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The Infinite Wait & Other Stories

September 18, 2012

That book I’ve been rambling on about for forever is finally available! The Infinite Wait & Other Stories, published by Koyama Press, is a 228 page collection of 3 short stories about all the jobs I’ve had since age 6, being diagnosed with systemic lupus when I was 20 and the role libraries have played in my life from childhood to present day. We will not be putting the book on Amazon for quite some time, if at all, so I’ll provide you with a few choices for ordering. First, you can order it from me (see below) which is the most appreciated way since such orders are my only income right now. Packages range from $25-$50. Or, since I know purse strings are tight, you can order it from Secret Acres at the sticker price. After your purchasing options, please scroll down for more info about the book and for a lil’ story about how it came to be.

-There are also more purchasing options in the store, if you’d like to also buy Drinking at the Movies or the Fart Party vol 1, as well as choices for various bundle packages-

Koyama Press has a peak inside of the book and short description, which I’ll poach for this site as well. I also have a number of sample pages posted on this site that you can view here .

“The Infinite Wait and Other Stories is latest book from Julia Wertz, the critically acclaimed author of The Fart Party Vols. 1 and 2 (Atomic Books, 2007 and 2009) and Drinking at the Movies (Random House, 2010). In contrast to her last book, which was a full-length graphic memoir, The Infinite Wait is not a sustained narrative, but rather a collection of three short stories or graphic novellas. The stories in this collection contain Wertz’s signature acerbic wit, ribald humour and keen eye for the everyday, but they also find the cartoonist delving into the personal. “Industry” catalogues 25 years of alternately terrible and terrific jobs, from selling golf balls, feeding and failing to feed animals, waitressing, and finally to cartooning and the publication of her first book. “A Strange and Curious Place” is a love letter to Wertz’s hometown library; its mysteries and revelations, and its ability foster growth, rebellion and even artistic affirmation. The most sustained narrative in the collection, the eponymous “The Infinite Wait,” chronicles Wertz’s move from her small hometown to San Francisco, her diagnosis with an incurable, auto-immune disease and her subsequent discovery of comics and comic making.The collection’s title, The Infinite Wait and Other Stories, intentionally and ironically recalls the vacuous and pretentious book titles of the literary elite, but these stories are the polar opposite of pretension. They are comics born out of illness, but not defined by it, and they are filled with the sometimes messy, heartbreaking and hilarious moments that make up a life.” A bit of a back story: The main story in this book is about being diagnosed with systemic lupus in 2003, a story that I originally started almost 10 years ago and then put on the back burner while I went and made a buncha trouble in real life. When I was done with that racket, I revisited the story and decided to flesh it out and do a book. By that time, I was working with a big publisher and I approached them and others with the idea, and was promptly told it was not mass marketable and that I should try doing something else more appealing. I don’t think that satisfying creativity is made in the confines of “mass marketability” unless that’s already an avenue the creator has pursued or easily falls into and I had no interest in working like that, so I took my book idea to Annie Koyama of Koyama Press and she enthusiastically agreed to publish it. I’m grateful for my time with a big publisher but I’m incredibly happy to be back with “my people” who’s work and passion (what a gross word, sorry) lay in comics, whether they’re a hit or not.And so, kind reader, I’m appealing to you now to buy this book either from me or from Secret Acres and prove those industry folks wrong. The publication of this book was done in the regular comics way (read, no money involved) until the book goes on sale. Although it’s not a lucrative way to make money on a project, it is satisfying to know I’m seeing money from what I sell, not from what people it suits think I might sell. There’s been a lot of talk about how comics were briefly swept up into big publishing and are now going back to their roots with small/boutique presses, and I’m happy to say I’m one of them. Many thanks to Annie Koyama for making it possible.That was a lot of text, lets show some pictures now! Here’s the back of the book and some things people said about it:

Here’s the full cover (french flaps out) designed by the formidable Matthew Forsythe, and Annie picked a lovely woven texture paper with french flaps. You know, if you’re into nerd stuff like that.

Note: there is a printing error in this book- page 94 is a double. Here is the missing page 93. Please see the events page for all upcoming book release parties, readings and comic conventions.

 

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{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }

chad September 18, 2012 at 3:20 pm

Hey julia
Big fan of yours and I just randomly popped onto your site to see you have a new book! First, congrats! second, I live in Astana, Kazakhstan.. any chance I can get the book shipped to this side of the world?
Thanks!
-Chad

Julia Wertz September 18, 2012 at 4:41 pm

hey Chad, yup, I ship internationally, so just click the link like normal and it’ll show you the rates, etc…

Artful Dodger September 18, 2012 at 6:17 pm

So, the mix CD, is personally made by you or just a random disc? I’m on the fence with the mix CD.

Julia Wertz September 18, 2012 at 7:00 pm

personally made by me!

Leah H September 18, 2012 at 7:33 pm

Is there anyplace to buy these in person in NY? Or will you be doing a release party or signing any time soon? I’m impatient and also don’t want to pay shipping. Thanks!

