"Lost" hits the major online book retailers

What a surprise I got this evening when I typed "Lost in the Ivy" into Amazon's search feature. Yes, there it was. MY book. As green as it can be.

Then I took a quick jump over to Barnes & Noble's online store and typed in my book. And, lo and behold, there it was again. MY book.

You can't see this, but my fingers, right now, they're dancing on the keyboard. "What a feeling..."

Oh, no. They're not dancing to "Flashdance". I must be giddy.

Please stop me before I get to that scene where the water splashes over me. The best way to do that? Order the book, of course. Many copies. The more the better. Oh, and tell a friend or two to do the same.

Here's the direct Amazon link and the direct Barnes & Noble link to the book.

And after you've read the book, if you like it, be sure to write a review of it on Amazon. Let others know. That's one of the best ways to get the word out. 

Update on Friday, July 1, 2005 at 08:41PM by Randy Richardson

It looks like I'm going to have to dance naked in the streets. A few hours ago I sent a newsletter to my mailing list subscribers reporting that Lost in the Ivy debuted on Amazon at No. 12, 177. In that newsletter, I noted that a 5-digit ranking for a little book like mine is a huge success, especially when you consider that there are more than 2 million books available for sale on Amazon. I was so pleased that I mentioned that if my little book ever got a ranking in the 4 digits I would be dancing naked in the streets. Well, guess what folks? As of 8:45 CST, Lost in the Ivy had climbed to No. 5,373!

I know this won't last, but it sure is fun right now! Many, many thanks to all of you out there who are buying my books. It means so much to me that people will actually pay money to read my words.

Who knew that dancing naked could be so much fun?

The Lost in the Ivy "Soundtrack"

What does Lost in the Ivy sound like?

Now that might sound like an odd question. Lost in the Ivy is a book, or at least it soon will be. Books don't make sounds, except for the sound that comes from flipping pages in them -- a sound, by the way, that I love.

Imagine, though, if a lucky star should someday shine on my little book. Hollywood takes notice and turns it into a major motion picture.

Okay, I'm awake now. The dream is over.

But it's fun to think about what your book would look -- and sound -- like on the big screen.

I can't recreate what it might look like, though I've often thought about who might play various characters from the book. I envision John Cusack as the protagonist Charley Hubbs, not only because he's a terrific actor but also because he's a die-hard Cubs fan and would thus know Charley's heart.

I can, however, give you an idea of what the book might sound like -- through music.

There's always been a little bit of Rob Gordon in me. For those who don't know, Rob Gordon is the character Cusack played in the wonderful movie adaptation to Nick Hornby's jewel of a novel High Fidelity. Rob, a record store owner, has a single-minded passion for music and that passion pours out into the mix tapes he compiles.

Mix tapes are, in some respects, a lost art form. The music industry's shift away from vinyl records and cassette tapes to compact discs spelled the end of the mix tape era.

But in its wake a new version of the mix tape has arisen. The ability to instantly download songs from digital music services such as iTunes or Rhapsody and to copy them on to CDs has brought new life to the mix tape. You can mix and match songs in any way you like, although now they call them playlists rather than mix tapes.

And that's what I've done for you. I've put my book to music. The songs I've selected are a mix of old and new and follow the storyline in some fashion. You should be able to download them through any of the major digital music services, so that you can have your own "soundtrack" to Lost in the Ivy. I've even included some songs that the artists have made available for free and legal download either through their label's Web site or through the South by Southwest Music Festival Web site.

This then, without further introduction, is my "soundtrack" to Lost in the Ivy. I hope you like it.

1. Lost in the Plot by The Dears
2. The Trial of the Century by The French Kicks
3. Jailbreak by Thin Lizzy
4. In a Daydream by The Freddy Jones Band
5. Lost in Space by Aimee Mann
6. Universal Blues by The Redwalls
7. Have a Little Faith in Me by John Hiatt
8. I Believe in You by Amp Fiddler
9. You Can't Hide by Maktub
10. True Faith by New Order
11. Keep Hope Alive by Crystal Method
12. How's It Gonna End by Tom Waits
13. Another Chance [Afterlife Mix] by Roger Sanchez

Update on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 at 12:15PM by Randy Richardson

A couple of footnotes to my soundtrack:

1. Lost in the Plot -- what a find that was. I couldn't imagine a better way to lead off a soundtrack for a book titled Lost in the Ivy.
2. The inclusion of Thin Lizzy's Jailbreak has dual significance. Not only does the song have meaning with regards to the storyline, but the band itself is mentioned in the first chapter of the book. The main female character in the book is named Lizzy and her nickname is "T.L.", which is short for Thin Lizzy. 
3. Two of the bands whose songs appear on the playlist are from the Chicago area, where the book is primarily set: The Freddy Jones Band and The Redwalls.
4. Here's a bonus song courtesy of a Chicago area band called The Cleaning Ladys. It deals with the pain and frustration that comes with being a die-hard Cubs fan, like Lost in the Ivy's protagonist Charley Hubbs. 

AM Radio

Hey, just a quick note to let you know that I'll be doing a live interview on the Frank Truatt Morning Show, WTBQ-AM, on Friday, July 29 at 7:05 AM EDT (that's 6:05 AM for my Chicago friends out there). The interview, I'm told, will last about 10 minutes. Even if you don't live in WTBQ's coverage area (which includes parts of New York and New Jersey), you can still tune in to the station's live Web broadcast. So be sure to set your alarm clocks that morning and listen in. Hopefully I'm capable of putting a complete sentence together at that early hour.

Pre-order Lost in the Ivy

Be the first on your block to get a copy of Randy's debut novel, Lost in the Ivy. Online pre-orders of the book now can be made through the publisher's Web site. Here's the direct link to the book. Note that you can send an electronic postcard from that link recommending the book to others. Also, if you like the book, be sure to write a review of it. It's your words that can make the difference now.

Update on Thursday, June 23, 2005 at 09:33AM by Randy Richardson

Thank you to Bill G. for pointing out that the "direct link" to the pre-order page was dead. It's been fixed. If you have any problems ordering the book, please let me know.

Publication Release Date

If you are a loyal reader of this blog and jumped here from my Home Base and also have a good eye for detail, you may have noticed that something has changed on the entry page for the first time in a couple of months. No longer does it read Lost in the Ivy (Coming this summer). Now it reads Lost in the Ivy (Coming August 15, 2005).

Yes, the answer to the question that I am asked more often than any other can now be answered: my debut novel will be available on August 15, 2005.

In the coming days and weeks there will be more information provided on where you will be able to find me and my book. But for right now it's nice to just inform you that my book goes to the printer a week from today and will be out in two months. (In reality, it likely will be available before the official release date, but that gets overly complicated and I don't want to confuse anyone.)

Since my book is set against the backdrop of Chicago's storied Wrigley Field and follows a Cubs theme, I'd hoped that the official release date would have some meaningful connection to an important day in Cubs history. It does not. The best I could find was this tidbit, courtesy of www.todayinbaseballhistory.com: 08/15/1964 - Mayor Daley declares "Ernie Banks Day" in Chicago and 26,000 fans cheer the Cubs' slugger. Banks then goes hitless as Pittsburgh wins 5-4.

I suppose it is appropriate that Banks went hitless and the Cubs lost the game on a tribute day for Mr. Cub.