I too have Wil Wheaton as a google alert, so I am then a bigger dork than you.

I can't believe I just said this in an open comment.

Hahaha, congrats Wil!

Yay!! way to go, Wil! Good company, too (I met Astin a couple of years back at a film festival... Hella nice guy.)

Yay, Wil! :)

This is the happening link, though the graphic will only be there until the morning before it's replaced with something new.

Congrats!! I picked up my copy of "Just A Geek" at Powell's last month when I was in Portland, actually ... even though I live on the East Coast, I'd been waiting to buy it there because of the great stuff you'd written here about Powell's.

I'll bet a bunch of Portland-folk will be rushing to Powell's to do the same thing after reading that review... :)

Congrats. A great one for the scrap book.

Hey Wil. I hear your frustration over the book. I ordered mine from books A Million here in Leesburg Florida. I also been spreading the word of your site to my gamer group and our local gaming store. Also online all my friends now know where your blog is. As for the book, I made my college library order it and it will be put up on the new book display this spring. Why? Because I can:) So hopefully word will spread and people will buy the book. You have gotta get on Jay Leno. That is the KEY;)

Wil,
Too cool. My Coolest Years on VHI and now "The Oregonian"? Life is good. Here's to Google Alerts, sip sip.

I'm not a huge gigantic King fan, but I really love "On Writing." It's the best book about the writing process that I've read so far.

I just happened to live in Portland and read the article in the Oregonian.

WTG, Wil!

And BTW, having lived almost everywhere in the universe (well, Iceland & Guam; Omaha, Oxnard, Long Beach, Montgomery AL, etc because of the Air Force), Portland is one sweet place to live. I love it.

Congrats, Wil! Sleep even betta tonight, I'm guessin'. [Unless, yer too giddy over the review.]

How many books does a top selling author get published before one of 'em sells big? I honestly don't know, but did Steven King's first book start out like gangbusters??? And whilst some music artists hit it big with their debuts... most do not, and have to build up their following and media interest.

You're doing the same thing... you've got a loyal following of fans that rave about you to anyone that'll listen, we eagerly snap up everything you release... it'll keep buidling up, if you keep putting out the material.

So while, JAG is a fantastic read, don't pin your writing career on it solely. Release another book and go to the next level with it... and then do it again.

We're all pullin' for ya!

Congrats Wil! I sent you the link, but I am pretty sure that everyone and their mother in Portland did too :)

Great job and we're looking forward to seeing you in Portland again soon :D

Woo!

Wicked cool, sweetie.

Read the article(s) this morning at breakfast (it was broken down into two pieces, one with the interview, one on the book itself). I was quite pleased to see your big ol' mug on the front page of the Living section. Nice article. She had some interesting questions for you that kept the interview from being the same-old-same-old. Fun.

Oh, and if you guys do make the move up here in the future, indie film is about to take off in the area now that we have a Big Name Director on our Film and Video Board. The indie producers here (myself included) would welcome you with open arms.

That's awesome wil!

It's funny... even though I work in news, I still get a kick out of mention... and mine are obviously much more rare!!!!! Maybe I should put my name in for a Google alert, too! ;-)

I read the article about Sean Astin coming and then I went and met him. I live in Portland, and I must say it does rock really hard. You should visit us sometime!

Woo hoo! Fabulous article. I also enjoyed the review of "Just a Geek." Congratulations on some tasty "just deserts."

Hoooray Oregonian!! I just got home and opened my newspaper to my favorite section (I have to read "the edge" before I read the rest of the paper) and saw your smiling face on there. "WIL!!" I said, "WTF are you doing on in the Oregonian??". I thought the article was great and you should be well pleased with it. I love it when cool stuff happens, either to myself or to people who need cool stuff to happen to them. Hope it takes you far!
Laura K.

