Publication Day!

Today’s the day. The Language of Bees steps out to meet its public, and like a child headed onto the big yellow school bus for the first time, it makes its creator very nervous.

Please, friends, treat my new baby with love… and if you come out to see me on the road, I take my lattes in nonfat and my beer in dark. Hey, isn’t a book tour supposed to be a roving party?

And in case the book itself isn’t enough of a blast of the trumpets, we’re marking the launch by posting a video, exploring the background of The Language of Bees, from Sussex to Orkney.


The Language of Bees from Laurie R. King on Vimeo.

Today is also the first day for another baby. Many and many a year ago, I had a very interesting and lengthy exchange of letters with a woman in Canada. Rebecca loved the Beekeeper books, and started the first Mary Russell web site. She since then moved into the life of a mother, and has of necessity retreated somewhat from the community of readers, but she’s not stopped at all, really. In fact, Rebecca’s first novel also comes out today. Faery Rebels, by R. J. Anderson (published in the UK as Knife.) A lovely, richly textured fantasy very suitable for YA readers, I hope you like it as much as I do. You go, Rebecca!

And a sad note, I’m not certain yet when the audio book for The Language of Bees will be available. I’ve been asking, but I think when I was told it was going to be simultaneous with the hardback, it might have been optimism speaking… Very sorry, and there’ll be more when I know.

32 Comments

  1. KarenB on April 28, 2009 at 5:15 am

    Huzzah! Huzzah! Cheers are resounding around the world – a new Mary Russell! AND tomorrow I can buy you a latte or a beer, whichever is needed more! *running out to check mailbox to see if book is here yet*

  2. Elizabeth on April 28, 2009 at 5:24 am

    Congrats on publication day, Laurie! I can -finally- take LANG off the staff preview shelf! *happy dance*

  3. Heidi Oliversen on April 28, 2009 at 5:42 am

    Congratulations! I can’t wait to leave the office and go buy my copy. Next time you come to Madison I’ll buy you TWO dark beers.

  4. Carlina on April 28, 2009 at 6:38 am

    *pops the Champagne* Congrats on Lang! It is another great accomplishment that I look forward to reading! When we do get a chance to cross paths, whatever you need the most in terms of beverage and nourishment is on me.

    Best of luck with the book tour and do be safe. I’d rather be in Richmond than in my robes!

  5. La Donna on April 28, 2009 at 7:12 am

    Yippee!!! [Makes “bee-line” for the bookstore …]

  6. scott neumyer on April 28, 2009 at 7:32 am

    HUGE Congrats!!!

  7. Rebecca W on April 28, 2009 at 7:56 am

    Congrats! I very much look forward to reading your latest offering.
    Long-time reader, first-time poster… I’ll make sure to arrive in Richmond with some dark beer!
    On a side note, I remember R.J Anderson’s name from both the Holmes-L and the Russ-L lists, as well as a couple of other writing sites…it’s great to hear her news as well!

  8. Canzonett on April 28, 2009 at 8:01 am

    Hooray!

  9. TheMadLibrarian on April 28, 2009 at 9:43 am

    *Hoisting a ‘virtual’ one in honor of TLOB*

    Congratulations! Our local bookseller is SOLD OUT (mixed blessing; I’m glad it’s so popular, but that means I will have to wait to get my mitts on a copy.) Here’s hoping for more successful Russell/Holmes novels!

  10. Ruth @ Bookish Ruth on April 28, 2009 at 10:10 am

    Congratulations, Laurie! I just came home with my much-treasured copy of LANG. I can’t wait to start reading.

    R.J. Anderson’s book looks like something I would really enjoy, so I’ll be sure to pick up a copy of that as well.