Julia Wertz September 18, 2012 at 8:11 pm

I’m having a release party at Desert Island in mid November but if you want it sooner, it’s available right now at Bergen Comics. Actually I’m doing a reading there this Saturday, the 22nd, so you could get it then

Mary September 18, 2012 at 8:37 pm

Julia, I had a truly shit day today, but then I got home and received a package from my friend Anna, who met you at SPX last weekend. I couldn’t make it, and so she got a signed copy of your book for me. I can’t even tell you how much this book improved my day. Thank you for being awesome.

Nick September 19, 2012 at 3:26 am

I am really looking forward to getting this book. I am also really upset I wasn’t able to make it to SPX to meet you and buy the book in person. What are the chances of you debuting another book next year at SPX? Any idea when you might consider doing a commissioned piece?

Julia Wertz September 19, 2012 at 12:41 pm

very small, a book a year would me madness! although there is a Fart Party omnibus coming out next year that will have some unpublished stuff but it’s not new, so I dont really count it. But let me assure you, you’re not missing anything, meeting me is probably disappointing. And unfortunately I don’t have time for commissions right now but maybe later this year

stephanie September 20, 2012 at 3:58 am

i know it’s lame when people are all “i love your work” and then don’t buy anything, but i’m currently at the “i have a headache from only eating graham crackers the past two days” level of poverty. BUT THE POINT IS, not only do i enjoy your comics, i think your prices are always insanely reasonable and really, high five for that. i hope you make some good monies and i hope i make some good monies soon so i can go back to buying cool shit.

katie September 20, 2012 at 3:59 pm

How can you order it in the UK??

Ryan September 21, 2012 at 11:47 pm

Julia,
Psyched for the new book. Are you exclusively self-distributing, or will they also be available from major retailers (B&N, Amazon, etc)?

Julia Wertz September 22, 2012 at 12:44 pm

no, I’m hardly distributing at all, I’m just selling my copies. The main distributor is Secret Acres and also Last Gasp and Spit and a Half. We’re avoiding Amazon for now.

Karl Banks October 31, 2012 at 3:49 pm

I am LOVING the book! It came with all the goodies just a couple of days ago. Thank you! Also, after seeing the comic on the upper right of page 89, I feel even stupider for offering to take you out whiskey sampling. Duhhhhh.

jerome November 23, 2012 at 10:04 pm

hi julia,
I found Fart party in SF About 6 years ago, i was on tour with my band crash normal.
This book still has a special place in my heart and i always open it when i don’t feel very good…
It makes me leugh a lot. I made a song and used on part of the book for lyrics (the strip in which you have a shower, brushing your teeth, peeing, picking your nose, remembering what the hell happened last night ect. And this little story helped me to find the title od the 10″ in which this song is released.
here is the link is you wanna listen to it
http://crashnormal.virb.com/fingershower
name of the song is bikinies invaiders
I bought “I SAW YOU” today but i did not find Farty Party II… out of print… 85euros on web sellers hahaha.

Thanx a lot for all of this
cheers
jerome

Gunnar Blase November 26, 2012 at 9:07 pm

Got the package on Thursday, on Saturday my son was born. Now I am alone at home with my daughter, till my girlfriend comes back from hospital. I enjoy it very much to read the book before going to sleep. Today my 2,5 year old daughter discoverd TIW on my bed table. “What is this dad?” – “It’s a comic book”. – “Whats the name of the woman?” (pointed at the Julia on top) – “She’s called Julia – she drawed herself in the book”. “Dsschuulia – Is that funny?” – “Well – kind of”…. :-) Think she likes it very much. Thanks a lot – and greetings from Bielefeld/Germany.

Jason December 14, 2012 at 10:23 pm

Aby idea if your book be available on Book Depository? I’m in Southeast Asia and shipping will cost a bomb :(

Karl G. Siewert February 4, 2013 at 7:48 pm

I’m a librarian in Tulsa, OK. I recently read Drinking At The Movies, and I’m working my way through Fart Party now. Just started volume 2. I found you because of this Flavorwire article: http://www.flavorwire.com/364394/8-worthy-successors-to-alison-bechdel/view-all

I appreciate your decision to work directly with a small press and direct sales. I understand your reasons for doing so. I think you should know, though, that most libraries can’t purchase items directly because of how library budgeting and funding works. They have to go through distributors like Ingram and Baker And Taylor.

I see that one of the three stories is “a love letter to Wertz’s hometown library.” Please make sure that all libraries have the opportunity to put your book on their shelves. Right now, there are only 9 in the country that have. https://www.worldcat.org/title/infinite-wait-and-other-stories/oclc/814443129&referer=brief_results

Julia Wertz February 5, 2013 at 11:08 pm

hey Karl,
Unfortunately I don’t have any control over that, but the publisher is in the process of getting it into more distros so it should be easier for libraries to get sometime soon!

Matt Smith February 21, 2013 at 4:56 pm

What about Fart Party 1 & 2? Any chance of a combined edition? I can’t remember whether they came out in Australia.

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