Sales report, and a bit of philosophical reflection

This week’s sales numbers are in, and they’re looking great.

Daughter of the Sword is #17 on Barnes & Noble's bestseller list for sci fi/fantasy trade paperbacks, and also a Pick of the Month for October by B&N’s sci fi and fantasy connoisseur, Jim Killen. (Check out his list here.) It’s also #19 on BookScan’s fantasy trade bestseller list. (BookScan is to book audiences what the Nielsen ratings are to TV audiences.)

Not too shabby for a book that’s less than two weeks old!

I’ve been tracking Daughter’s standing on Amazon too, where its ranking fluctuates wildly. The day before it pub day, it stood at about 327,000th in overall book sales on Amazon. (There was a time when that wasn’t possible, but thanks to pre-orders, you can get on the charts even before your pub day.) Since then I’ve seen it go as high as 36,000th and as low as 239,000th.

Now maybe those numbers don’t seem so hot to you, but Daughter isn’t my only book. My first book, Purifying Zen, is a translation of a classic Japanese study of the Zen master Dōgen. Not quite as gripping as Daughter of the Sword, but prior to Daughter’s pub day, I thought at least Purifying Zen had the sales advantage of actually existing.

It turns out that isn’t true. Remember when I said Daughter was 327,000th on the list the day before it was released? On that day Purifying Zen was around 1.5 millionth on the list. That means a nonexistent fiction book outsells an existing philosophy book. Another way to put it is that my nothing was outselling my something, which is all kinds of ironic, since Dōgen himself had a lot to say about the relative values of somethingness and nothingness.

It's another Happy Pub Day!

What an amazing day it’s been! Daughter of the Sword came out this morning, and tonight my Brazilian Jiujitsu instructor promoted me to blue belt. To quote the immortal Ice Cube, I didn’t even have to use my AK; I gotta say it was a good day.

Right after the belt test I ran down to my local bookstore to see if I was there. (There’s a philosophical conundrum for you.) Lo and behold, there was Mariko, looking up at me from the new fiction table. Sweetness! Here’s a photo of me with the two great things that happened to me today (and also with Sweetness):

(Sorry, you probably have to be a football fan to get the Sweetness reference, and it helps if you were alive in the 1980s. And sorry to all you Broncos fans out there too, but there is only one Payton.)

Party in Rochester

I’m very excited to announce the first public event for my first novel! On Saturday, October 6th, I’ll be doing a reading, autographing, and Q&A session at the Barnes & Noble in Apache Mall in Rochester, MN. The event is from 2:00-4:00 PM, and the city of Rochester has been gracious enough to block off the streets just to throw an after-party of epic proportions for little old me.

Okay, so that last part isn’t quite true. I’d planned all along to throw an after-party, but right after the reading and signing event there’s a big block party downtown called the Venue. Beers, burgers, and bands by the bucketload. Half of the people I would have invited to my after-party are going to be at the Venue, so I’m just inviting the other half to come on down. It’s going be a blast: lots of live music (including Mason Jennings and my personal Rochester favorites, the Astrogliders), plenty of good eats, and local artistic talent on display to boot. Better yet, if you buy a copy of Daughter of the Sword at the Barnes & Noble shindig, you get $5 off the price at the door for the Venue shindig.

So put it in your calendar and come on down:

• Saturday, October 6th
• 2:00-4:00: Book launch event at Barnes & Noble Apache Mall (details here)
• 3:00-whenever: party at the Venue (details here)
• Buy a copy of Daughter of the Sword at B&N and your receipt gets you $5 off at the door at the Venue

Happy Pub Day!

Today is publication day for Only a Shadow, released a month early to whet your whistle for the next story of the Fated Blades, Daughter of the Sword. This is my second published novella and my first electronically published anything, so I’m very happy this day has finally arrived!

As if to celebrate pub day, I got an e-mail from my agent this afternoon confirming that HarperCollins wants to publish Only a Shadow in Australia and New Zealand. Thanks, Aussies and Kiwis, for your interest in my work! I’m looking forward to flying down to visit some of you in your hemisphere next spring.

And also in celebration of pub day, I’ve officially entered the blogosphere. Here is my very first guest post, “Why swords?” My host is The Qwillery, where Daughter of the Sword was selected for their Debut Author Challenge.

Happy Pub Day!

