Topic: Another Rant--I need an electronic hug.

http://www.squirreledawaybooks.com/Welcome.html

The above link takes you to a bookstore called Squirreled Away Books. The below is the message I received from them on Facebook when I queried about how to get my books on their shelves. I gave them my website link. Please note that they, themselves, are linked to Amazon.

How do you get me interesting in carrying your books?  You don't post a link on my store's page directing people to buy your books off Amazon.  It makes me rather tetchy.  You also don't repost after I've deleted the information that your friend posted.

If you want a better response, you could have sent me a message without links to Amazon, or an email (info@squirreledawaybooks.com).

I try to support local authors and small publishers where I can, but I expect that they will not attempt to sabotage my business.  In the future, you can send independent bookstores information about your books with info about how they can order your books, which distributors you use, or other wholesale information.

Regards,
Carolyn Sweeney
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I had no idea that she had deleted anything from anyone. Kind of two-faced if you ask me. Maybe she's discriminating because I'm from the evil state of Mississippi.

Quote Post 1

Re: Another Rant--I need an electronic hug.

This looks like a really tiny operation, Janet. A virtual one-horse show. She probably got snippy because she was intimidated. I'd just pass this one by as a not-ready-for-prime-time operation.

~Tom

Quote Post 2

3 Reply by njc (edited by njc 2016-06-21 20:52:39)

Re: Another Rant--I need an electronic hug.

I don't do Facebook, so I don't know what the message looked like, but I have to sympathize with the storeowner.  Even if it wasn't your intent, if The Big Market-Eater's link did end up on her page, it was not to her advantage.

Her reaction might have been more measured ... but we don't know what she would have *liked* to say.

And if she'd just deleted the link and not sent the message, it would have been no favor to you.  Next time, you can send the book info without the link that could take someone to Godzilla Retail.

At least once a lesson, someone would find an error in the monstrous formulae that Professor Knapp copied onto the blackboard.  His response, unfailing and sincere, was 'Oh ... Thank you.'  That seemed to me the right answer then, and it still does.

Quote Post 3

Re: Another Rant--I need an electronic hug.

njc wrote:

I don't do Facebook, so I don't know what the message looked like, but I have to sympathize with the storeowner.  Even if it wasn't your intent, if The Big Market-Eater's link did end up on her page, it was not to her advantage.

Her reaction might have been more measured ... but we don't know what she would have *liked* to say.

And if she'd just deleted the link and not sent the message, it would have been no favor to you.  Next time, you can send the book info without the link that could take someone to Godzilla Retail.

At least once a lesson, someone would find an error in the monstrous formulae that Professor Knapp copied onto the blackboard.  His response, unfailing and sincere, was 'Oh ... Thank you.'  That seemed to me the right answer then, and it still does.

It wouldn't have bothered me if she'd just have said NO THANKS. The hypocrisy that my website has an Amazon link and that being her reason when her own page is linked to Amazon is what bothered me.

However, I'm looking at how to revamp the first page of my website. I have had several other bookstores invite me to send them books and they will sell on consignment.

Quote Post 4

Re: Another Rant--I need an electronic hug.

Janet Taylor-Perry wrote:

However, I'm looking at how to revamp the first page of my website. I have had several other bookstores invite me to send them books and they will sell on consignment.

Janet, how did the bookstores find you?

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Re: Another Rant--I need an electronic hug.

Maybe instead of changing your main page, you put up a page for the books (or one for each series?) that has the book info without the Amazon links?  You could even title the pages For Booksellers.  Then you give that link out in mail to them.

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Re: Another Rant--I need an electronic hug.

NJC's post has given me an idea. Janet, why don't you tell indie bookstores that you'll put their links on your website's book page(s) if they agree to stock your books? They get advertising, and you get outlets for your books.

Quote Post 7

Re: Another Rant--I need an electronic hug.

Norm d'Plume wrote:
Janet Taylor-Perry wrote:

However, I'm looking at how to revamp the first page of my website. I have had several other bookstores invite me to send them books and they will sell on consignment.

Janet, how did the bookstores find you?

I've been sending messages to indie book stores to check my webpage and asking how I can get my books in their stores?

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Re: Another Rant--I need an electronic hug.

jack the knife wrote:

NJC's post has given me an idea. Janet, why don't you tell indie bookstores that you'll put their links on your website's book page(s) if they agree to stock your books? They get advertising, and you get outlets for your books.

That was the plan once I got a conversation going. And this is the only person who's responded like this. I have several who have agreed to sale my books on consignment. I will gladly add their webpage as a link from my page.

Quote Post 9

10 Reply by njc

Re: Another Rant--I need an electronic hug.

So one person was painfully honest, and the others were polite?

Quote Post 10

Re: Another Rant--I need an electronic hug.

njc wrote:

So one person was painfully honest, and the others were polite?

No. Like I said, it was the hypocrisy. She was upset that I had an Amazon link on my webpage when she, herself, has an Amazon link on her store page. As of this morning, I now have had 10 positive responses and am making arrangements to ship books north, south, east, and west. Oh, and overseas. I've had a few saying they only carry local indie authors or that they're a used bookstore--but guess what! They, too, have Amazon links.

Trying to "sabotage" her store? I was sent an invitation to like her page. I did and then asked how I could get my books to her & gave her my webpage link so she could look at what I had to offer. I had no clue she had deleted anything. I can only share what she sent me because she deleted my post. There was no ill will intended. I just thought this lady overreacted.

And I have no desire for this post to become a hotbed of dissent among our members. I got my system clear and took several deep breaths. Now, I need to know how to close a thread. I don't do threads often because they usually end up having two or three site members arguing and tearing one another down.

BTW, FYI, I also have links to TNBW, Twitter, Facebook, southernstories.com and a number of others, including area indie bookstores. I'm now working on dedicating one page to each book with links and reviews.  My website is a work in progress.

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Re: Another Rant--I need an electronic hug.

I think the electronic world caused a miscommunication all around. Walking in her shoes, she may have believed that your Amazon link would end up her advertising your book creating Amazon sales. If you look at it through her eyes, you might see that possibility. You thought you were simply communicating information. World wars have begun on less dispute. I first published before the internet existed and I had the opportunity for personal distribution because of public speaking to go to many major cities. I took along copies of my book and went in person to major book stores with a hard copy. You wouldn't believe how many independent stores and branches of chains took my book on consignment from a visit. I was so successful that the publisher began providing copies to me free for distribution. I was their best salesperson! As a first time author, the book, a trade paperback, went through five printings and four raises in price. I even got it into Strand in NYC which was a real accomplishment back then. Now, over a quarter of a century later, Amazon is still selling used and a few new copies although it has been out of print for almost two decades. My experience showed that other than the marketing arm of the publisher, the best contact is author to bookseller with a personal pitch. Links, if they have TMI, can be misinterpreted.

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Re: Another Rant--I need an electronic hug.

Yes, Simon, face-to-face would be great. However, some of us don't have the means to make those personal pitches. But maybe with the handful of positive responses, I can make arrangements to go see all of them over the next year.

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