Here’s a couple of nifty things I stumbled upon the last few days. Translation: I’m still hammering away at last minute revisions so I haven’t much brain power to devote to pondering the Universe (or my toes) and write about it. Still, it’s some cool stuff.
Shelf Awareness
Shelf Awareness will focus on what’s happening now in book retailing and lending. We’ll talk regularly with booksellers and others close to the retail action. We’ll report on bookselling news and cover industry issues. We’ll cover books that are coming out now or have hooks whether based on media, anniversaries, movie and TV tie ins, etc.
We’ll also be looking for that one sleepy backlist title that booksellers have handsold for years and that others in the industry should know about. Likewise we’ll seek good new books that fly just under the radar. In addition, we’ll offer unusual bestseller lists, reviews of reviews, and more.”
Sounds like a good thing to me!
Here’s where to get a free email subscription:
Shelf-Awareness.com
Wickett Wows at Conversational Reading
Dan Wickett, founder of the EWN (Emerging Writers Network) has taken the helm of Scott Espisito’s Blog, Conversational Reading for a couple of weeks. (While Scott gets a much deserved vacation.)
The posts so far have been nothing short of amazing…writers, publicists and publishers all blogging about the ins and outs of being published for the first time. It’s been great for me, as I try to wrap my head around all that’s happening (and yet to happen) with my book, to read through it each day. It’s a great inside look at things, with lots of inspiration and advice. And the posts keep comin’ ! Thanks Dan!
Check out Conversational Reading
Searching for Me
Most people won’t admit to it, but I’m guessing the average joe/jane has ‘googled’ him/her-self at least once. (or at least the name of the person they’ve recently started dating)
I’ve also read many accounts of authors obessively checking their Amazon.com ranking. (many, many times a day)
But a when a friend sent me an email the other night telling me that my book was now listed at Amazon.ca, I had to go and search for myself. Yes indeeed, when I typed in my name, up popped the title of my book. (sorry, no cover image available at this time…but you can pre-order the thing from both Chapters and Amazon!)
So, in a rare, googletistical moment I bring you the following links:
The Birth House – Chapters.ca
Wow…I have my very own ISBN.(International Standard Book Number)
ISBN: 0676977723
Isn’t she lovely?
I know, I sound like a total geek, but you have to understand…when I was in university I worked at the ISU music library. Most of the time I helped students check-out the latest lute song collection, or watched them sit next to each other in the listening-booths and cheat on their music theory assignments (yes, I saw YOU). But one long, droughted summer I had the job of cataloger. Day after day I sat behind a typewriter, plucking the vital information from record jackets, book covers, and OCLC print outs and then typed it on to index cards for the card catalog. (ah, the good old Dewey days) ISBNs have been very very good to me (or at least helped me pay the rent).
BTW my favourite local bookseller, Mitzi, at Box of Delights in Wolfville says you can also pre-order books not yet in print from your favourite independent bookstore.
Just call with the title, author’s name, ISBN, and publisher.
Better yet, go in and place your order in person. Have a visit, chat the clerks up, stumble on a good read (or two, or three or more) for the summer!
