on the same note...
...my "traditionally-published" (whatever that may be), non-PA novel came out last June, and was marketed in exactly the right way. It's found, on the shelves, in both CBA and ABA chains nationwide, and is doing right nicely, thank you.
But here's something interesting. Last weekend, while at the mall with my wife, I spied an independent bookstore and wandered in, curious to see if they carried it. After not finding my novel there, I asked the lady behind the cash register if they'd have a problem ordering a few copies.
"Not at all," the lady replied. "Are you a local author?"
I assured her I was, and gave her the book's ISBN. She punched up the info on her screen while I watched.
"Well, there you are," she beamed then. "It looks very interesting. I'll order ten. How's that sound?"
Fine, I told her.
And that was it.
No begging, no chicanery, just a friendly, straightforward business transaction. But what makes this especially delicious, is that three years ago, when I first approached this same store, with my PA novel (a disaster of the first water, by the bye), I was blown off completely. The reasons? Non-returnability, the store's discount wasn't high enough, yadda, yadda...you PA authors (and you know who you are) have heard it all before. I sure did. And hearing it ad infinitum was danged discouraging. Comparing the two scenarios, well, the difference is like (insert your favorite cliche here).
Your publisher does make a difference, folks...I know.
John