  11. Joan on April 28, 2009 at 11:43 am

    Convinced my husband to head to the launch party. Off to ferry this afternoon. Congratulations on the release! I’ll start reading tonight – to bad I have to work tomorrow. : )

  12. AmyLizzie on April 28, 2009 at 11:43 am

    Yay! So happy! And I love the vid, so informative. My country is very beautiful isn’t it? I’m almost proud to be English, that sounded almost patriotic – that will have to stop : )

  13. Strawberry Curls on April 28, 2009 at 12:19 pm

    I’m so happy the book is now in the hands of all the readers who have waited so long for a new Russell, including me. I am not able to watch the video, the Internet connection just won’t accommodate, but since I’m on a ship at sea I shouldn’t complain. I have Internet access, and that is more than anyone should reasonably expect.

    Congratulations on not only the publication of the book, but the complex and throughly enjoyable 15 Weeks of Bees campaign. Hard to believe there are still two more weeks after this.

    Safe journey as you visit points to the south and the east. May all your flights be easy and enjoyable.

    –Alice

  14. Dailna on April 28, 2009 at 12:56 pm

    I’m taking this opportunity to mention the fact that Montreal has -loads- of microbrewies.

    A plethora, even, some might say.

    And microbreweries, -particularly- those in La Belle Province, produce Really Good dark beer.

    So… if you (or Holmes & Russell, for that matter) were to come to Canada… Montreal would be like… a really logical place to visit.

    Just… so you’re aware…

  15. Chelsea on April 28, 2009 at 5:11 pm

    So excited! I picked it up on the way home tonight and read three chapters while putting my daughter to sleep. I’m taking a short break to eat dinner. I’m hoping I can slow down enough to make it last a few nights. =)

  16. Alix on April 28, 2009 at 5:19 pm

    Truth be told, I could barely sleep last night thinking of how I was going to go get the book, then attend classes in time. I ended up not doing the latter. ^_^

  17. R.J. Anderson on April 28, 2009 at 6:25 pm

    Oh, how lovely of you to mention my book! I didn’t even realize until today that we had the same launch date — how scatterbrained of me! And now I could kick myself for not looking for LANG when I was in the bookshop signing copies just a couple of hours ago. I will certainly correct that error very shortly!

    Congratulations!

  18. Diane on April 28, 2009 at 6:53 pm

    Congratulations on the latest release! My Kindle edition downloaded to my iPhone in the wee hours of the morning. I’m recovering from achilles tendon surgery and it was wonderful to get it without a trip to the bookstore or the post office since I’m not driving yet. Perversely, though, I’ve spent the afternoon/evening listening to bits of Locked Rooms and reading Justice Hall on my iPhone. I’m an inveterate re-reader, but there’s also an exquisite pleasure the first time through that I’m trying not to rush!

  19. Megan on April 28, 2009 at 7:43 pm

    I have finished! Your fears were entirely unfounded. This book was wonderful from beginning to…end. I loved every second of reading it, and will re-read many more times until the next Russell adventure.
    Alas, I cannot yet buy you a beer, although if it’s in my power you’ll get that non-fat latte.

    Cheers!

  20. Paige on April 28, 2009 at 10:23 pm

    I loved it! I’d heard about the final three words, and I was worried, but was completely satisfied. Even better, the plot was somehow exactly what I wanted, when I was imagining the potential of the next Holmes/Russell book before I could lay hands on it. It’s a lovely feeling to have one’s expectations met, and probably even surpassed: thank you for that.

    I would buy you a beer, or make you a loaf of Guinness bread. But alas, it doesn’t look like you’re coming to Seattle. Pity, that.

    Any word on when we can expect the next installment?

  21. Sara on April 29, 2009 at 3:32 am

    YAY!!! If there’s a bar near Nicola’s in Detroit, beer or latte is in order!

    SO excited to read the entire book- unfortunately, duty calls in the form of 33 3-6 year olds…..work gets in the way of fun reading all too often. 😉

    Congratulations!

  22. Sara on April 29, 2009 at 3:32 am

    P.S. So, how long do we have to wait for the NEXT one? 😛

  23. Jessica on April 29, 2009 at 3:54 am

    Halfway through and I’m blown away already by the emotional depth of this story. Thanks. It’s definitely worth the wait, from a dedicated reader since the very beginning. I was one of the original Russ-L members when we spun off from Holmes-L back in the day, so I’m happy for Rebecca’s pub day, too. I looked in the YA when I was at the store, and I didn’t see Faery Rebels anywhere. I’ll have to keep looking.