Today is publication day for Only a Shadow, released a month early to whet your whistle for the next story of the Fated Blades, Daughter of the Sword. This is my second published novella and my first electronically published anything, so I’m very happy this day has finally arrived!

As if to celebrate pub day, I got an e-mail from my agent this afternoon confirming that HarperCollins wants to publish Only a Shadow in Australia and New Zealand. Thanks, Aussies and Kiwis, for your interest in my work! I’m looking forward to flying down to visit some of you in your hemisphere next spring.

And also in celebration of pub day, I’ve officially entered the blogosphere. Here is my very first guest post, “Why swords?” My host is The Qwillery, where Daughter of the Sword was selected for their Debut Author Challenge.

Great balls of fire

The fantasy I write tends to be pretty muted. The characters in Only a Shadow have no trouble believing in the magic sword they’ve set out to steal, because A) they live in the 1400s, where belief in sorcery was common, and B) they’re ninja, so magical mudras and mantras are a normal part of their training. I like “realistic” magic, if there is such a thing: magic that blends into the background, without knocking the world out of whack.

Until tonight, I figured I’d never write a story with a lot of wizards running around the streets throwing fireballs at each other. That never quite fit into the category of “realistic” magic for me... until tonight. Check out this video of a real live fireball throwing jamboree in El Salvador. It ain’t magic, but it sure is a bunch of people running around the streets throwing fireballs at each other.

Great balls of fire

The fantasy I write tends to be pretty muted. The characters in Only a Shadow have no trouble believing in the magic sword they’ve set out to steal, because A) they live in the 1400s, where belief in sorcery was common, and B) they’re ninja, so magical mudras and mantras are a normal part of their training. I like “realistic” magic, if there is such a thing: magic that blends into the background, without knocking the world out of whack.

Until tonight, I figured I’d never write a story with a lot of wizards running around the streets throwing fireballs at each other. That never quite fit into the category of “realistic” magic for me... until tonight. Check out this video of a real live fireball throwing jamboree in El Salvador. It ain’t magic, but it sure is a bunch of people running around the streets throwing fireballs at each other.

Cover photo!

I just received a copy of Daughter of the Sword in the mail, and the cover is gorgeous. Here it is, sitting on my kitchen table:

Cover photo!

I just received a copy of Daughter of the Sword in the mail, and the cover is gorgeous. Here it is, sitting on my kitchen table:

Happy 50th, Jackie! (And Happy 101st too!)

This weekend Jackie Chan’s 101st movie opened in theaters across China. He filmed his first kung fu movie in 1962, making this year his 50th in the business. (50th!)

Neither of these feats is as remarkable or as surprising as the fact that the guy is still alive. I like to think the dojos I came up in were pretty hard core, and I have my share of surgical scars to prove it, but Jackie has broken, sprained, dislocated, or ruptured just about every part of his body. My hat is off to anyone who can list “hit in the head by a helicopter” among his injuries.

The good people at Cracked have provided this helpful diagram of The Man’s many wounds over 50 years of filmmaking. Jackie, if you’re still up to it, my life dream is for you to kick me through a plate glass window. So long as someone captures it on film, I don’t care what part of me you break.



Find the original image--and the funny stuff that accompanies it--here.

Happy 50th, Jackie! (And Happy 101st too!)

This weekend Jackie Chan’s 101st movie opened in theaters across China. He filmed his first kung fu movie in 1962, making this year his 50th in the business. (50th!)

Neither of these feats is as remarkable or as surprising as the fact that the guy is still alive. I like to think the dojos I came up in were pretty hard core, and I have my share of surgical scars to prove it, but Jackie has broken, sprained, dislocated, or ruptured just about every part of his body. My hat is off to anyone who can list “hit in the head by a helicopter” among his injuries.

The good people at Cracked have provided this helpful diagram of The Man’s many wounds over 50 years of filmmaking. Jackie, if you’re still up to it, my life dream is for you to kick me through a plate glass window. So long as someone captures it on film, I don’t care what part of me you break.



Find the original image--and the funny stuff that accompanies it--here.

