When I embarked on writing my first book, Just A Geek, I found myself with a collection of stories that, while meaningful, didn’t quite fit into the book’s main narrative. I was unsure what to do with these narratives until a wise suggestion from my friend and editor, Andrew, sparked an idea: “Why not compile them into their own book?”
Initially hesitant, the idea grew on me, and I realized it was indeed a perfect solution. And so, I did just that. Enlisting the artistic talents of my friend Ben for illustrations to accompany the tales, I independently published these stories even before Just A Geek was fully completed. The resulting book was titled Dancing Barefoot.
Following the release of audio versions for Just a Geek and The Happiest Days of Our Lives, many readers inquired about an audio rendition of Dancing Barefoot, eager to complete what has organically become a trilogy. Truthfully, an audio version of Dancing Barefoot wasn’t in my initial plans. As a writer, I felt I had evolved since its publication, and revisiting it felt like stepping back in time, prompting an urge to rewrite and refine the entire work.
However, a shift occurred within me upon turning 40. I began to release myself from excessive self-criticism. I accepted Dancing Barefoot for what it was – the best I could create at that time. Its imperfections, its “rough edges,” were simply part of its unique creation story.
Thus, about a month ago, I scheduled studio time with my preferred audiobook producers and finally recorded an audio version of Dancing Barefoot.
Stepping back into stories penned over a decade ago, as I was transitioning into my thirties and reflecting on my past to navigate my future, felt surreal. Dancing Barefoot was written during a period of turbulence and uncertainty, a time when simply making ends meet each month was a struggle. Reading these stories now, with the perspective of knowing how my future unfolded – with both its joys and sorrows – imbued the recording process with a deeper emotional resonance than I anticipated.
Wil Wheaton's Book Dancing Barefoot Cover Art
A wave of nostalgia washed over me as I reread each piece, like opening nested dolls of memories. I recalled the genesis of each story, initially shared on my blog, then refined for Dancing Barefoot, and finally, the experience of personally shipping thousands of copies worldwide from my living room. I vividly remember the excitement Anne and I shared opening the first delivery box from the printer, and the enduring joy I feel whenever someone presents a well-loved copy for me to sign.
Before sharing the link to the audiobook, I want to express heartfelt gratitude to those of you who have been with me for a decade, especially those who purchased Dancing Barefoot in its early days. Your support then is the bedrock of where I stand today. There is a direct line connecting your early support of that book to my roles in Eureka, The Big Bang Theory, Leverage, and everything else I’ve been fortunate to do. An even more direct line exists from packing and shipping that book from my living room floor to writing my subsequent books, magazine columns, and blog posts – in all their varied quality.
F. Scott Fitzgerald famously wrote that “there are no second acts in American lives.” Before embarking on this writing journey over a decade ago, I believed this. But thanks to readers like you who returned to my blog, attended my performances, and bought my books, I believe I might be an exception to that rule.
I am profoundly grateful for the life I have now, a life meticulously built through hard work. Each day, a touch of disbelief lingers, a fear of waking up to find it all a dream, a twist in a Twilight Zone episode. I worked diligently for this reality, but I didn’t achieve it alone. People I may never meet took a chance on me, making it possible for me to pursue my passions, and for that, my thanks are boundless.
I realize I’m starting to ramble, so let me get straight to the point.
The Dancing Barefoot audiobook is available now on my Bandcamp page. You can listen to the entire audiobook there for free, or purchase it for $10 through this weekend, after which the price will adjust to $20. The purchase includes a digital booklet featuring all of Ben’s original illustrations, scanned directly from my personal author’s copy of the book.
Here’s a brief description of the stories you’ll find in Dancing Barefoot:
Available for the first time in audio, read by the author himself.
In his engaging debut, actor and author Wil Wheaton shares five true, concise stories reflecting on life in the digital age:
Houses in Motion – Memories resurface within the emptiness of a childhood home, оживляя them as farewells are spoken.
Ready Or Not Here I Come – A simple game of hide-and-seek with children becomes a poignant time machine, revisiting moments of past seeking and hiding.
Inferno – A fleeting encounter between two 15-year-olds in the night leaves behind gentle memories and the scent of a Car Wars Deluxe Edition Box Set.
We Close Our Eyes – Capturing a few exquisite moments of uninhibited joy found in dancing in the rain.
The Saga of SpongeBob VegasPants – A whimsical tale of love, hate, laughter, and the ultimate acceptance of all things Star Trek.
