Comments on: Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey (Review)

By: Hugh Howey

Hugh Howey — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 20:08:26 +0000

No worries. I was just pointing out that these are still extraordinarily rare deals. I try to drop Bella’s name and give her credit wherever possible. I’m sure she had print-only offers from big 6 publishers as well, but Harlequin made the most sense. They are going to do very well with her Sullivans series.

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 19:44:20 +0000

@Hugh, I guess Bella’s deal was primarily the one I was thinking of. A seven figure deal for just print rights stuck with me when I read about it. I’d think with the amount of books they move Harlequin would be considered a major publisher even if they do primarily focus on one genre, but what do I know.

Not that I was trying to belittle your deal in any way, I think it’s great and I think we’ll start seeing deals like that more and more eventually. I’ll definitely check out that article you linked to as I find the whole thing quite interesting.

BTW: I loved the Wool Omnibus and have the Shift Omnibus lined up in my TBR pile.

By: Juli Monroe

Juli Monroe — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 18:30:48 +0000

Thanks, Hugh! Fingers crossed and sending great energy your way. I really want to see a movie version of this.

By: Hugh Howey

Hugh Howey — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 02:24:24 +0000

An amazing and humbling review. Thanks, Joanna!

I’m just piping in to respond to a couple of comments, as I might be able to shed light on some questions.

Juli Monroe: 20th Century Fox is attached to the deal. They flew me out to LA a few weeks ago, and everyone seems very excited about getting this on the big screen. These are never done deals, and I’ve been the first to urge caution and pessimism, but things are actually looking pretty good.

Brian: There have been distribution deals with authors like John Locke and Max Tucker — and Bella Andre scored a similar deal with Harlequin a month or two prior to my deal — but industry insiders have commented on this being the first ever print-only deal from a major (Big 6/5) publisher. Steven Pressfield wrote an amazing analysis of the deal. Long, but well worth the read if you’re interested in these sorts of things: http://www.stevenpressfield.com/2012/12/the-story-behind-the-random-house-gives-5000-bonuses-story/

By: Greg M.

Greg M. — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 01:39:13 +0000

I read it last year and thought the first four part were pretty good, especially when compared to the other indies. I could have seen it as a professional book with a little polish and tweaking. I would have given those sections four stars. However, the fifth part was a huge downgrade, for the most part, with one nice flourish, but otherwise it was in the dregs of two star quality. Because of part five, I’d give the overall rating just three stars.

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 22:47:35 +0000

“but in a ground-breaking twist, the deal included only the print rights, and Howey continues to sell the e-books himself”

It’s still fairly rare, but I don’t know that I’d call it “ground-breaking” as other authors have done it before him.

By: Juli Monroe

Juli Monroe — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 22:15:24 +0000

Thanks, Rob. Have we heard anything further? Like a definite studio?

By: Rob Siders

Rob Siders — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 21:46:38 +0000

“Howey wrote last year that Ridley Scott is thinking about picking up the movie rights.”

It’s a done deal since last May: http://www.hughhowey.com/the-wily-fox-nabs-the-sheep/

By: Juli Monroe

Juli Monroe — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 21:07:14 +0000

Dan and Joanna, it is a good book. I picked it up last year when it was the Kindle Deal of the Day, and I really enjoyed it. Howey deserves every bit of success he’s gotten, and then some.

Howey wrote last year that Ridley Scott is thinking about picking up the movie rights. I haven’t heard any more about it, but I hope it’s true. It would make a great movie.

By: Dan Eldridge

Dan Eldridge — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 20:26:32 +0000

Wow. I think this may be the best book review you’ve done for us yet, Joanna. Really solid job. And I know this is a total cliche, but I rarely read a book review that makes me really, REALLY want to read the book being reviewed … but this review definitely had that effect on. I’ll be picking up a copy, for sure. You should tweet or email your review to Howey.