Yes, that warrants three exclamation marks.
You may or may not have heard of the book The Atheist’s Guide to Christmas. It was released in the UK last year to raise money for the Terrence Higgins Trust, a UK HIV charity. Here’s a little summary of the book from Amazon:
42 atheist celebrities, comedians, scientists and writers give their funny and serious tips for enjoying the Christmas season. Last year, Guardian journalist Ariane Sherine launched the Atheist Bus Campaign and ended up raising over GBP150,000, enough to place the advert ‘There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life’ on 800 UK buses in January 2009. Now Ariane and dozens of other atheist writers, comedians and scientists are joining together to raise money for a very different cause. The Atheist’s Guide to Christmas is a funny, thoughtful handbook all about enjoying Christmas, from 42 of the world’s most entertaining atheists. It features everything from an atheist Christmas miracle to a guide to the best Christmas pop hits.
Well, it turns out HarperCollins is developing a US edition, and they wanted to add a couple American authors to make it more appealing to this side of the pond. And because of all the boobquake media attention, one of their editors stumbled upon my blog and said they loved my writing and sense of humor. I was asked to do a longer humor piece on atheist toys, based off of my Atheist Barbie joke! Excuse the caps lock, but:
I AM SO FREAKING HAPPY!
It’s been a goal of mine to get my creative work published ever since I was a little kid. I’ve been writing fiction stories since second grade, have a novel fairly far in progress (and other ideas that are less developed), have taken creative writing classes whenever I can, and absolutely love writing (which hopefully you can tell from my blog). I always said I wanted to be published before I graduated college, and there was that nagging cynical voice in the back of my head that said it wouldn’t happen. But now due to the bizarre circumstances of an offhanded joke becoming internationally popular, my dream is literally coming true.
I can’t believe I’m going to be published in the same book as fabulous writers that I deeply respect, like Richard Dawkins, Simon Singh, AC Grayling, Phil Plait, and Ariane Sherine. And not only that, but the editor reacted so positively to my piece (which is the top secret project I’ve been working on the last week), that this will probably open a lot of doors for me.
I didn’t think anything could top the Colbert Report…but fulfilling this dream at age 22 kind of wins.
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!
69 comments
Skip to comment form ↓
joviality
May 3, 2010 at 8:34 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
FIRST…. to wish you a hearty CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!
Guest
May 3, 2010 at 8:37 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Congratulations! I almost bought the UK version several times last year but never got around to it…now I’m glad I didn’t!
AmoebaMike
May 3, 2010 at 8:47 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Very awesome! Big congrats from the entire AmoebaMike team, by which I mean myself and the amoeba I ride.
Zachary Cole
May 3, 2010 at 8:48 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Fantasti-wonderful!!!
Joé McKen
May 3, 2010 at 8:48 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
So, you’re just writing a piece for the book, rather than getting a whole novel published.That means I could still beat you to the finish line! *write write write*… Also, a (second) hearty congrats. Wicked cool.
Robyn M
May 3, 2010 at 8:48 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
CONGRATULATIONS! XD Man, life’s been a whirlwind for you lately, it’s amazing!
weezmgk
May 3, 2010 at 8:49 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Cream rises to the top, Jen. Gratz. :)
bcoppola
May 3, 2010 at 8:49 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
It’s official: You need an agent!
Brian
May 3, 2010 at 8:53 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
OH MY FLYING SPAGHETTI MONSTER! O_O Win!
Mike Brownstein
May 3, 2010 at 8:54 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Great Job!!
The naked atheist
May 3, 2010 at 8:54 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Flippin’ blimey Jen, I’m so happy for you, well done! So when are you doing a book signing in the UK?http://www.facebook.com/photo….Me with Ariane Sherine at a book signing, I later went to a presentation by Ariane at Aston University in Birmingham, UK.Ariane is a wonderfully witty lady, and thoroughly charming, as I’ve no doubt you are Jen.
BeamStalk
May 3, 2010 at 8:55 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Congrats! but you know what Terry Pratchett says about multiple exclamation points….”‘Multiple exclamation marks,’ he went on, shaking his head, ‘are a sure sign of a diseased mind.’ “
Mick Green
May 3, 2010 at 8:56 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Oh congrats!
Geoffrey D. Wessel
May 3, 2010 at 8:57 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
As someone currently working on breaking in professionally as a writer, congratulations.
