Sassy: Stacey’s…is that the big store on Market Street? I LOVE that place; it’s my second-favorite bookshop in Frisco.
Uke - that’s the one. Let me guess… City Lights is 1st?
Eve - I will let you know, but I am going on vacation, so it may be a few weeks before I can get to it. I am sure it will be fabulous!
Okay, so I’ve been lazier than most of these guys. I went to three different bookstores last Saturday.
At Super Crown–
Me: Hi. I’m looking for a book.
Info guy: (blank stare)
Me: I was wondering if you might have it in stock.
Info Guy: Name of the book?
Me: Anna Held and the…
Info Guy: No! The name of the BOOK!
Me: The name of the book IS Anna Held and the Birth of Ziegfield’s Broadway.
Info Guy: Huh?
Me: I know the author.
Info Guy: Well, then WHO IS IT?!
Me: Eve Golden
Info guy: (after typing Eve’s name into the computer) Um…we have a book about Theda Bara…
Me: What about the one I asked for?
Info Guy: (types Eve’s name into computer five more times in hopes of finding something) Uh…I don’t think we have it.
Me: (walks away without saying another word)
Next up, we head to Borders. The guy is way more competent than the first guy. But they don’t have it either. I order a copy.
Finally, we go to Barnes and Noble. I ask the lady if it’s in. She looks it up and says, “Are you sure it’s out?” I said, “Yes. That’s what I was told.” She says, “And who told you that?” I responded, “The author.”
I don’t think she believed me. But I ordered another copy.
For my edification, Jeannie, are you going to buy the other copy, or could I have been ordering the book at all the stores I’ve been going to, just so they’d have it on the shelves? I was operating under the impression that I’d have to give 'em my name and phone number and stuff.
And Eve, I must know, does it shaft you to order from Amazon? I’d rather order through whatever channel best supports the author, if there’s a difference.
I dunno, Lux, if I get screwed by Amazon, though I highly suspect it—Ike, what’s your professional take on that?
Ike—Hmmm . . . I dunno if I should let your company have my next book. My current publisher said that for the rights on that, they’d arrange to have my enemies killed, which is an awfully tempting offer (though the muscle-boy assistant is a nice touch, too).
Jeannie—Thanks for the efforts . . . Now I have a mental image of cartons of my books sitting unnoticed in bookstore basements, being chewed on by squirrels . . . Nice to see my Bara book’s still available, though!
Don’t worry about getting screwed by the book retailers, Eve. It’s the publisher’s job to screw the author.
See, Amazon.com and the big book chains buy books from the publishers at enormous discounts. Likewise, independent booksellers usually buy books from the “jobbers” (middlemen) also at discount, and the jobbers buy books from the publishers at enormous discounts.
A single copy of a novel that retails for $24.95 costs Amazon about ten bucks, sometimes less. So it’s no hassle for them to allow the buyer a 30% discount.
In addition, the book business is unique in that it allows the retailer to RETURN UNSOLD MERCHANDISE (significantly relieving pressure on the bookseller to sell all the “product” he orders). While one thousand cartons of books may be going out the front door of the publisher’s warehouse, six hundred boxes of returns are coming in the back way.
So don’t worry, everyone. e assured that Eve will get what’s coming to her.
Don’t worry about getting screwed by the book retailers, Eve. It’s the publisher’s job to screw the author.
See, Amazon.com and the big book chains buy books from the publishers at enormous discounts. Likewise, independent booksellers usually buy books from the “jobbers” (middlemen) also at discount, and the jobbers buy books from the publishers at enormous discounts.
A single copy of a novel that retails for $24.95 costs Amazon about ten bucks, sometimes less. So it’s no hassle for them to allow the buyer a 30% discount.
In addition, the book business is unique in that it allows the retailer to RETURN UNSOLD MERCHANDISE (significantly relieving pressure on the bookseller to sell all the “product” he orders). While one thousand cartons of books may be going out the front door of the publisher’s warehouse, six hundred boxes of returns are coming in the back way.
So don’t worry, everyone. Be assured that Eve will get what’s coming to her.
Okay, so today I went out and tried again. I went to another Borders. They told me that “a book like that” (those were the guy’s words) would most likely be at their Loop location. Then I ordered the book. I also called the Loop location. They said they should have one in stock.
I went across the street and checked Barnes and Noble. No luck. Ordered another copy.
