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[post_functional]

Larryc proposed a course of action that was, by my standards, unethical and ineffective.  He assumes that everyone and anyone would want to read his book and that his local bookstore should stock it because he says so.  This is simply not a reasonable attitude.

Not that I think he's written a bad book.  I haven't read it, so  have no opinion as to its quality.   

My book is not for everyone and I am the first to say so.  I especially do not recommend it it for children because there are some fairly heavy adult scenes (sex and violence).  I would not give it to my own children if I had any.  And if you are not interested in any of the genres it fits into, why would I waste your time?    However, if we are talking about selling books, it is the core of my current experience that way and I will cite it as an example, or at least a horrible warning.    I work a lot with people in bookstores.  I get turned down for signings fairly often for all sorts of reasons.  The store is too small and has no event space.  They don't stock that kind of book because it's not appropriate for their audience.  Their chain has a policy that prevents it.  They don't think it will sell.  All good reasons, IMO, and I move on because there are far more bookstores than I will ever have time to sign at.  I don't take any of it personally. 

And if I cited the reasons above without foundation you would probably ask "how do you know?"   I know because I've done this.  With some success.       

Nobody cares.

[spork]

Larryc proposed a course of action that was, by my standards, unethical and ineffective.  He assumes that everyone and anyone would want to read his book and that his local bookstore should stock it because he says so.  This is simply not a reasonable attitude.

Not that I think he's written a bad book.  I haven't read it, so  have no opinion as to its quality.   

My book is not for everyone and I am the first to say so.  I especially do not recommend it it for children because there are some fairly heavy adult scenes (sex and violence).  I would not give it to my own children if I had any.  And if you are not interested in any of the genres it fits into, why would I waste your time?    However, if we are talking about selling books, it is the core of my current experience that way and I will cite it as an example, or at least a horrible warning.    I work a lot with people in bookstores.  I get turned down for signings fairly often for all sorts of reasons.  The store is too small and has no event space.  They don't stock that kind of book because it's not appropriate for their audience.  Their chain has a policy that prevents it.  They don't think it will sell.  All good reasons, IMO, and I move on because there are far more bookstores than I will ever have time to sign at.  I don't take any of it personally. 

And if I cited the reasons above without foundation you would probably ask "how do you know?"   I know because I've done this.  With some success.       

I'm never going to buy your book because you sound like a pompous windbag.

[kedves]

Larryc proposed a course of action that was, by my standards, unethical and ineffective.  He assumes that everyone and anyone would want to read his book and that his local bookstore should stock it because he says so.  This is simply not a reasonable attitude.

Not that I think he's written a bad book.  I haven't read it, so  have no opinion as to its quality.   

My book is not for everyone and I am the first to say so.  I especially do not recommend it it for children because there are some fairly heavy adult scenes (sex and violence).  I would not give it to my own children if I had any.  And if you are not interested in any of the genres it fits into, why would I waste your time?    However, if we are talking about selling books, it is the core of my current experience that way and I will cite it as an example, or at least a horrible warning.    I work a lot with people in bookstores.  I get turned down for signings fairly often for all sorts of reasons.  The store is too small and has no event space.  They don't stock that kind of book because it's not appropriate for their audience.  Their chain has a policy that prevents it.  They don't think it will sell.  All good reasons, IMO, and I move on because there are far more bookstores than I will ever have time to sign at.  I don't take any of it personally. 

And if I cited the reasons above without foundation you would probably ask "how do you know?"   I know because I've done this.  With some success.       

I'm never going to buy your book because you sound like a pompous windbag.

Were you planning to buy it before this?  I am torn.  My sister-in-law would probably like the book.  On the other hand, the belligerent way FrancisHamit took over the thread is very annoying.  I am interested in the information but not in the attitude and derailment.  A new thread should have been started with a more civil tone.  And on the third hand, my sister-in-law has informed the rest of us that no birthday gifts should be given or will be given, and Christmas gifts must be stocking gifts.  So I have decisions to make and a special number of hands.

[yellowtractor]

Larryc proposed a course of action that was, by my standards, unethical and ineffective.  He assumes that everyone and anyone would want to read his book and that his local bookstore should stock it because he says so.  This is simply not a reasonable attitude.

Not that I think he's written a bad book.  I haven't read it, so  have no opinion as to its quality.   

My book is not for everyone and I am the first to say so.  I especially do not recommend it it for children because there are some fairly heavy adult scenes (sex and violence).  I would not give it to my own children if I had any.  And if you are not interested in any of the genres it fits into, why would I waste your time?    However, if we are talking about selling books, it is the core of my current experience that way and I will cite it as an example, or at least a horrible warning.    I work a lot with people in bookstores.  I get turned down for signings fairly often for all sorts of reasons.  The store is too small and has no event space.  They don't stock that kind of book because it's not appropriate for their audience.  Their chain has a policy that prevents it.  They don't think it will sell.  All good reasons, IMO, and I move on because there are far more bookstores than I will ever have time to sign at.  I don't take any of it personally. 