I moved to Portland a couple of months ago, and was pleased to see your face so early this morning - before my coffee, even! I guess I've been reading this blog too long, because I wasn't surprised, just pleased. Incredibly pleased. But I didn't realize the article contained so many firsts. Have you seen the print version? 'Cause it took up about 3/4 of the front page of the "Life" section, and carried over to Page 3 (or was it 5?). Congratulations!

Well done! I'm curious why you're feeling down about JAG - you shouldn't! It's hard to write a good book, even harder to get it published and harder still to get anyone to buy it. You did all three. You should be just proud of yourself.

I think I wrote that fan fiction.

Wil,
Great review. I don't think it can hurt your book. Keep up the good work.

FG

Is it a little weird that I get Proud Moments whenever I read cool stuff like this? Probably.

Do I care? No...'cause I am proud. Way to go, Wil!

We love you in Oregon Wil.

Wil,

You have two bases of operation: WWdN fans (50,000 monkeys) and Trekkies (maybe more than 50,000). I say, concentrate on these two groups to sell your books. The majority of Trekkies did not hate Wesley, contrary to what you may think.
Advertise in Trekkie magazines and websites. Play your strong hand. Politicians concentrate on areas where they have strong support--do likewise.

Freeman :)

Woot! So happy to see you on the front page of the Oregonian. And with such a great article and review of JAG. \m/ (I wouldn't have seen it if my co-workers hadn't put it on my desk--so thanks Martha ;-) )

Congrats, man!

Moonie

Congrats!

I have been recommending JAG some to people who I am fairly sure would like it, and many of them look at me like I'm nuts. I think forwarding this review to some of them might help "push them over the edge" and check it out. Thanks for the link, Wil!

I just recently begun a read of Just a Geek. I wanted to drop a line of encouragement to you. It's fantastic writing. . . real feelings were put into it, so the smiles, laughter, and feelings that the reader experiences are just as real. Thank you for your book and keep your spirits up. It's a gem waiting to be found by many others.

'...not since Achilles...'

You and Achilles in the same paragraph.

That's big.

Nice work Wil.

Keep Fighting.

Being a native portlander myself -and admittedly a Wesley Crusher fan while I was growing up- I was quite excited to see the article on the front page of the living section this morning.
So when are you coming to do a reading at our beloved Powell's Books?

take care,
Brita

Wow!

That was a great article! I am always happy when I hear something about you in the news. (even if you are flaunting it!) I wish I could get you in every paper in the world telling people how it is.

The book review was good to. Not to mushy, just right.

Keep up the good work!

Glad to see the Oregonian knows a good story when they see it!

I grew up in Salem, and hope to one day move back. But after living in Southern California for a while I'm more inclined to live in Grants Pass, Medford or Ashland!

I was just wondering, since you're interested in moving to Oregon some day, have you considered Ashland? The Shakespearean group there puts on over 1,300 performances a year! Some of the top actors in the world have worked there. I suppose you already know it, but thought I'd ask anyway.

The Elizabethan theater is incredible. Other performances are in more high-tech settings. Lots of cutting-edge experimental theater as well as the classic stuff.

When I worked for the paper in Grants Pass I did a behind-the-scenes photo essay on the lead costume designer. That's quite a place!

I know that's nearly 300 miles from Portland, but heck, the weather is almost as nice as it is here in Carlsbad. Or course, Powell's Books alone would be enough for me, almost, to put up with the rain in Portland. ;-)

Sorry to hear that you're not as thrilled with the book's reception as you would like to be. I thoroughly enjoyed both your books and am an avid reader of your blog (it's actually my home page, so maybe you should save words like dorky for us big kids, k?)

And just for the record, I never liked Wesley that much. Thought the writers did a piss poor job developing the character.

I say this to point out that like many of your fans, I am a great fan of the actor/author/person Wil Wheaton and not somebody he used to play on tv over ten years ago.

So don't beat yourself up over not getting where you want to yet. Your persistence of vision will pay off in time. It has to: You're just a geek like all the rest of us...