A starred review from PW

I am thrilled to report Daughter of the Sword received a starred review in the newest issue of Publisher’s Weekly. Here’s what they had to say:

“Bein’s gripping debut is a meticulously researched, highly detailed blend of urban and historical fantasy set in modern Tokyo. Det. Sgt. Mariko Oshiro is fighting an uphill battle against sexism and tradition in the narcotics division of the Tokyo police. Her antagonistic boss assigns her to a mundane case involving the attempted theft of a sword, but it gets a lot less boring when Mariko winds up on the trail of a ruthless killer. As she learns the hidden history behind a trio of ancient magical swords, she discovers that she may be destined to wield one of them. Alternating segments switch between Mariko’s present-day adventures and other owners of the swords throughout history. Bein’s scrupulous attention to verisimilitude helps bring all the settings to life, respectfully showcasing Japan’s distinctive cultures and attitudes.”

A starred review from PW

I am thrilled to report Daughter of the Sword received a starred review in the newest issue of Publisher’s Weekly. Here’s what they had to say:

“Bein’s gripping debut is a meticulously researched, highly detailed blend of urban and historical fantasy set in modern Tokyo. Det. Sgt. Mariko Oshiro is fighting an uphill battle against sexism and tradition in the narcotics division of the Tokyo police. Her antagonistic boss assigns her to a mundane case involving the attempted theft of a sword, but it gets a lot less boring when Mariko winds up on the trail of a ruthless killer. As she learns the hidden history behind a trio of ancient magical swords, she discovers that she may be destined to wield one of them. Alternating segments switch between Mariko’s present-day adventures and other owners of the swords throughout history. Bein’s scrupulous attention to verisimilitude helps bring all the settings to life, respectfully showcasing Japan’s distinctive cultures and attitudes.”

Interview on otherness and diversity in writing

Author and speaker Luc Reid interviewed me as a part of his series on inclusivity and exclusivity in fiction. I’ve enjoyed reading the other interviews in the series, and I’m very happy to be chipping in my two cents. Here’s the interview.

I guess this interview won’t get many hits in Texas. The GOP there just announced its new party platform, which includes a rejection of multiculturalism and -- my favorite part as a philosopher -- calls for a ban on critical thinking in schools. Here’s the Washington Post article on the subject. Fascinating stuff! I had no idea Texas and ancient Athens had so much in common. I guess Socrates were Texan, he’d have been executed there too.

Interview on otherness and diversity in writing

Author and speaker Luc Reid interviewed me as a part of his series on inclusivity and exclusivity in fiction. I’ve enjoyed reading the other interviews in the series, and I’m very happy to be chipping in my two cents. Here’s the interview.

I guess this interview won’t get many hits in Texas. The GOP there just announced its new party platform, which includes a rejection of multiculturalism and -- my favorite part as a philosopher -- calls for a ban on critical thinking in schools. Here’s the Washington Post article on the subject. Fascinating stuff! I had no idea Texas and ancient Athens had so much in common. I guess Socrates were Texan, he’d have been executed there too.

RIP Harry Harrison (1925-2012)

This year has seen some bitter losses from the pantheon of science fiction. Harry Harrison, the world’s only stainless steel rat manufacturer, died today at the ripe old age of 87. Ad astra.

RIP Harry Harrison (1925-2012)

This year has seen some bitter losses from the pantheon of science fiction. Harry Harrison, the world’s only stainless steel rat manufacturer, died today at the ripe old age of 87. Ad astra.

Praise from Kylie Chan

Still more good news from Down Under! Last week I booked my trip to Australia for 2013. (Very excited!) And today best-selling Australian author Kylie Chan had some very nice things to say about Daughter of the Sword. She called it “an authentic and riveting thrill rider through both ancient and modern Japan. Definitely a winner.”

So to Kylie, many heartfelt thanks! And to everyone else, if you don’t know who she is yet, go check out Kylie Chan here. Anyone who writes about the god of kung fu gets automatic awesome points.

Praise from Kylie Chan

Still more good news from Down Under! Last week I booked my trip to Australia for 2013. (Very excited!) And today best-selling Australian author Kylie Chan had some very nice things to say about Daughter of the Sword. She called it “an authentic and riveting thrill rider through both ancient and modern Japan. Definitely a winner.”

So to Kylie, many heartfelt thanks! And to everyone else, if you don’t know who she is yet, go check out Kylie Chan here. Anyone who writes about the god of kung fu gets automatic awesome points.

More free stuff!

Roc is holding a sweepstakes for Daughter of the Sword. Go like them on Facebook to enter for your free copy.

While you’re at it, go like me on Facebook too. I’m giving away autographed Ace-Roc samplers -- featuring the first two chapters of Daughter of the Sword -- to the first 50 people who request one via Facebook private message.