Because I Love You Guys, Really I Do

****The giveaway for one of the 13 signed copies of On the Island has ended. Scroll down to the rafflecopter to see if you've won! If your name is listed, e-mail me your full name and mailing address at traceygarvisgraves@yahoo.com.

I appreciate all of the wonderful comments; they made me cry!!


A year ago last weekend (September 3rd, 2011, to be exact), I self-published my debut novel, On the Island, with no idea what to expect.

It felt weird. Really weird. It also felt good. The availability of self-publishing programs meant I didn't have to shove my novel in a drawer and hope that someone would take a chance on the next book I wrote. 

Not much changed. I still went to my day job. My kids still fought (constantly). And my husband and I still tried to find time to have an uninterrupted conversation (and maybe a glass of wine).

A few months later, things started to change a little bit. Sales went up, although not dramatically. I received some reviews that were so heartfelt they literally brought tears to my eyes and made me smile for days. I received some awesome e-mails from readers who lived all over the world. It was incredibly satisfying and wonderful and I considered myself lucky.

In the spring, things really got crazy. April and May are one big blur...In June, Penguin publishing offered me a two-book deal and put On the Island on bookshelves everywhere. 

A year ago, I just wanted to find an audience. I just wanted the book I spent 18 months writing to be available to those who might want to read it.

One year later:

Over half a million copies of On the Island have been sold.   
On the Island is available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook. 
Foreign rights have been sold in 23 countries.
MGM has optioned the book for a feature film.
On the Island spent over 10 weeks on the NYT bestseller list, reaching #5 in the e-book category and #12 for the trade paperback.

I no longer have a day job because writing full-time is my day job. I get to spend time with both kids every morning before sending them off to the bus stop. My work wardrobe consists of yoga pants and T-shirts. I spend my days in a quiet house with Chloe curled up next to me.

I don't even know what to say that will convey my true feelings about this. Or how to thank all of you. Because you, the readers, are the ones who made it happen. I'm eternally grateful and I think it's time for one big THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.

Here's how it will work: I'm giving away 1 Kindle DX, 2 Nook Colors, and 23 signed paperbacks (13 with the original cover - because that's how many I have stacked on my dining room table - and 10 with the Penguin cover).

This giveaway will span 4 days and I'll be using the rafflecopter to choose the winners. And this giveaway is open to EVERYONE. I don't care where you live. You're eligible. You can enter every day of the giveaway, but you can only win once.

So let's start with the signed original paperback. The one that looks like this: I have 13 to give away.

All you have to do is leave a comment telling me how you heard about On the Island (make sure you also login to rafflecopter with either your facebook login or e-mail to enter the giveaway). I want to know what led you to this book. And I want you to know how much that has meant to me.

So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

xoxo,

Tracey




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