Wil, I am inspired, I'm going to order your book online. I know its not a big deal, but it's my way of showing support - you go girl! :-)

Hey, Wil, go check your email inbox for Nov. 24th - I sent you a heartfelt non-fen promo for your writing. The Subject line is "Just A Geek - non ST features."

Just to clarify: It's not Just A Geek's reception that I'm bumming about. The reception has been incredible, but very limited. I was lead to believe that if Just A Geek was published by a big publishing house, it would reach a much wider audience than what I guess you'd call "the core audience." That hasn't happened, they haven't really made much of an effort to make that happen, and my efforts to make that happen have not been supported at all. This is incredibly frustrating, upsetting, and depressing to me, and that is what I'm bumming about.

Woo!

Call/e-mail them back. Ask the reporter (don't go through the 'back issues department' a.k.a. 'where we transfer people we don't want to hear from again') to send you a couple of tear sheets. Take those to Kinko's, reduce and photocopy and put them in your press kit. Then Photoshop one into a visual element for the template flyers/posters you make as handouts to promote your author readings. Which surely you have.

Good for you. It helps. A 'real' reporter will see another 'real' reporter wrote about you in this way, and so could feel inclined to do the same when your press kit hits the mail drop.

Hi Wil,
I just read the article in Living this morning, it was good, okay maybe a little interesting, as I was wondering what you were doing. Yes, I live in Portland, OR, in fact right down the Street, so to speak from where your wife grew up, I'm in Tualatin. I use to live in San Fernando Valley area back in the late 70's, before things changed. I also remember watching you in Stand By Me, I thought you were pretty good.

I too am pretty geeky.

I think of you more as a person, but I think it probably is because living in LA, you get use to Actors running around and it's no big thing. It will be cool if you do decide to move up here, I think you will like it, tho it is a bit slower than LA.

Pasadena is pretty nice, was there for one of the ST Cons years back, but also when to the CFA International Cat Show at the same time that weekend.

Congratulations on your Oregonian interview. After a long work day it was a great surprise to see your mug smiling back at me from the front of the living section. I'm glad to hear that you grew up to be a happy adult with a great sense of humor.

Rest assured Wil that we, your loyal Posse, are doing everything short of passing your books out on streetcorners (though I'm sure there is someone somewhere who is either contemplating that or doing it at this very moment) to ensure that you are being read by people other than Trekkies and celebrity-memoir collectors.

You're an awesome writer; you know that.

An excerpt from a recent blog entry of mine: "Sometimes we are so focused on what we no longer have that we forget about everything we do have."

Meanwhile, while you're waiting for more people to find out that you're incredibly talented, come back to Portland. We love you up here! Powell's is an awesome place to visit over and over. Grab Anne and the kids and come up for Christmas! Your Posse will be here to greet you!

Keep the faith, Wil. And keep writing. Remember...Stephen King and David Sedaris both were first-time writers at one point. Cut yourself a little slack, would you?

Hugs,
Aylaleia - Goddess of Justice and Vengeance

"How does a grown-up geek with two step-kids, a wife, and few job prospects make a go of it?"

Hmm, you know that sounds like a great start for a different approach to marketing JAG, Wil. Add in a mention of the healing process and already you have a great new subtitle for the book when you go into a second printing.
[Plus all your loyal horde will be able to cherish their Original Printing Collector's Edition and lord it over all the other peons. Heh heh...]

Wow, a book review, an interview and a hypermedia blog entry. The Oregonian really gave you a plug, didn't they? Congrats!

Finally saw my tape of your VH1 appearance. You were great. I laughed at the bit where you were talking about D&D. "So Wil!" I thought as you rattled off the jargon. I don't know you personally, my comment is derived only from your writings and convention talks. Thanks for letting us into your life.

I agree with previous post about moving to oregon. I (was) a oregonian (portland) for the last few years. It's a much prettier area, less crime, costs less, etc, etc. the list goes on and on. I, like most oregonians (unless they were unwilling transplants from cal.) aren't too fond of California. Sure, you have more sun, but our houses don't catch on fire annually, among other things (like not need oxygen masks, or being able to see both mt hood and st helens from a 15 story buidling) ... That hollywood sign is just on a hill and you can't see it.

