Selling – Sades World

8:55 am 8:55 am

Arghhh, Waterstones

By Sade|2016-12-31T02:17:37+00:00September 20th, 2007|Selling|0 Comments

Hmmm, where do I start? So Justin sent me the branch list some months ago and I finally got round to calling my nearest branch in Kensington. Let's just say their reception verged on the frosty side, I called about 5 times before I finally got hold of the right person. I was told to send a copy of the book, which I did. This time however, I included a SAE, being as I can't afford to give the books away for free anymore.Yesterday I called to ask if a decision had been made, it should have dawned on me that they weren't interested in stocking it, considering I'd sent it to them over a month ago. Anyway, I was told kindly that they stock a wide range of books and don't need to add to their titles. What could I say to that, nothing. I asked for my book [...]

5:01 pm 5:01 pm

Define despair

By Sade|2016-12-31T02:17:37+00:00August 21st, 2007|Avoidance, Self Publishing, Selling|0 Comments

DJ,For the past months, years, days, hours and seconds, I've been making a promise to myself. Today I'll start the next book I say to my brain. Yet curiously, despite the fact that an outline has been done and the story mapped out. I find myself staring at a blank piece of paper everyday, it mocks my intent. It screams 'fill me with words that mean something.' Each day I make a mental list:1. Go to gym2. Follow up calls for Imagine This (whatever press or media coverage I can get)3. Start 2nd book.If I'm not properly awake by 7am, then Item number 1. goes out the window. My excuse is traffic, yes I could walk to the gym, but why would I if I can drive there. It means I don't have use the communal showers and can jump in my car with my smelly sweaty self. Now by the [...]

10:52 am 10:52 am

Stifling enterprise

By Sade|2016-12-31T02:17:38+00:00July 13th, 2007|Gardners, Selling|0 Comments

DJ,I really must follow my own advice, but I figured it's Friday and I want to tie up any loose ends before I give up the fight. Well not exactly give up, more like postpone.Switched on my laptop, just to check my mail then got sucked in again. There was an email from Gardners that didn't really say much or explain anything to my satisfaction. So I've responded and no doubt I'll be ignored. I've accepted the fact that I won't be getting Imagine This into Borders, Waterstones or WH Smith, so I've decided to retreat and fight the good fight another day. In the meantime, just because I can and I know no one is reading this blog other than T & N, I'm pasting my email saga for their pleasure.Dear Sandra,Thank you for your email. Our decision whether or not to stock a book is taken on a [...]

4:50 pm 4:50 pm

Gardners the great

By Sade|2016-12-31T02:17:38+00:00July 12th, 2007|Selling|0 Comments

DJ,I really am losing the will to live. Ruth at Borders has just sent me another email, despite the fact that Gardners have asked for 50% discount, she won't order because in their infinite wisdom, Gardners have decided not to stock the book (I don't know why) even though I have 2 customers who want to order it. Gardners have put it on special order, which means the booksellers don't get SOR, which are the terms Borders are demanding. So here I am, having done the hard sell to Borders and Play.com for bloody Gardners to foul up everything. They don't lose anything, I'm the one who will have to swallow the cost of having books returned if they don't sell. Maybe I'm being completely obtuse about the finer points of commerce. Alan Street from Gardners is avoiding my calls, as soon as I mentioned my name to the lady who [...]