The Mad Dreamer
May 3, 2010 at 9:03 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
From one writer to another, congratulations. I’ll keep an eye out for the book and I look forward to your piece.
pnwgreg
May 3, 2010 at 9:04 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Congrats! I have already pre-ordered my copy. And thanks to the provided pre-order link, my critical-thinking-inspired spending spree required no actual thought. How’s that for irony?
Hugo Grinebiter
May 3, 2010 at 9:16 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Yay! Green-Eyed Monster (no relation to His Noodliness).
juliebeen
May 3, 2010 at 9:19 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
CONGRATS!Count me as a book sale!
godlessgirl
May 3, 2010 at 9:27 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Three cheers, Jen! I’m thrilled for you!
annette176
May 3, 2010 at 9:31 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
That’s wonderful! My hearty congratulations. You deserve it!
TheNewAtheist
May 3, 2010 at 9:32 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Congrats Jen!
Philip Pangrac
May 3, 2010 at 9:38 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
As jealous as I often am of another’s success, I will man up and throw in my congratulations as well. The Atheist Barbie thing was funny (and, speaking personally, I thought it was a lot more clever than boobquake was).Almost assured I won’t buy the book, but maybe I’ll skim to your article when in a bookstore at some point.
spahsappinmahsentry
May 3, 2010 at 9:52 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
“my birthday! What are the odds?”0.27%Also, You go girl!
mariondelgado
May 3, 2010 at 9:54 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
zomg. Congrats!!!You have a good sense of humor, as your posts about the Creation Museum and the anti-porn rally show.
haleyk
May 3, 2010 at 9:59 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Jen, I’m so happy for you! This is so exciting! Now that I’ve seen what you’ve done, maybe I should start my one feminist atheist blog.
Alexrkr7
May 3, 2010 at 10:00 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Awesome news. Hopefully this is a sign (sort of speak) of more notoriety and respect that you deserve. Congratulations!
Jen
May 3, 2010 at 10:02 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
This is why I love my readers.Though technically it would probably be higher, since this book would be released in the span before Christmas… …never mind =P
Sili
May 3, 2010 at 10:03 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
“The US edition will be released on November 2, 2010 (my birthday! What are the odds?). “About 1 in 365.
Andrew R Sather
May 3, 2010 at 10:10 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Congratulations! Looking forward to reading your entry (as well as the rest of the book :-)
Spurll
May 3, 2010 at 10:16 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I’m glad to see HarperCollins taking note of such an expert wordsmith! My jealousy knows no bounds. :) I’m preordering now!
Godlessons
May 3, 2010 at 10:22 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Congratulations! It couldn’t happen to a nicer heathen.
Julia
May 3, 2010 at 10:25 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Holy shit! I bought this last year, and it’s gone missing amongst all of my boxes of crap from moving. Looks like I’ll have to buy this new one…oh, darn…
Maria
May 3, 2010 at 10:50 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Squeeee! Thank you for sharing your overwhelming joy with us. It makes me feel such happiness for you and your dreams. :)
Jerry
May 3, 2010 at 10:50 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Very cool! Congrats!
JJ
May 3, 2010 at 10:56 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Cool, just cool.
Carl
May 3, 2010 at 10:56 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Well done. Look forward to reading it.
Tina
May 3, 2010 at 11:04 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I think you’d be forgiven a string of exclamation points for this news! Had to delurk (been following your blog for almost a year now, I think – came over from lurking at Friendly Atheist) just to add my voice to the many saying congratulations! And I will be buying, of course. Don’t go abandoning all your adoring online followers now that you’re going to be sold in hard copy. ;)
MolecularFossils
May 4, 2010 at 2:09 AM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Oh yeah! I guessed it! (sort of…)
Keely Chaisson
May 4, 2010 at 2:28 AM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I’m so crazy excited for you.Maybe a little bit jealous too. Or a lot.But that’s okay, because it’s actually pretty fucking amazing to watch someone who really deserves it have their dreams come true. And I know this happened because of a runaway internet joke, but though the immediate precipitating event may have been a bit of crazy luck, on the whole you couldn’t be more deserving. And of course, it is always fun, as someone starts telling me about boobquake/your blog/you, to feel the smile spread across my face as I interrupt them to say “Yeah! I know her! Isn’t she fucking awesome!?!”
beardedskeptic
May 4, 2010 at 4:04 AM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
congrats!
