maxbarry.com
Thu 28
Feb
2008

Local Author Manipulates Way to Victory

Syrup New Australian Syrup book coverI won! Thanks to your votes, many of which probably came from outside my home state and thus were blatant moral, if not technical, violations of the competition’s integrity, Company rode to joint victory as the State Library of Victoria’s “Most Popular Book.”

Now, some might view this as a shameful exercise in depriving a more deserving author of their rightful prize. Possibly this group includes the State Library, since they declared me “Joint Winner,” implying quite the statistical event. But no, no, I have to take their word for it that there really was a genuine tie. This makes me pretty glad I voted for myself. And means that my wife—who the morning of the award ceremony said, “I was supposed to vote?”—is in big trouble.

I didn’t mention this in my acceptance speech. What I did say, and would like to repeat here for those who (ahem) couldn’t make it to the ceremony, is that it’s continually amazing to me that people read something I wrote and care enough about it or me to send me an email, or mention it on their blog, or vote in a competition like this. I get so much personal joy out of writing, but to feel that response from people as well is truly touching, and makes what I do a privilege.

While I’m talking home town news, I’m stepping out for the launch of the new Australian Syrup edition, Wednesday 12th March, 6:30pm in the Sun Theatre foyer, 10 Ballarat St, Yarraville. They say “bookings are essential” (03 9689 0661), but I don’t know about that. I mean, it’s a foyer. And it’s me.

By the way, I just moved house, and I’m writing this blog on dial-up. Dial-up! It’s like being blind.

Comments

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Machine Man subscriber Danni (#357)

Location: England
Quote: "Eagerly awaiting the European Tour."
Posted: 5874 days ago

Well done :)

You can also kill me, as I was unable to vote due to internet problems (I'm not quite as far down as dialup, but I am stuck on a 3G connection.

Machine Man subscriber Ole-Morten Duesund (#725)

Location: Bergen, Norway
Quote: "Gravity is a myth, the earth sucks!"
Posted: 5874 days ago

Very nice, congratulations!

I just got an invite from the library for some arrangement I can't quite remember. Do you think they cover traveling expenses from Norway?

Karan (#1376)

Location: Sydney, Australia
Quote: "Quid Quid Latine Dictum Sit, Altum Viditur - Anything said in Latin sounds important"
Posted: 5874 days ago

Yay Syrup in Aus! Time to go harass the long-suffering bookstore assistants... :) Looks like similar cover to Company - Scribe again?

(oh and congrats :D)

Machine Man subscriber Todd (#3429)

Location: New York
Quote: "It's fun to have fun but you have to know how."
Posted: 5874 days ago

Glad I voted. Nice cover on the Oz Syrup edition.

Machine Man subscriber Bushra (#36)

Location: Fremont, California
Quote: "www.caffeinatedmuslim.com"
Posted: 5873 days ago

Congrats Max! I like that cover of Syrup.

Yenzo (#829)

Location: Secret underwater pyramid base in the Pacific
Quote: "In order to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe (Carl Sagan)"
Posted: 5873 days ago

w00t! (Do the kids still say that?)

Who was the other winner, btw?

I wanted to make this post longer, but I have mercy with your dial-up.

Linnea1928 (#2654)

Location: Rosemount, MN
Posted: 5873 days ago

Congrats Max!!!
I couldn't live without wireless, I don't know how you are coping with dialup. Good luck with that.

Greg Karber (#1568)

Location: gregkarber.com
Posted: 5873 days ago

What's dial-up?

Machine Man subscriber Roger (#1653)

Posted: 5873 days ago

I was supposed to vote?


And Dial-Up is the only option available where I live(rural Maryland).....

Machine Man subscriber Devin (#100)

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Quote: ""Toast sweat! It's the scourge of our time!""
Posted: 5873 days ago

Congratulations!

And my deepest sympathies in regards to the dialup. I live in the edge of Los Angeles County and am thus stuck with satellite internet which is just about as bad as dialup so I feel your pain.

Richard (#2051)

Location: Boulder, CO
Quote: "...I may not like you, but because some town in Switzerland says so, you have rights!"
Posted: 5873 days ago

Dail-up? You poor dear. My deepest sympathies go out to you and yours in what must be a difficult time. On the bright side though, you get to hear that cool noise that modems make! I get nostalgic every time I hear it. Then I attempt to imitate it, much to the chagrin of those within 15 feet of me. Anywhom...

Yay for your glorious, ethical victory!

Rebecca (#3444)

Location: Seattle, wa
Quote: ""Be thankful you have mothers. . . and limbs to clutch them with." Circus Contraption"
Posted: 5873 days ago

Way to go! You should have won an award for the writing of your acceptance speech?
Cheers!

Jocelyne (#3273)

Location: Sydney
Quote: "Laughter is the language of the soul"
Posted: 5873 days ago

Congratulations Max!!!!

Machine Man subscriber Lowly Worm (#3028)

Location: Rockford, IL
Quote: "Insert witty quote here."
Posted: 5873 days ago

Congrats to you Max!!!!!! Absolutely deserved!

Tara (#3128)

Location: Toorak, Melbourne
Quote: "I'd love to kiss you but I just washed my hair."
Posted: 5873 days ago

Couple of questions...

1. Why is it so bloody hard to find Syrup in stores? Will this get easier due to the new Australian release?
2. Yarraville?? Of all places?
3. Who did you tie with for the winning spot?

Rod McBride (#688)

Location: Gardner, KS
Quote: "www.MidwestRockLobster.blogspot.com"
Posted: 5873 days ago

Dial-up? Did you move to an Amish neighborhood?

