The End: AuthorTrackers & Shocking Secrets

[Sugary Snicket]

That's a stupid theory, Quigley= Lemony/Violet= Beatrice. My God. I do see how the person could've come up with it, though.

[Jacques the Environmentalist]

I too can see it. But it's still ridiculous and is even beyond what I'd call a leap of logic...

[Dante]

I dug up a fascinating document using Google, from HarperCollins Canada. For the purposes of this thread, page 21 is the one to look at - it mentions a "10 month national marketing campaign," a "year-long viral e-mail campaign to Lemony Snicket fanlist," which surely refers to the monthly AuthorTrackers and indicates that they'll definitely continue, and a "major ongoing promotion at LemonySnicket.com." I wonder if we've seen that yet. Maybe it refers to stuff like the Shocking Secrets document, which could mean there's more of that sort of thing to come. Although it doesn't list any more booklets of that sort on page 24, which lists some promos.

[Antenora]

For quick reference, I got some screenshots of the important bits:
Book 13 general information and online promo stuff.
"Viral e-mail campaign" sounds kind of scary, but fortunately I have virus protection installed. It probably has something to do with people sending the e-mail to each other; I know chain letters are sometimes described as "viral". Or it could be something else entirely.
Complete Wreck boxed set information.
List of promos.
I'll see if I can find any of these at my local bookstores, though I suppose I won't be able to get them for myself.

[Dante]

Viral marketing is, like, word-of-mouth marketing. Here's Wikipedia's take: "Viral marketing and viral advertising refer to marketing techniques that seek to exploit pre-existing social networks to produce exponential increases in brand awareness, through viral processes similar to the spread of an epidemic. It is word-of-mouth delivered and enhanced online; it harnesses the network effect of the Internet and can be very useful in reaching a large number of people rapidly. ... The term "viral advertising" refers to the idea that people will pass on and share interesting and entertaining content; this is often sponsored by a brand, which is looking to build awareness of a product or service. These viral commercials often take the form of funny video clips, or interactive Flash games, images, and even text." So basically, it's like an attempt to spread information like it's a virus.

[Jacques the Environmentalist]

At first I thought viral meant it was truly harmful and was a bit alarmed. But now I've calmed down.
I should really check my yahoo email and look at those author trackers. It's pathetic how lazy I'm getting.

[Gigi]

tocuna said:

For quick reference, I got some screenshots of the important bits:
Book 13 general information and online promo stuff.
"Viral e-mail campaign" sounds kind of scary, but fortunately I have virus protection installed. It probably has something to do with people sending the e-mail to each other; I know chain letters are sometimes described as "viral". Or it could be something else entirely.
Complete Wreck boxed set information.
List of promos.
I'll see if I can find any of these at my local bookstores, though I suppose I won't be able to get them for myself.

I just sent e-mail to HarperCollins, asking them to send me the Friday the 13th Event Kit. I want it for our Unfortunate Day at school next fall. We'll see if they will oblige.

*crosses fingers*

[Dante]

I hope you can get those, Gigi, and not just because I want to know more details about what you get (e.g., disguises). Best of luck getting them!

[Jacques the Environmentalist]

So I'd presume you're having unfortunate day the day The End comes out? That's so cool.
Quite a list of promos they've got there...

[Gigi]

Latest Author-Tracker:

June, 2006

Dear Reader,

Congratulations on making it to the end of the school year. Now that summer is here, you probably think that this is a good time to relax and have fun. Unfortunately, you are completely mistaken.

With less than four months until The End, the thirteenth and final book in A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, there is very little time for you to complete your research. Mr. Snicket's work is filled with unanswered questions, and only the most well-read citizens will be prepared to ask them all. Responsible volunteers around the world are rushing to review the available evidence, namely:

• The first twelve books in A Series of Unfortunate Events, which include sentences like, "The middle Baudelaire looked at his mother's coat, which had a secret pocket on the inside."
  
  
• Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography, which contains such confounding secrets as the lyrics to a folk ballad called "The Little Snicket Lad," whose chorus is: "When we grab you by the ankles, / Where our mark is to be made, /You'll so-on be do-ing no-ble work, /Although you won't be paid."
  
  
• An earth-shattering book containing private papers which we are forbidden to tell you about, but which is coming in September and includes such sentiments as, "The only other student I know in this class is O., who is nothing but an annoyance. As I write this, he is filling his notebook with anagrams of obscene words."
  

To guide their preparations for The End, many volunteers are already using the document called 13 Shocking Secrets You'll Wish You Never Knew About Lemony Snicket. Others have enrolled in summer school, hoping to distract themselves with cafeteria food and remedial gym class rather than spend the coming months sunburnt with worry. Still others have deleted this e-mail without reading it.

Clearly, you've already made your choice. When it comes to The End, we hope it's the right one.

With all due respect,
HarperColllinsPublishers

[Dante]

Thanks for that, Gigi.

Hm, not much new information, certainly not anything I was really expecting, but the apparent TBL extract is intriguing, and gives one rather an idea of what sort of thing to expect.

Edit: I'm also slightly bitter, as it ain't the end of my school year yet. ...Not for another four and a half weeks.

[Gigi]

Either there really is information to be gained by re-reading the first 12 books and TUA or it is just a shameless attempt to possibly sell more books.

I was surprised there wasn't a link to TBL or even the mention of the title. Why miss a chance to suggest we pre-order?

[Antenora]

Thanks for posting this, as I don't seem to have received it(then again, I usually get these rather late, and my mail server's been crashing).

I like the possible TBL fragment. It implies that the letters date back sometime--which I think has been hinted at before--and I get the impression that Lemony and Beatrice are passing notes in class, or possibly Beatrice is off at boarding school.

[Sixteen]

tocuna said:

I like the possible TBL fragment. It implies that the letters date back sometime--which I think has been hinted at before--and I get the impression that Lemony and Beatrice are passing notes in class, or possibly Beatrice is off at boarding school.

Actually, it seems more likely that they aren't in the same class. Lemony would know about "O." if they were.

Is Beatrice is V.F.D. at this time? It's likely she was taken at a very young age (given the UA quote) and she is calling classmates by initials, rather than first name, as a child would be expected to. She's showing notetaking AND observational skills. I think it's safe to assume she is, although assumptions are a rather risky business in aSoUE.

[hannaelisheva]

The Quagmires were going to be held on an island; what if Count Olaf is taking the Baudelaires there to wait until Violet grows older?