OMG - book!

[strange_complex]

So I get back from a rather wearisome training morning, and what do I find in my pigeon-hole?

This:

(Also available here and here, but Blackwell's have the best picture.)

My copy is an advance - it actually becomes available to the general public from 1st December onwards. But, fundamentally, I am now a real, live published author. Wow!

NO-ONE need feel obliged to buy this just because they know me. But if you're interested I can a) give you a bit more of an idea of what's in it than the web-sites do, so that you can decide whether you'd like to buy it or not, and b) order it on your behalf at a 30% discount (i.e. £35 rather than £50).

In the meantime, please excuse me while I go and spend the rest of the day on an excited high...

Comments

[hieroglyphe.livejournal.com]

Congratulations :-)

[stompyboots.livejournal.com]

Go you! And what a great cover, too. When I get a copy, will you sign it for me please? Then I can say 'I knew her when', and be all smug. :)

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm pretty pleased with that! It's my own photo, but I think they did clever things with the colour balance to make it look better than it was!

And yes, I'm happy to sign your copy if you'd like. You might also find you want to check out the acknowledgements page at some point... ;)

[stompyboots.livejournal.com]

Wow, I'm acknowledged? That's so sweet of you! Thank you! I feel all sheepish and blushy now...

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Well, your proof-reading was really helpful! It would have been rude not to thank you. :)

[nalsa.livejournal.com]

Oh! Well done, you!

[huskyteer.livejournal.com]

Oh wow - congratulations and envy!

[edling.livejournal.com]

Woohoo!

[davesangel.livejournal.com]

Woohoo!!! Many, many congratulations, and I'll certainly be buying a copy :)

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Thanks - that is very sweet of you. I will note your name down, and let you know about ordering details once it's properly published.

[my-mundane-life.livejournal.com]

Brilliant :) Congratulations! I love the cover. That's two people on my flist who've seen their new books for the first time recently :)

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Cool - who else?

[my-mundane-life.livejournal.com]

yiskah - she's written a novel called The Angel Makers.

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Hee, I just went and read her post about seeing it for the first time! I totally know how she feels!

You obviously have a very literary friendslist!

[p-dan-tic.livejournal.com]

I actually quite dissapointed to see your real name rather than PJ Strange

I had no idea i'd feel like that until i saw it

still congratulations, you published author you

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

He-he-he! That would have been quite amusing. And maybe even plausible - there is a guy at Manchester who writes about Roman Spain called Andy Fear (http://www.art.man.ac.uk/clah/staff/fear/home.htm), after all!

[megamole.livejournal.com]

Woo!

And I'd like a copy.

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Thanks! And I'll let you know about ordering details shortly.

[robertom.livejournal.com]

SHAZAM! i am a helenist, to be truthful, so let me know what is in teh book and i will see if it tickles that part of me that is a latinist.

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Well, it's basically about why Roman cities had suburbs, what made those suburbs different from the centre, and what people did with them. I'm setting it in an empire-wide context, so there's some stuff early on about how Greek authors talk about suburbs (using the word proasteion). But most of it is about the western empire, and of course particularly Gaul - in both the high empire and late antiquity. The evidence for the bulk of the discussion is mainly archaeological, so there's lots of pictures and maps. Finally, I close by looking at how an understanding of suburbs can help us look at wider questions, such as the nature of a Roman city, its relationship with the countryside, and the relationship between the provincial elites and Rome.

[robertom.livejournal.com]

sounds interesting, actually. i'll let you know.

[sashajwolf.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!

[angeoverhere.livejournal.com]

Oh wow! wonderful, and it does indeed have a lovely cover..

I hope you bring it to Ledbury so we can all squee at it?

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Sure, no problem!

[dakegra.livejournal.com]

cool!

We need to see a photo of you clutching the book!

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Hee - I'll see what I can do!

[rosamicula.livejournal.com]

Beat me to it!

[themonkeypolice.livejournal.com]

That is amazing... congratulations. It looks excellent.

[libellum.livejournal.com]

Woooo! Go you, and yay for happiness!

I love the photo, and the way your full name looks printed out ... um, is that really odd? Penelope is such a graceful name :)

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

No, indeed - that's why I use it for my publications. Penny in real life, Penelope on paper, is my rule.

[rich-r.livejournal.com]

From the descriptions on the Amazon site it looks very interesting, even to a non-historian like me. I notice they make a point about the number of annotations that you worked so hard on!

I may well be interested in a copy...

[big-daz.livejournal.com]

Fantastic news- congratulations :-)

[maviscruet.livejournal.com]

Good going. And yes - sign me up for a copy. That's just the sort of random book I like having on my shelves. This assume your ok with me randomly stealing parts of it and then horribly missusing them for a roleplaying game of course.....

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

I would be honoured to think I had inspired role-playing games with my book! There are certainly plenty of city-maps in there which you could make use of.

[ixwin.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! :D

[avaritia.livejournal.com]

It looks very groovy, well done

[captainlucy.livejournal.com]

Woo-hoo! Congratumulations! Finally, one of my flist answers the question "What did the Romans ever do for us?" :D

And I'll just join in the general squeeeeing over the lovely cover photo too! :)

[smileygoth.livejournal.com]

Wow! That's PD cool! :)

But, I really do think you are missing a trick by being polite and suggesting no-one should feel obliged to buy your book. I would personally have suggested people must buy it else you'll blackmail them with photos made up using Photoshop.

I'll have a beer or two for you to celebrate. Hurrah!

[davesangel.livejournal.com]

But, I really do think you are missing a trick by being polite and suggesting no-one should feel obliged to buy your book. I would personally have suggested people must buy it else you'll blackmail them with photos made up using Photoshop.

Haha, best idea ever :D

[rosamicula.livejournal.com]

COngratulations. I have visions of you prowling the Leeds campus with the book in your arms, rather in the manner of a Bond villain with a cat.

[neilh.livejournal.com]

Well done. I'd like to buy a copy.

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I will note down that you'd like to buy one, and make sure you get details of how nearer the time.

[xipuloxx.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, it looks great! Kong Rats!

I'm really torn now. I'd like a copy, and not just because I know you, but because it actually does look interesting too! But on the other hand, even £35 is a lot of money to someone who's been unemployed for months and is now in tenuous employment that may or may not last...

Ah, but wait, 1st December? I can ask for it as a Christmas present! Certain people have been asking what I want ... I think we have a plan.

Btw, if you don't mind my asking, what does the "J" stand for? Apologies if I already knew and am suffering from my usual uselessness with names.

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

It's for 'Jayne', and I don't think you did know, so don't worry!

[kate-r.livejournal.com]

superb news! Well done you - bet you feel so proud!

book

[hollyione.livejournal.com]

Please can you get me/put me down for a discounted copy?

The cover looks excellent BTW

Re: book

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Sure, no problem. And thanks!