The official release date is November 1 but two eagle-eyed readers have seen Vroom by the Sea in the wild. Rebecca Balsamo spotted a bunch of them in Borders in Sydney on her way to a pedicure. And Alivicwil who sighted a gaggle of them in Canberra, again at Borders. My publishers will be pleased to hear that both bought copies. Indeed Rebecca apparently ‘squealed with delight’ when she handed over the cash.
As you can see from the picture above, I got a box of them in the post mid-week. They came snuggled in package padding made from soya. Yes, they do look like some kind of cheesy snack. Yes, they are edible. And yes, I have tried them and they have a not unpleasant nutty flavour. Not sure if they are organic or made from genetically-modified soya beans, but if things got tough I’m sure I could survive on them for a week or so.
So, it’s all staring to feel real. Next week the new web site goes live. And in a couple of weeks I’ll be flying to Oz to promote it.
Hopefully, some of you will be able to make it to one of the events planned.
Squealing with delight is optional but much appreciated.
Just as I posted this blog my mum called to say she’d got her copy from Angus & Robertsons at Caloundra.
Before you start hassling me about being a tight so-and-so who won’t even give his mother a free copy, she insists on buying them. Really. She feels as though she’s doing her bit to get it to ‘chart’!
So it’s not just Sydney and Canberra. And it’s not just Borders.
It’s nationwide, baby.
Oh yay, right in time for the beach weather in Sydney as well. Will have to go and look for it tomorrow…
Catch you in Sydney when you get back…
Yes I found a copy at Borders Sth Yarra Cant wait to start reading it
Damn, I’m allergic to soy products. I can’t eat the packing material.
Hey Marie, that’s a shame. You can’t enjoy the melt-in-the-mouth goodness of top-quality packing soya. It’s one of life’s joys.
Yay! Can’t wait to buy a copy. And I’ll try to make it to your event in Brissy!
My mum works in a school office and has made me eat packaging a couple of times, just to prove that it’s possible!
(For non-soya people, I’m pretty sure you can also get packaging made of potato…)
(and: woohoo! I got a mention in your entry!)
Events are a bit far for me to travel from my current NYC base but I’ll have some friends tracking this book down and sending it to me. I still wish it was easier to get your books here – I read all the rest when I was living in Australia in 04-05, “Swahili for the Broken-Hearted” was my introduction when I found it in a UBS in Sydney. I remember at that point Crikey! was in the pipeline and I was eagerly awaiting it. Best of luck with this one and I look forward to reading it.
Peter,
Any chance those of us in the States could order a copy of Vroom by the Sea direct from your website??
Am so excited having just bought a copy of your book. I’ve been looking forward to it for months (seriously!) so cannot wait for this day to be over so I can go home and read. It’s gonna be a late night for me.
peter is there anyway i could by this on the internet in time for christmas any advice on who to buyit through regards chris callow
I was on my way to the Gold Coast yesterday morning, and something hailed me into the book store at Terminal 3. Wandering straight to the beloved travel fiction section, my eyes immediately landed on the familiar looking picture. My eyes scanned “vroom by the sea”. Without even thinking twice, the book was in my hands, paid for at the counter, and i got through one quarter of the book by the time i had landed!
Peter – once again i am so intrigued with your travel and your book. You will be the inspiration for when one day i write my own travel book.
Having lived in Italy myself, every story you tell is so true and funny!
I am now halfway through the book – and hopefully by the time i am back home in Sydney tomorrow, i will be through the whole thing!
Luisa
I’ve asked around a few places here in Perth & can’t find it yet, but I haven’t ventured into the CBD, just the ‘burbs.
Shame there’s no Poif visit, Pete!
Hi,
When and where can we buy the new book in Europe?