Machine Man subscriber Stygian Emperor (#2947)

Location: the Stygian Empire
Quote: "Flesh is a design flaw."
Posted: 5873 days ago

Ack, I want that cover! I hate seeing the characters' faces on the one I have now, it ruins my mental image.

Dial-up makes me sad inside.

Machine Man subscriber David (#1456)

Location: Sydney, Australia
Quote: "Why are the pretty ones always insane?"
Posted: 5872 days ago

There was a vote? Ah yes, now I remember... Sorry. I'm so glad the new edition of Syrup is coming out, I lent my 2nd hand bookshop copy to a relative and it looks like I'm never going to see it again.

Dial-up? Oh the pain, the unendurable pain! May (naked of course) ADSL soon be available in your new home.

Jeffrey (#2286)

Location: Right here
Quote: "Mathematics is a powerful language. Just look at how mathematicians destroyed the housing market."
Posted: 5871 days ago

lol awesome Max. Congrats.

SILVER CLOUD (#3359)

Location: CA
Quote: "Fortune Favors the Brave"
Posted: 5871 days ago

Yes, I voted ...I read all the stories just so I could vote for the best author, which was.........
some guy named Max Berry.
Hugs & Kisses to Fig

Michael Ricksand (#2212)

Location: Terra
Quote: "You do not have a right to be stupid."
Posted: 5871 days ago

Congrats for the win!
Dial-up? I feel sorry for you, which is paradoxial, because if you'd simply gone without the web it probably wouldn't have been a problem, but a dial-up immediately gets you mydeepestsymapthies™. Funny how we humans work, eh?

shabooty (#637)

Location: D.C./V.A/M.D.
Quote: "I will shake your foundation. I will shake the f**cking rafters. Nobody'll be the same -Danny Bonaduce ....& go visit my blog @: http://www.shabooty.com"
Posted: 5870 days ago

hey max peep this:
<a href="http://www.shabooty.com/2008/03/02/a-story-max-barry-would-drool-over-coca-cola-piercing-tongues-in-latest-marketing-stunt.php">THIS</a>
$

jessica (#3063)

Location: austin, tx
Quote: "You can't start a fire worrying about your little world falling apart."
Posted: 5868 days ago

Congratulations!!! I voted for you!

I just love how the other author was so sterile about his response: 'It was nothing short of an honor'...etc. Very nice until reading your comments...'Usually it's impossible to keep that many writers sober.' Lovely and genius! Always throwing a bit of humor to the public!

Machine Man subscriber fredzfrog (#2368)

Location: Moe
Quote: "Fredzfrog"
Posted: 5867 days ago

Ok, well i'm going... anyone want to meet up after for a beer or 2?

Hooray for mid-week drinking! :P

Jonathan Janke (#2126)

Location: Sweden
Quote: "Aurum est potestas"
Posted: 5866 days ago

As we say in Sweden: Grattis till vinsten!

Drew (#3448)

Location: NY
Quote: "Outstanding"
Posted: 5866 days ago

Off topic, but IMDB.com Has Jennifer Government on it slated for 2010! CONFIRM OR DENY! No, no, dont do either of those, since I don't know the truth, denying would have a good chance of convincing me it actually isnt happening, and I want to retain hope. But what if you confirm and the project gets scraped, then im left with false hope, which is worst. Okay, I want to know, maybe just tell me half the truth?

Mathew Coad (#773)

Location: Wangaratta (Victoria)
Quote: "" I'll remember you when I'm rich and famous. " - Scat."
Posted: 5863 days ago

Congrats Max! My wife, daughter and I will be making the four hour trip to the launch. See you there.

Also I googled "Kinetic Beverage".

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7048959.html

Machine Man subscriber fredzfrog (#2368)

Location: Moe
Quote: "Fredzfrog"
Posted: 5861 days ago

Wow! My 1st ever book re-release and what fun and enjoyment!

Free doughnuts, cola, beer, wine...

And some guy who reduced his name by 1 x. :P

Max, the scribe peoples, it twas a fun evening...
We should do it agaiin sometime. (if not JG, a Company re-release? lol)

Beer/food after was fun too! :D

Machine Man subscriber fredzfrog (#2368)

Location: Moe
Quote: "Fredzfrog"
Posted: 5861 days ago

OK, not just Pics took of max, but everything I took tonight... all good... a little artistic... but mostly cos i CBF'd removing all the blurrey ones :P

http://fredzfrog.net/images/max/
Enjoy. :D

Mathew Coad (#773)

Location: Wangaratta (Victoria)
Quote: "" I'll remember you when I'm rich and famous. " - Scat."
Posted: 5861 days ago

Wow! It was great to meet Max at Yarraville. Just got back to Wangaratta, it was totally worth the seven hours on the road. Still can't get over Max knowing who I was though, I feel famous or something, mostly something. Can't wait for the next book.

Nicholas (#3453)

Location: Williamstown
Posted: 5860 days ago


Max,

Good to see you in person at Yarraville and thank you for your reading of some sample pages of Syrup . I think you hooked us line and sinker! You have freshened up the boring corporate world !

Also I'm sure you can turn this into a sitcom oneday.

be well

Machine Man subscriber Adam (#24)

Location: Morristown, Indiana
Quote: "Why do I blog? Simple, because Max Barry blogs."
Posted: 5855 days ago

Happy Birthday!

-adam

AAlgar (#3459)

Location: Seattle
Quote: ""Don't put your lips on anything.""
Posted: 5850 days ago

Don't forget about us in America when you become big in Australia! (That always happens.)

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