Wil Whaton, despite being a californian, i am sure Oregon would welcome you.

WTG! Sorry this took so long, I have been busy writing myself. Kudos to you hun.

OK, you can't say things like "Just one . . . and in it, Lt. Worf traded my character, Wesley, to a Romulan for a Romulan Ale and two packs of smokes. I haven't read fan fiction since." especially when I am getting ready for work.

I just spewed coffee all over my computer desk and I have to leave for work in a minute. Funny though!

This clinches it; I have to order a copy of "Just a Geek" online. I've been putting it off in the hopes that one of our local bookstores will take pity on the masses and bring in something other than Danielle Steel.

I know you've gotten a ton of feedback on the insomnia thing, but here's my 2 cents (and also what worked for me):

As part of the sleep cycle, your body temperature naturally drops a few degrees. There is some debate as to whether or not this is a trigger for sleep or simply a byproduct of sleep. However, for some ppl, this can be used to signal your body that it's time to sleep.

To generate this artifically, you can take a warm bath before bed, or drink a cup of warm decaf tea. This will warm you up, and as your body temp begins to drop, it makes sleeping easier.

Wil, I want you to read this one. I mean really take it in. I usually only post half assed thoughts, something that relates and I find funny. But this time is different. I want to remind you of something. And I'm not sure if you've thought about it in these terms before. I hope I can say this well enough. (And if you think I'm out to lunch, that's cool, but get a second opinion from Anne, as she strikes me as one of the most level headed people in your life).

I'm hearing that 'prove to the world' guy. Disappointment at the lack of mainstream promotion is fine, but when it affects your sleep, I think it's importance in your mind is too high. (not in a judgement sense, just in a physiological sense). Anything that affects your sleep needs to be resolved or kicked to the curb.

What I see is your sense of well being is tied to external forces (people, marketing, financial success etc.) To have a commercial success of your book would be wonderful. To have a mainstream audience 'ken your jock' (a scottish friend says that, it means 'get your drift', at least to him) would be wonderful. But for these things to worry you if you don't get them, and if keep you up at night, well, that's something to work on.

I know you've said it's more about being disappointed about the lack of promotion than the reception itself. But that's the key. Why do you need the masses have a gander? The masses don't care about Wil Wheaton. Individuals do. Now, I know you know this. I know you know that 10 books sold to happy readers is worth more than 50,000 books sold to disinterested yawners.

It's a common problem for almost everyone. They require external validation for their happiness. They are dependent on others for *their own* happiness. Whenever I find myself requiring that, I kick myself in the ass, and tell myself to smarten up. If you require an external source for your own happiness, you will ALWAYS HAVE A REASON TO BE UNHAPPY. Dude (no, I am not from California), you wrote a great book. You've shared it with many many people. Enjoy that. Don't undermine those people who do support you by worrying about those who don't. You're expectations were obviously fairly high going into this. Maybe you unknowingly set yourself up for disappointment. Accept what is. Enjoy what is.

Look first and only at what you can do differently to achieve what you desire. If you aren't getting support in your efforts to promote your book to a mainstream audience, then take matters into your own hands. You have the power to make this happen, and you can't expect anyone else to look out for your interests. And don't forget you are still a baby in the publishing world. You might have had starring roles in movies and television, but your still in the grass roots of your publishing career. Your success as an author will grow over time, and *will* require continual and creative effort on your part just to promote your work. Your past success with film and television helps you much more than it hinders you, and your website is your foundation for everything you are building now. You're in a pretty good place. Don't forget it!

What would I do today if I was Wil Wheaton? I would send a copy of this newspaper article to every single newspaper in North America. If you haven't already, build a database of contacts for newspapers, radio and television stations etc. I'm not talking about networks, I'm talking about local stations, local papers. This is a grass roots effort.