And if I cited the reasons above without foundation you would probably ask "how do you know?"   I know because I've done this.  With some success.       

I'm never going to buy your book because you sound like a pompous windbag.

Were you planning to buy it before this?  I am torn.  My sister-in-law would probably like the book.  On the other hand, the belligerent way FrancisHamit took over the thread is very annoying.  I am interested in the information but not in the attitude and derailment.  A new thread should have been started with a more civil tone.  And on the third hand, my sister-in-law has informed the rest of us that no birthday gifts should be given or will be given, and Christmas gifts must be stocking gifts.  So I have decisions to make and a special number of hands.

...not to mention a sister-in-law with serious control issues.  Just buy her a second-hand copy of Dune and be done with it.

[kedves]

Larryc proposed a course of action that was, by my standards, unethical and ineffective.  He assumes that everyone and anyone would want to read his book and that his local bookstore should stock it because he says so.  This is simply not a reasonable attitude.

Not that I think he's written a bad book.  I haven't read it, so  have no opinion as to its quality.   

My book is not for everyone and I am the first to say so.  I especially do not recommend it it for children because there are some fairly heavy adult scenes (sex and violence).  I would not give it to my own children if I had any.  And if you are not interested in any of the genres it fits into, why would I waste your time?    However, if we are talking about selling books, it is the core of my current experience that way and I will cite it as an example, or at least a horrible warning.    I work a lot with people in bookstores.  I get turned down for signings fairly often for all sorts of reasons.  The store is too small and has no event space.  They don't stock that kind of book because it's not appropriate for their audience.  Their chain has a policy that prevents it.  They don't think it will sell.  All good reasons, IMO, and I move on because there are far more bookstores than I will ever have time to sign at.  I don't take any of it personally. 

And if I cited the reasons above without foundation you would probably ask "how do you know?"   I know because I've done this.  With some success.       

I'm never going to buy your book because you sound like a pompous windbag.

Were you planning to buy it before this?  I am torn.  My sister-in-law would probably like the book.  On the other hand, the belligerent way FrancisHamit took over the thread is very annoying.  I am interested in the information but not in the attitude and derailment.  A new thread should have been started with a more civil tone.  And on the third hand, my sister-in-law has informed the rest of us that no birthday gifts should be given or will be given, and Christmas gifts must be stocking gifts.  So I have decisions to make and a special number of hands.

...not to mention a sister-in-law with serious control issues.  Just buy her a second-hand copy of Dune and be done with it.

Ha!  That made me laugh out loud.  She plans their family and anniversary vacations around Civil War sites, but now that I think about it, I'm not sure what books she has read about the war, which is a little strange to think about because I find reading about things to be a good way to learn about them. 

[larryc]

UPDATE: They are carrying my book!

Since my book-planting stunt I have had one interaction with a store manager. She called me to ask that I promote an upcoming book signing on my blog. Sure, I said, but I do wish you carried my own book.  I could hear some keyboard clacking on the other end. "Hmmm," she said, a bit confused "it looks like we have carried your book ... but are sold out? I'll look into it." That was many months ago.

Wonderboy and I went in tonight to get the new Percy Jackson novel.  As we walked in and said hello to the cute clerk, I whispered to my son:  "Wanna see me get upset? I am going to go and see if they have my book, and they won't, and I am going to get mad."

"Dad, you never know," Wonderboy said pragmatically, then became distracted by a row of books with dragons on their covers.

I was wrong! There among the relevant titles was my book. I was so pleased. I held it up and took a picture and posted it on Facebook. Yay.

And it gets better. As we checked out I told the clerk that I had misplaced my membership card. "No problem Larry," she said. "And because you're faculty at Local U. you get an additional 10%." We chatted a bit as she rung me up and I mentioned how pleased I was that they were carrying my book. "Yes!" she replied cheerfully, and said the title.

Did I mention how cute she was?

[polly_mer]

Whoo!  Go, LarryC!

[oldfullprof]

I didn't do this, but I did send about 50 copies of my first book to authors.  I got a couple of really nice cites out of that.

One one day, my second book, a text, was about 70,000 on Amazon.  That's about it. 

[galactic_hedgehog]

Next stop: movie deal.

[palla]

Way to go, Larry!!! 

[collegekidsmom]

Whoa! That is an excellent update! I bet Wonderboy was glad you didn't have to get mad, but instead had a happy result. The store did a smart thing.

[larryc]

Wonderboy was happiest that he got to buy three books instead of the usual one.

[bibliothecula]

Finally! Now they should ask you in to do a talk.