The first (that I’ve seen) mention of Surprise! can be found here: Australian Bookseller and Publisher Summer 08/09 edition, pg 57
For the backstory: a contact of mine emailed me yesterday saying, “I was flicking through the magazine and saw your book being featured! Have you seen it yet?” and my response was, “NO! I didn’t know! Gah! There’s no WAY I’ll be able to get my hands on it until I get back to Melbourne.”
Then, on the off-chance, I ran across the road to the newsagents/bookstore in town and asked their book-buying manager if they possibly had a copy? As he went out to check, I was fully prepared for a no, but instead he came back, tearing off the plastic off the trade magazine. I just about died of excitement. I almost snatched it from his hands, and sunk to the floor, flipping through the pages until I found it. It was so…well, cool. Take a look at those other authors. Take a look at those other publishers. This is little old me – both as author AND publisher – and Kim, making an appearance.
Excuse the French – but that is fucking awesome. BRILLIANT.
By the time I got back from the store to tell Adam, my contact had emailed me through a pdf of the page, which I’m now sharing with you all.
The review might also explain my increase in orders and I have SOLD OUT of all my own personal copies. I need to get more back from the distributor’s warehouse.
Made my Christmas, I can tell you that.












8:45 am
Good for you! It must have REALLY made your Christmas!
Jean-Luc Picard’s last blog post..No Christmas This Year
9:34 am
That is so cool, I am so happy for you
Hope you continue to sell heaps more… Enjoy the rest of your holidays!
11:27 am
That is fantastic! Merry Christmas indeed.
Veronica’s last blog post..Christmas
3:29 pm
I am so very happy for you Karen!! Well done!!
nellbe’s last blog post..Rachael Ray Widget
5:15 pm
I’m not surprised. It’s a great book!!! Congratulations Karen and Merry Christmas.
Lightening’s last blog post..Smiley Saturday – Christmas Crazy
6:00 pm
Good for you, Karen. Many congrats. It’s well deserved.
D.Paul’s last blog post..WE NEED MORE OF THIS
10:43 am
Wow! I had no idea. I should drop by more often. Congrats!!!
4:56 am
[...] was the best part of the 2008? Seeing children reading Surprise! and loving it (the good reviews help too!) When parents tell me how much they all get out of reading it together, when libraries discover [...]