Last day for The L.U.R.V.E. Train
I’m in a hole while I finish up this book, but am popping out to remind everyone that the last stop on The L.U.R.V.E. Train is tonight. I’ve got a $100 Amazon.com gift certificate up for grabs, as well as a $25 one.
And, because I felt like such a jerk when I went to my local Barnes and Noble and was like, uh, “what, you haven’t shelved DEMON MOON yet, even though every other June 5 release is out?” and they went into the back and brought out the copies, I just went ahead and bought all of them. So I have some more copies of DEMON MOON to give away.
Note to self: learn to be a jerk without guilt. It’s cheaper that way. Or, better yet, don’t feel like a jerk just because you asked if they had any copies in (and you were really hoping it just meant that they sold all of them) and you saw that your little question made them look guilty because the book isn’t on the shelves.
Note to readers: to make Meljean feel bad, and maybe shell out some money, just look guilty when she asks you a question.
Hopefully by next week I’ll be back to regular blogging, and not just contest stuff. Cuz I’ve got lots of books to read, woot!
My son has a certain look of hurt/guilt that makes me feel like the bad guy every time that he directs it at me. I have managed to steel myself against it over time but it hasn’t been easy.
Hi Meljean,
It was an innocent question so please don’t feel bad. I’m sure they get asked questions like that all the time. I’m usually estatic they have the book in stock, especially since I made a special trip to the store.
Little Lamb Lost — my daughter has one, too :joker:
Carol — I’m sure they do, too; mostly, it was just that awkwardness that gets me. I don’t do well with awkward, or feeling like I’ve made someone uncomfortable. (And I didn’t actually say it like I wrote it, of course … but that’s what I was thinking, lol)
That reminds me of the time I asked the sales people at B&N for a book. They SWORE they had like 20 copies in and just asked me to wait a minute while they searched. Every five minutes they checked back with me, swearing yet again the books were there… They were SURE they’d seen them. At one point there were four different reps combing through the shelves (and I was starting to feel a bit guilty about the whole thing).
After an hour (and honestly, not much of a hardship because time flies in a bookstore), I decided to try out another store. Wouln’t you know it, not two mintues after I left, they called me to say they’d found them, tucked behind another group of books on the shelves.
You bought copies of you own book to give out? Awwww so nice!
I haven’t stopped by B&N lately to see if it is there. But I did see Demon Angel at the NYC midtown library, so hopefully they will have Demon Moon in the next week or so!
That doesn’t sound too bad. Is it weird if a fan does it though? I’ll admit I will often go into bookstores the day a book is released and question why it isn’t already out on the shelves. Which usually involves a lot of drama while the sales clerk goes into the back and brings them out, etc. etc. I used to be embarrassed by this, but it’s either that or wait and there’s no way I’m going to wait.
I’ve learned to always ask for a book on release date. My local B&N is notorious for either not having the books shelved at all or having them on display in some absurd locaton. It saves time to just ask. DEMON MOON was out on the 5th cuz I got one. I figure some other fan arrived before I did and made them shelve them.
At least you didn’t draw blood. I’m not sure if you saw my post the day I went in to buy the latest Anne Stuart. The poor guy was twitching at the end but once I get the book in my hands any guilt just drifts away.
Next time, super bright toothy grin ‘Excuse me, I’m looking for Meljean Brook’s latest?’
OH WAIT!! Even better!! Introduce yourself, “Hi, I’m Meljean Brook, the author of ____________ you know, that book on the best seller list?” At this point, a slow grin to show you aren’t looking to maim anyone. “I see you have 5 books in stock but I can’t find them on your shelves. I was wondering if you have them out back as I would love to sign them for you.” Now I know you so I’m sure you can do it – full smile where a gleam not only bounces off your beautiful teeth but out of the corner of you eye also.
Damn. That sounds so cool. I would be all, ‘I’m CindyS and my book needs to be on the shelf to actual sell!! Who runs this place!?’
And another career is scratched from my possible list
But you could so pull it off.
Cindys
I used to work for B&N and would have this come up, but I didn’t feel guilty or bad about asking. Knowing that it gets busy and they are understaffed and that there is a process in place to shelve books, I do give them leeway but if a book that was due out June 5th and by the 12th it’s still not out, a reader has every right to inquire about it and get a copy (or 10!) Besides, you are giving them business, and you should never feel bad about that.