September 23rd, 2009 / 8:35 am
 Author News & Massive People & Presses & Web Hype

Three Cheers for Blake!

confetti_06P

Hey remember when Blake posted about how major publishing houses have basically stopped taking on challenging, innovative fiction? Well it looks like big publishing has Struck Back. From Our Man’s personal blog, posted last night-

I’ve signed a two book deal with Harper Perennial, for a novel and a book of nonfiction. Crazy and exciting for me in many ways, most of all in having a book as crazy as the novel that has been bought is to be considered in the big houses. It seems a sign of good times, I think.

Sign of good times, indeed. Blake joins a team that already includes Dennis Cooper, Tony O’Neill, Kevin Sampsell, uh me, The Great Short Works of Tolstoy, the Six Word Memoir series, and all those amazing philosophy re-issues originally published in the Harper Torch series. Welcome to the family, brother!

Special Butler+Harper Bonus Reminder: “The Copy Family” at Fifty-two Stories. Remember back when this happened? I think it’s when HP’s love affair with Homebutler began. Which incidentally reminds me that it’s been way too long since we touched based with Fifty-two Stories. Cal, if you’re reading this- I’m on it.

Tags: , , ,

67 Comments

  1. September 23rd, 2009 / 12:47 pm Adam R—

      The universe, hooray.

  2. September 23rd, 2009 / 8:47 am Adam R—

      The universe, hooray.

  3. September 23rd, 2009 / 12:49 pm Kevin O'Neill—

      We all get free copies, right?

  4. September 23rd, 2009 / 8:49 am Kevin O'Neill—

      We all get free copies, right?

  5. September 23rd, 2009 / 1:04 pm +!O0o(o)o0O!+—

      Sell out!

  6. September 23rd, 2009 / 9:04 am +!O0o(o)o0O!+—

      Sell out!

  7. September 23rd, 2009 / 1:12 pm Catherine Lacey—

      Anonymous blog commenter!

  8. September 23rd, 2009 / 9:12 am Catherine Lacey—

      Anonymous blog commenter!

  9. September 23rd, 2009 / 1:18 pm Stephen Elliott—

      congratulations. i published an anthology with those guys. they’re really great. it’s like an awesome small press located in the heart of this fearsome mega-publisher. really good people who care about writing.

  10. September 23rd, 2009 / 9:18 am Stephen Elliott—

      congratulations. i published an anthology with those guys. they’re really great. it’s like an awesome small press located in the heart of this fearsome mega-publisher. really good people who care about writing.

  11. September 23rd, 2009 / 1:20 pm +!O0o(o)o0O!+—
  12. September 23rd, 2009 / 9:20 am +!O0o(o)o0O!+—
  13. September 23rd, 2009 / 1:38 pm james yeh—

      congrats blake! awesome work.

  14. September 23rd, 2009 / 9:38 am james yeh—

      congrats blake! awesome work.

  15. September 23rd, 2009 / 1:40 pm davidpeak—

      TOO AWESOME!

  16. September 23rd, 2009 / 9:40 am davidpeak—

      TOO AWESOME!

  17. September 23rd, 2009 / 1:54 pm jeff t johnson—

      So good to know Harper Perennial has young, ambitious writers like Justin and Blake on its radar (and roster!). Congrats, Blake!

  18. September 23rd, 2009 / 9:54 am jeff t johnson—

      So good to know Harper Perennial has young, ambitious writers like Justin and Blake on its radar (and roster!). Congrats, Blake!

  19. September 23rd, 2009 / 2:09 pm MG—

      Is this going to be ‘The Copy Family’ family novel?

      That would be sweet.

      Anything will be sweet, actually.

      Sweet. Props, dude.

  20. September 23rd, 2009 / 10:09 am MG—

      Is this going to be ‘The Copy Family’ family novel?

      That would be sweet.

      Anything will be sweet, actually.

      Sweet. Props, dude.

  21. September 23rd, 2009 / 2:19 pm Joseph Young—

      saw this on his blog. too goddamn cool. huge ups, blake!!

  22. September 23rd, 2009 / 10:19 am Joseph Young—

      saw this on his blog. too goddamn cool. huge ups, blake!!

  23. September 23rd, 2009 / 2:29 pm Timmy Waldron—

      This is exciting news, congratulations Blake!

  24. September 23rd, 2009 / 10:29 am Timmy Waldron—

      This is exciting news, congratulations Blake!

  25. September 23rd, 2009 / 2:53 pm anyreads—

      fantastic congrats — just as yesterday i heard a stupid “vampire reimagining of wuthering heights” was sold to some other stupid publisher.

      i hope this (your sale, this good news) is the beginning of big new literary push in mainstream pub america.

      did your agent make the sale or did you actually first query this pub yourself? you’ve had some smallpress success & i’m sure that was the doorway in probly right?

      good news.

  26. September 23rd, 2009 / 10:53 am anyreads—

      fantastic congrats — just as yesterday i heard a stupid “vampire reimagining of wuthering heights” was sold to some other stupid publisher.

      i hope this (your sale, this good news) is the beginning of big new literary push in mainstream pub america.

      did your agent make the sale or did you actually first query this pub yourself? you’ve had some smallpress success & i’m sure that was the doorway in probly right?

      good news.

  27. September 23rd, 2009 / 3:02 pm Michael James—

      thats whats up.

      i send good-good-feel vibes your way.

  28. September 23rd, 2009 / 11:02 am Michael James—

      thats whats up.

      i send good-good-feel vibes your way.