Then I went back to work and called the local Waldenbooks. The woman there said that it was available to order (and I did), but that she didn’t think any of their locations would have it in stock. She said it wasn’t the type of think they keep in stock.
And, yes, to order I had to give my name and phone number, so they can call me when it’s in. Whoever calls first, I go there and pick up my book. And when the others call, I say, “Gee, I found it somewhere else. Thanks anyway.” At least the stores will have a copy!
That’s right, Eve, so don’t let them fob you off on some muscle-boy assistant.
Just paid Amazon a visit. I’ll have that book in my hot little hands inside of a week (along with Neal Stephenson’s Cryptonomicon, which is now finally out in paperback).
I GOT IT!! I ordered it from amazon.com along with the new Onion book. Eve, your photo looks great, and you’ll be happy to know that Ruta Abolins is Latvian. Awwww.
(Both Ruta and Abolins are Latvian names. Abolins means “little apple”)
I can’t wait to read it. Once the Dopers have copies, let’s start a critical thread that’s called: Tear Eve’s Book to Shreads. JUST KIDDING!
The print is attractive, the photos spectacular and the smell is divine.
CONGRATULATIONS!!
Thanks, darling–I had them spray each copy with Mitsouku, by Gerlain . . .
Books bought by Dopers: 3
Profit to Eve: $6
Glad you like the photos–I narrowed them down from over 1000, and had to really fight the publisher to put them all in (I feel cheated when a bio doesn’t have good photos; and this way even if you think my writing sucks, at least you got SOMEthing out of the deal!). I love the picture of her riding an ostrich on the back cover, I want to have the original framed . . .
WaldenBooks (when did they start spelling it all as one word?) Embarcadero Center - which is downtown, for those of you not familiar with SF. Nothing on the shelves, and the person who “assisted” me did not hold out much hope. He said there were copies in other locations, but did not specify which.
So, I would suggest removing Walden from your world tour selections…
OK, shamelessly bumping myself up here. Anyone else actually find my book? It was reviewed in the Sunday Times yesterday, so I hope more bookstores (like those jerkfaces at Walden!) will get it in.
Anyone read it yet? Trying to find polite things to say, like, “ummm . . . ‘Wonderful’ just doesn’t describe it, Eve!”
For our Canadian contingent, and for your information, Eve:
Anna Held and the Birth of Ziegfeld’s Broadway:
by Eve Golden
Our Price: $27.50
Our Sale Price: $19.25
Savings: $8.25 (30%)
Usually ships in 3 to 5 weeks
The supplier of this title can usually deliver it to our warehouse in three to five weeks. Normal delivery times may be delayed if the supplier runs out of stock.
I would put in the link, but it is too long, and I’ve no idea how to do the link-without-the-actual-url-links :o
For our Canadian contingent, and for your information, Eve:
**Available at http://www.chapters.ca:
Anna Held and the Birth of Ziegfeld’s Broadway:
by Eve Golden
Our Price: $27.50
Our Sale Price: $19.25
Savings: $8.25 (30%)
Usually ships in 3 to 5 weeks
The supplier of this title can usually deliver it to our warehouse in three to five weeks. Normal delivery times may be delayed if the supplier runs out of stock. **
I would put in the link, but it is too long, and I’ve no idea how to do the link-without-the-actual-url-links :o
Eve- I ordered a copy from my local bookseller, Square Books, in Oxford, MS, which is a pretty great bookstore. I described my knowledge of you to the owner, and he’s going to order some extra copies for the shelf.
I only wish my grandma, a literate Hollywood veteran when there was such a thing, were still alive so I could give her a copy. She would have loved it.
Looked up your book on Amazon.com. Absolutely brilliant! Congradulations!
Columbia, South Carolina checking in.
I called Barnes & Noble. They said that they “weren’t planning to carry it,” so I ordered myself a copy, casually commenting that I was surprised that they didn’t have it, as it was getting such a good buzz in the media. I don’t know if that did anything to advance the cause or not 
Thought you might like to know that I saw a first edition of the Jean Harlow book, in “very good” condition, offered for $168 on the internet.
“Wonderful just doesn’t describe it!”
Kidding, I’m afraid; returned just a few days ago and learnt only today about the great news. Heartfelt congratulations are in order, Eve. Hope all goes well in the sales/review departments. Very happy for you.