Saturday, 11 July 2009

Grrrrrrrrrr!

The hardback of The Birds, the Bees and Other Secrets came out last August, and the paperback was due to be published this November. A bit of a wait, but never mind. It would be worth waiting for. But guess what? W H Smiths and another major outlet don't like the proposed cover for the paperback, so it's going to have to be re-designed, and won't now come out until April 2010. That's 20 months after the initial publication date. This has not been a good year for me novel-wise, and November was going to be the high point. Now there isn't one. I'm trying very hard not to be disappointed. After all, what's another 5 months? Well, it's a lot, that's what. A smaller second print run of the hardback is being produced, which is nice, but it ISN'T THE SAME! (I contemplated posting this on the MNW blog, since it's book-related news, but decided that since self-pity is such an unattractive quality, I'd hide it away here).
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8 comments:

  1. no11 July 2009 at 17:42

    Blimey, Frances, that is a bit of bad news. I know just what you mean about aiming for a high point in a year. Still (she said irksomely) at least you have next year's high point sorted.

    Verification word: tratma. How oddly appropriate. I think we could define tratma as "an anticipated event that has been delayed, causing annoyance."

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  2. Frances Garrood11 July 2009 at 19:01

    Thanks, Aliya. I thought maybe I was making too much fuss, but it's comforting to be understood!

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  3. Tim Stretton11 July 2009 at 21:19

    Grrrrrrr indeed, Frances. Very very annoying - especially for such a peripheral reason.

    But it will still be a success once it does come out!

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  4. Frances Garrood12 July 2009 at 15:44

    Hi, Tim. Yes - I'd no idea that the retailers had quite so much power. Will said we could go ahead with the proposed cover, but that would risk 'making a dent' in sales. So of course I agreed to go along with the new cover and April. Not much choice, really. Somehow, I don't think this is my year...

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  5. Tim Stretton12 July 2009 at 20:28

    And Smiths, for God's sake - a stationer, not even a proper bookseller. Who do you know who buys books in Smiths? Ludicrous all round...

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  6. Frances Garrood12 July 2009 at 22:10

    Well, Tim, I totally agree, but I hope that from next April LOTS of people will be buying books from Smiths.

    Verification word: arshist, which I feel is an apt description of the behaviour of of W H Smiths et al.

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  7. David Isaak14 July 2009 at 07:54

    I think you could well have posted this on the group blog. Self-pity may be unattractive, but a good loud whine is always welcome.

    Yes, the booksellers have some pull. That's how my book ended up with a different title.

    On the other hand, they have to flog the damn things to the public, so I'm inclined to listen...

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  8. Frances Garrood14 July 2009 at 09:43

    Thanks, David. Another reason I didn't post this on the group blog was that I've had done several posts there recently, and didn't want to be greedy. After all, I'm not the only one to have bad luck. Sniff.
    By the way, what was the original title for your book?

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