  29. September 23rd, 2009 / 3:20 pm Blake Butler—

      hi MG, yes it is related to the Copy Family section.
      thanks for the good props.

  30. September 23rd, 2009 / 11:20 am Blake Butler—

      hi MG, yes it is related to the Copy Family section.
      thanks for the good props.

  31. September 23rd, 2009 / 3:21 pm Blake Butler—

      thanks everybody! feels good so many good words

  32. September 23rd, 2009 / 11:21 am Blake Butler—

      thanks everybody! feels good so many good words

  33. September 23rd, 2009 / 3:24 pm Lincoln—

      congrats duuuuuuuude

  34. September 23rd, 2009 / 11:24 am Lincoln—

      congrats duuuuuuuude

  35. September 23rd, 2009 / 3:43 pm MG—

      That excites me to no end.

  36. September 23rd, 2009 / 11:43 am MG—

      That excites me to no end.

  37. September 23rd, 2009 / 3:55 pm Drew—

      We did it!… Er, you did it!

  38. September 23rd, 2009 / 11:55 am Drew—

      We did it!… Er, you did it!

  39. September 23rd, 2009 / 4:02 pm david erlewine—

      same here. That Copy story hasn’t left me. I loved/love it. So brutal and brilliant.

  40. September 23rd, 2009 / 12:02 pm david erlewine—

      same here. That Copy story hasn’t left me. I loved/love it. So brutal and brilliant.

  41. September 23rd, 2009 / 4:03 pm david erlewine—

      way to go Blake. I missed the chance to say I let that dude abuse me in poker.

  42. September 23rd, 2009 / 12:03 pm david erlewine—

      way to go Blake. I missed the chance to say I let that dude abuse me in poker.

  43. September 23rd, 2009 / 4:21 pm alec niedenthal—

      congrats! i’m excited to see what the cover art will be.

      this news makes me feel better about being alive.

  44. September 23rd, 2009 / 12:21 pm alec niedenthal—

      congrats! i’m excited to see what the cover art will be.

      this news makes me feel better about being alive.

  45. September 23rd, 2009 / 5:23 pm reynard seifert—

      i second these emotions

  46. September 23rd, 2009 / 1:23 pm reynard seifert—

      i second these emotions

  47. September 23rd, 2009 / 5:41 pm Patrick deWitt—

      This has probably been said, but I feel like Harper Perennial is coming together with its roster much in the way independent record labels once did and still sometimes do – a shared feeling or sympathy among the artists in conjunction with the good taste of the company itself. Congratulations to you, Blake. Great and rare news.

  48. September 23rd, 2009 / 1:41 pm Patrick deWitt—

      This has probably been said, but I feel like Harper Perennial is coming together with its roster much in the way independent record labels once did and still sometimes do – a shared feeling or sympathy among the artists in conjunction with the good taste of the company itself. Congratulations to you, Blake. Great and rare news.

  49. September 23rd, 2009 / 5:46 pm Blake Butler—

      thanks a lot Patrick, I feel that way too.

  50. September 23rd, 2009 / 1:46 pm Blake Butler—

      thanks a lot Patrick, I feel that way too.

  51. September 23rd, 2009 / 5:59 pm Michael Schaub—

      Finally, some good publishing news. Congratulations, man! Also, I insist that your about-the-author photo be you in a sweater holding a kitty. See what you can do about that.

  52. September 23rd, 2009 / 1:59 pm Michael Schaub—

      Finally, some good publishing news. Congratulations, man! Also, I insist that your about-the-author photo be you in a sweater holding a kitty. See what you can do about that.

  53. September 23rd, 2009 / 6:18 pm Aaron—

      Hot damn, that is stellar news Blake. You are an insanely talented and hard working artist, and you deserve it. Cheers to you!

  54. September 23rd, 2009 / 2:18 pm Aaron—

      Hot damn, that is stellar news Blake. You are an insanely talented and hard working artist, and you deserve it. Cheers to you!

  55. September 23rd, 2009 / 6:39 pm Justin Rands—

      Rippin off DIXXXX

  56. September 23rd, 2009 / 2:39 pm Justin Rands—

      Rippin off DIXXXX

  57. September 23rd, 2009 / 6:14 pm It’d be pretty sweet if Carl Weathers was your dad « Suffer the Gringo—

      […] to Atlantan wild man Blake Butler for signing up to publish two books with Harper Perennial. Those books promise to completely rule (check out his just-released book Scorch Atlas here. As […]

  58. September 23rd, 2009 / 10:38 pm brian foley—

      I am Dad proud

  59. September 23rd, 2009 / 6:38 pm brian foley—

      I am Dad proud

  60. September 24th, 2009 / 12:51 am Jac Jemc—

      yes.

  61. September 23rd, 2009 / 8:51 pm Jac Jemc—

      yes.

  62. September 24th, 2009 / 1:43 am claybanes—

      Ditto. For a week in your honor I call them Harper and not Murdoch Corp.

  63. September 23rd, 2009 / 9:43 pm claybanes—

      Ditto. For a week in your honor I call them Harper and not Murdoch Corp.

  64. September 24th, 2009 / 9:14 am christopher ryan—

      this is so cool. congrats!

  65. September 24th, 2009 / 5:14 am christopher ryan—

      this is so cool. congrats!

  66. September 24th, 2009 / 3:06 pm davidpeak—

      how cool is it that blake was mentioned in this morning’s publisher’s lunch?

  67. September 24th, 2009 / 11:06 am davidpeak—

      how cool is it that blake was mentioned in this morning’s publisher’s lunch?