copy yet, but it's at the top of my list. Congratz!

Heather Brewer said...

I'm finally getting over here to congratulate you, Jay. WAY TO GO!!! So well deserved!

Now...you'll hvae to give us a list of Thirteen Reasons Why It's Cool to be a NYT Bestseller!

joannapaige said...

I am still so proud & excited for you! Congratulations yet again & again & again....What an accomplishment!!!! Have a wonderful evening!

Sarah Stevenson said...

Holy crap--that's awesome! Congratulations!

Lummy said...

YAY!!!

Need I say more?

Being typical verbose Yee-Lum, I would say more... under normal circumstances.

But this time, I'm as awestruck--and as speechless--as Eve.

Congratulations, Jay!

Paige Keiser said...

WOW!!!!!!! Congratulations Jay! Way to go!!

Rita said...

Fantastic.

Anonymous said...

I just finished your book and it is AMAZING!!!!! I am a 36 year old mom who is in her last year of college becoming a Middle Grades Language Arts major and I told my entire class today to go buy this book. I read ALOT of YA books and this is in my top 5!!!!!!!!! I could not put the book down from the moment I picked it up. It is fabulously well-written and touches on a subject that goes too often unnoticed. The approach of this novel was beautiful. The perspectives it offers were brilliant. The smallest things can make the biggest impact and we can't know how something we do will affect someone else. This is such an important idea for young adults and you did an absolutely BEAUTIFUL job telling this story. LOVED IT!!!!! (By the way, this is my very first blog comment)

Little Willow said...

Congratulations! :)

Stasia D said...

Congratulations, Jay!