Heck, I would also get creative. I'd offer a free book (or an autographed pic, or whatever) to anyone successfully refers you to a local paper and gets a review written up. You have a lot of monkeys who would love to help out. I would involve them, and I would show my gratitude in some way.

Wil, if you're still reading, then thanks. I hope you will take seriously how I keep hearing that 'prove to the world' guy in between the lines. He ain't a bad guy, but I don't think he helps you here. Most of the time I hear the 'proud of my work' guy talking. Let him kick that other guys ass to the curb.

Yeah, Wil! I grew up in Oregon and was an RA in college with "Lardass". And while "Goonies" was an awesome flick, I have always believed "Stand By Me" was the best movie made in Oregon. I'm sure Arnold (Kindergarten Cop in Astoria). would be crushed to know that ;)

And sorry for the errors in the above. I just typed it as I thought and hit submit. I should have proof read it first. There are dropped words and other things that might make you read a line twice to understand it. my bad.

actually, I hate it most when I type "your" instead of "you're". I know better! Honest! ;^)

Great to hear you got the exposure. I might recommend speaking to your publisher about contacting the seller's that buy your material. When I went to B&N to get 'Just a Geek' I was chagrin to see that it was shelved... with the ST books. That was just depressing and I ask the clerk why a general non-fiction was with the ST fiction and not happily alongside Sarah Vowell, her reply "Well, he was on Star Trek..." ARRRGGGGHHHHHH!!
Just a heads up.

-Gregory

Wil,

I did not even know that you had written a book until I "accidentally" found "Just a Geek" on a display case at Powell's Technical Books in Portland. I later purchased both "Just a Geek and "Dancing Barefoot" and have enjoyed them both a lot.

As one of the masses, I have never heard or seen any promotion regarding your books, and if I had not found your book by chance at Powell's, I would have never known it exists, and I would have missed out. I suspect that many would buy your books if they knew they existed. Lets face it, many people have not seen or heard much from you since you left Star Trek, and for all we know, you fell off the edge of the earth. I for one was glad to see that you did not end up on the E True Hollywood Story!!!!!!!

Another of my favorite authors, Donald Trump makes an interesting statement in his book The art of the Deal regarding promotion. "There are singers in the world with voices as good as Frank Sinatra's, but their singing in their garages because no one has ever heard of them." Lots of us have heard of you Wil, most just don't know you have become a sucessfull writer!

I think the world needs to see and hear more from Wil Wheaton and his books, and given that, I think the book sales issue will solve itself.

By the way, I saw your recent appearence on VH-1, and really enjoyed it. Lets hope this is just the beginning of many good things for Wil Wheaton!

Chris

Wil,
Congrats on the Oregonian writeup! I'm putting Just a Geek on my Christmas list. Just went and caught up on 3 months' worth of blogs. I've been so down in the dumps lately thinking that at the tender age of 25 that my life has past me, and it was very therapeutic to have listened to your reading at Gnomedex 4.0. You ARE a wonderfully funny and talented writer! I love your voice. (Not that you should care about what anybody thinks, but I'm saying all this not as an avid TNG fan, but just as a selective reader. I'm looking forward to getting a copy of your book.) Keep up the good work and I hope good sleep will find you soon.

Woohoo! Sending my husband out for an Oregonian! Can't wait to read your article!

Hi Wil, I read the funtastic article and interview with you in the Oregonian yesterday. Did you get to see the actual paper? They took a Wesley Crusher shot of you and blew it up to half the page! There was also a recent picture of you with some Troma characters too. I hope that your book and more exposure will help your career because you're really an underated as an actor. I think way back when you did Stand by Me and how talented and good of an actor you were even way back then. I think the typecast crap can't last forever, but as long as you're having fun doing other jobs that's good too. I hope you get to be in big pictures again soon though, I'm getting sick of the guys like Matt Damon and Ben Asslick right now--even they are geeks too, but they aren't honest about it. Good luck with your book, it sounds like a fun read. Also it's funny you link Tony Pierce on your photoblog--I sort of know him since I like the same band he does called Tsar and if you like Nerfherder you'd probably get a kick out of Tsar. Those bands are friends too, I saw them at some party in LA together before I moved here to P-Town (Portland.) Anyway, since moving to Portland from San Diego, I'm homesick, I don't recommend moving up here. If you don't smoke pot like most losers up here they don't like you and it's hard to make friends, but then again, you can always find fellow geeks to hang out with up here like I have. Oh yeah and they have Klingon Karaoke here, something I haven't done yet, but want to for laughs someday. If you read some of my journal about becoming a Goonie, you'll find out this town is pretty to live in, but pretty whack.

