Life's Little Annoyances

[ellenkushner]

People asking "Where can I buy your books?"

What on earth do they mean by that?

Where do we usually buy books, folks?

This is particularly annoying in the age of internet, where, even when they're self-published, the answer is always "Amazon."

Comments

[movingfinger.livejournal.com]

If they mean "right this minute or tomorrow morning" it's because they want you to say "Bob's, two blocks away" kind of thing. This would require you to know who has your books in stock, everywhere. Hmmm, tricky.

There are a lot of people who still haven't shopped at Amazon. And I think a lot of people go into bookstores and see only the face-out displays. They don't realize that the bookstore (unless it's a Borders, say, or a specialist) will order anything they can think of that's in print for them, if they ask.

They are not on sale at the theater, I take it... maybe next year...?

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

(They are on sale at the theatre.)

Thank you for the analysis; this is kind of what I was hoping for by way of illumination on how other people might think.

[drcpunk.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's generally what I mean when I ask someone. Also, the Internet? I love it, but it's just not the same as stalking the creature in the wild, pouncing on it triumphantly, and bringing it up to the register.

[drcpunk.livejournal.com]

Oh, also? Occasionally, an author has a copy Right There to sell. It's really great being able to buy the book from the author.

At GenCon, a friend of mine was talking about how he'd actually published a lot of fiction, as in books, as in stuff that, while gaming fiction, wasn't rpgs. So, I said, "Okay, where do I find it? I'll put my money where my mouth was." In answer, he took me to the White Wolf booth and pointed to a couple of novels he'd written for some iteration of the Vampire rpg, and I bought them.

Oh, that's another reason for the question -- so, you're Right There. How close is the nearest copy of the book for sale? Close enough I can buy it and run over to you for an autograph?

Or do you get asked via email?

Another possibility: Folks may think your stuff is hard to find and / or out of print.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

All excellent points, and well-taken! This question was via e-mail, though.