joviality
May 4, 2010 at 5:09 AM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Also, new books tend to drop on Tuesdays, so that’s another point in your favor, since the 2nd is a Tuesday. :D
Akela52
May 4, 2010 at 5:42 AM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
You go girl! If the book is shipped to my remote corner of the world I’d like to buy it, but most of all I’m looking forward to reading the scientific books that I guess you will publish in the future. Wonderful writers like Dawkins and Sagan (how I miss him) need some competition. Congratulations and warm regards from an old lady in Sweden. <3
Marooned_on_Earth
May 4, 2010 at 6:07 AM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Wow! That’s awesome! Congrats!I had put the forthcoming US edition of the book on my Amazon wishlist but had pondered getting the UK edition sooner. Now I will surely wait to get YOUR edition!!! ;-)You and Richard Dawkins in the same book??? Fellow contributing geniuses??? YOU SHOULD BE SO VERY, VERY PROUD!!!!!! :-)
Lucy
May 4, 2010 at 6:55 AM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.Lucyhttp://dataentryjob-s.com
Sabrina
May 4, 2010 at 8:45 AM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
WOOOOOOO awesome! You’ve earned it :)
olifantje
May 4, 2010 at 9:00 AM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
That’s so cool! Congratulations!!!
Jadehawk
May 4, 2010 at 9:35 AM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
wow, I totally missed this earlier. congratu-bloody-lations!!
Brittany
May 4, 2010 at 10:45 AM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Yay! You continuously do stuff that makes you even more awesome! I’m so glad to hear that people are really taking notice of you and your writing, and that it’s getting pretty serious. :)
Andrew S.
May 4, 2010 at 1:21 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
That’s awesome, Jen. You’re like…going places. I’m jealous :3
Andrew S.
May 4, 2010 at 1:21 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
That’s awesome, Jen. You’re like…going places. I’m jealous :3
John Sherman
May 4, 2010 at 4:09 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Congratulations, Jen. I first came to your site through a link at PZ Myers’s blog (which I can never spell or pronounce: Famergooglia?) about a week before Boobquake. I’m looking forward to this book as I am often asked about celebrating Christmas while an atheist. I usually just say, “Booze? Presents? The Grinch? What’s not to celebrate?”
mcbender
May 4, 2010 at 4:13 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Congratulations! That’s quite the book to get into… I’d been thinking about getting a copy earlier but now I’ll definitely wait for this version.
bcoppola
May 4, 2010 at 5:08 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Fuh-RING-yu-lah.
Jon
May 4, 2010 at 5:25 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I can’t think of an athiest equivalent of ‘bless!’, so I’ll stick with ‘congratulations’ as well.Use as many exclamation marks as you like – I would, in your shoes.
VeritasTruthseeker
May 4, 2010 at 6:03 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Great jeorb!
kim
May 4, 2010 at 10:28 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I am so happy for you! Been lurking and loving this blog for a while now, and just ordered the book. Kim-also stuck in Indiana
Guest
May 5, 2010 at 3:03 AM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
fantastic, congratulations! i am definitely putting it on my wish list!!
Something She Dated
May 5, 2010 at 3:09 AM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Congrats…I’m preordering right away!!
Jo
May 5, 2010 at 6:37 AM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
AHHH! CONGRATS!!!!WILL IT BE SOLD IN CANADA!!?!
Lucy
May 5, 2010 at 1:43 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.Lucyhttp://dataentryjob-s.com
John Sherman
May 5, 2010 at 3:59 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?
supercheetah
May 5, 2010 at 5:47 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
That is so AWESOME!!!!! SUPER-CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
supercheetah
May 5, 2010 at 5:49 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I want to pre-order it, but I don’t know where I’m going to be living in November. I don’t know where it would have to be shipped to at that time.
Lucy
May 6, 2010 at 3:38 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.Lucyhttp://dataentryjob-s.com
Anthony McCloskey
May 7, 2010 at 8:09 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Congratulations! I remember when I first got published I was just as excited. It’s a major milestone. Additionally, I think you are a fine representation of those of us who prefer reason to superstition.
walldodger1969
May 8, 2010 at 11:49 AM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
That is so wonderful, need to put something else in your bucket list.
bcoppola
May 8, 2010 at 2:29 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Flagged for spam.
screamer77
June 3, 2010 at 3:16 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Wow! I don’t even know you, but I’m so happy for you!
Joel Klinepeter
June 4, 2010 at 11:26 PM (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Awesome! I’d heard about the book on a podcast (I can’t remember if it was SGU or Point of Inquiry) and was thinking I’d probably pick up the US edition when it came out, now it’s a must have. Any chance I could get you to sign it some time?For the record, I’ve bragged to friends about having had lunch with someone who’s been talked about on The Colbert Report. Sadly, with my work schedule, I likely won’t be able to make the SSA conference this year.