Don't worry about it Wil, everyday in my work I educate people on how to use the internet.If they are of the right demographic, I have them read "we close our eyes." i gain great pleasure when i see tears glistening in their eyes as they read your words of love for Anne. you are the type of writer that needs to be as prolific as Stephen King. (this is a selfish wish: I check your site at least 3 times a day.)Keep writing! I will keep buying!
If you get around to writing fiction i will buy that too! write, my friend, Write! and if you get the chance, act as well! they are both talents you have, never give up on either of them.
Thank You,
Mark

Aw, I'm so proud of you, Wil *hugs*. Just like you felt like you got in the hometown newspaper, I feel like my friend got some recognition for something he did that was great. Congrats!

Yay!
I kinda wish I was home to get a copy of the paper. Maybe I'll have my mom save that day for me.
I knew that Oregon had good mojo for you. ;) Too bad there are no real auditions up there.
Great to hear about this exposure though.

Sorry I missed your Oregonian piece... as a Portlander I haven't bothered to read the daily in years and years, because half the time their "journalism" is total shite. I'll find out if Willamette Week has reviewed it yet, and if they haven't, I'll see if I can snag a copy to review for the weekly, since I do have that power.

Kick ass! I can't wait to read it (as a writer, I'm too broke to buy books, because cigarettes come first, and I know you don't wanna hear it, but let's be frank).

My dad is mentioned in "On Writing" -- he rejected one of Stephen King's short stories, I believe while working at Playboy in the 60s. Something like that. Your post just got me thinking about it.

question? do you think they will ever follow up with a movie featuring star trek voyager (capt jane waye and her crew). my favorite, of course, is TNG but i have since heard mr. picard say he wasnt going to do another. because nemesis didnt do so well. it wasnt that bad. it wasnt the best either. id like to see the likes of the voyage home and the first contact in the next movies. that element of wonder and (nerd) humor. i miss mccoy ... :(

All of you who want JAG or BAREFOOT, go to your local bookstore (indie, B&N, Borders, whatever) and ask them to special order it, if it isn't on the shelf. Those orders put books on the store's radar - often, if they get a request for one, they will order two and the second one goes on the shelf *G* Make the bookbuyer aware of the books, and that there is an audience. And if they are mis-shelved (an is, with the Trek books), tell someone who gives a s&^*. If the clerk you talk to gives you a lame answer, talk to the manager, and remind them that customers looking for the book aren't going to find it if it's in the wrong place.

(Ok, Chris, climb down off the writer soapbox, and back away quietly.)

Another Writer

Will,

I picked up a copy of your book "Just a Geek" a few months after I saw you appear on the SreenSaves. I'm not a Trek Fan, so I truly had a vague idea as to who you were. Take comfort in knowing that I enjoy your witty sarcasms, and gift for telling it like it is.

In addition, Barns & Noble should relocate your book from the SciFi self's; it was the last place I looked, and that was after I ask for assistance. Since then I have picked up a copy for a Friend, and look forward to reading "Dancing Barefoot" soon.

Regards,

Matt

Excellent article! I've gotta remember to request a copy from O'Reilly so I can review it for JavaRanch.com (by the way -- if you'd like to do a book promo with us, shoot me an email -- we'd love to have you! -- http://www.javaranch.com/bookpromo.jsp )