    You’re coming to my town for Bouchercon this year – maybe I’ll have to host a LoM get together for everyone that comes! Rounds are on me – Spaten Optimator at the Rathskellar Bier Garten sounds like just the thing!

  24. Chris on April 29, 2009 at 5:32 am

    I’m jealous! Copies not made it to the uk yet, for those of us who can’t wait till August. A beer or three promised on UK tour, though!

  25. Heather Neill on April 29, 2009 at 5:57 am

    Hurray and congrats !
    I tip my brushes to thee…
    will be eagerly anticipating the audio version…and am saving a very special painting to work on while I wallow in the new adventures … Enjoy your traveling kudos and safe journey…

  26. Heather J. on April 29, 2009 at 6:17 am

    Ooh, what a wonderful teaser for the book!

  27. Kerry on April 29, 2009 at 7:36 am

    Congratulations! I’m waiting for my copy, trying very hard to avoid rushing to the bookstore to buy one while I wait 🙂 Can’t wait to read it!

  28. Yondalla on April 29, 2009 at 11:48 am

    Finished LANG. Please, please, please when is the next coming out?

  29. Marisa on April 29, 2009 at 2:36 pm

    Dear Laurie,

    Writing to you in electronic format makes me feel odd. I still fondly cling to the habit of written mail. How long has it been since I first began corresponding with you? Over a decade, if not more.

    In reference to your fears concerning how your book will fair upon the often wayward seas of reader opinion, know that for one long-time fan you have created a definite favorite. Two-thirds of the way through it struck me that reading this new Russell book was like becoming re-acquainted with a long lost friend. I have missed the humor, intelligence and sheer love of adventure in your writing greatly. I was so happy to re-discover it again.

    My life these past few years has been, as Russell would say, tumultuous. I’m currently living approximately 1500 miles away from where you last left me and have traveled eight times that distance in the last three years. I’ve met some very interesting people and I have seen some powerful sights along the way. It’s been an eventful ride, leaving me feeling a little windswept and footsore. When I first opened “The Language of Bees”, I wasn’t sure how it would be. Have I outgrown my old companions? Has time changed me too much to still enjoy the world of Russell and Holmes? Being long out of school, am I now so brain-dead that English would seem like an incomprehensible ancient language to me?

    I should have never doubted. All it took was the first page. The smell of strong shag tobacco and a whiff of honey did the rest. Your books and your characters have always been a constant in my life. Slipping between the pages of “The Language of Bees” was like coming home.

    Laurie R. King, you are a good read.

    Sincerely yours,

    Marisa Fife

  30. Meredith T. on April 29, 2009 at 8:44 pm

    Congrats again, dear Laurie. I am so happy I live on the Left Coast and was able to get to the Launch. Apparently I’m going to space out reading this one: have only read one chapter so far beyond the two posted. looks terrific — once again you are a bit flying without a net and doing it so well! Am pining to discuss it on VBC etc. Take care of yourself on the road.//Meredith

  31. Susan in NC on April 30, 2009 at 6:19 pm

    I was thrilled to finally find an independent bookseller, and made the trek to pick it up on release day. She had to order it, and almost sold my book to someone else, thinking it was me. She did not know about this series(how could she not?), but was immediately hooked! I have had to wait until I finished my last exam (1 hour ago) to pick up again on MY reading, and can’t wait to get into it. See you in VA!

  32. christy.p. on April 30, 2009 at 7:04 pm

    Just received my copy of “Language of Bees” today! Yea!! Have been waiting in excitment for a new Russle and can’t wait to read it! I’ve read all the others twice and still enjoy them imensely every time. Now, I just wish I wasn’t so darn busy! I would love to sit down and devour the whole book in one sitting! Keep up the good work, Laurie, we love you!

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