As an author I'm always curious who buys my books. I watch sales go up and down, I answer emails from readers who have recently discovered my books and they feed my writer's ego with tales of how much they love my books. But slowly I noticed I was receiving emails from readers who said they could no longer walk into a Barnes and Noble and purchase my books. They were always sold out. That's good, right? Not always. I started to hear more and more that my books were out-of-print. Impossible, I thought I would be the first to know when, and if, my books were out-of-print.
So one day, while visiting in a city where several readers said they couldn't get my books, I walked up to the counter where the clerks are more than happy to check on books.
"Can I help you," he asked.
"Sure, do you have any books by Patricia Bremmer in the store?"
"Let me look."
I waited patiently while he searched the database.
"I'm sorry we're sold out."
"How many titles does she have?" I asked.
"Nine," he responded.
"Can I order them?" I asked.
He checked.
"I'm sorry they're out of print."
"Are you sure?" I asked.
Annoyed he responded, "Yes, ma'am they're out of print."
"Any idea why?" I asked.
"I think the author died," he responded.
I was set back to say the least. After the shock left, I felt my pulse and all seemed to be good. My heart was thumping loudly in my chest and my breathing grew rapid, but I took all of those as signs I was still very much alive.
So, when I returned home I called the store manager. We went through the same round of questions and answers and guess what. He confirmed my death!!!
After rechecking my pulse. I took in a deep breath and said, "There must be some sort of mistake."
"No, I don't think so," he replied.
"I'm sure there is," I insisted. "You see, I am Patricia Bremmer and not only am I not dead, but my books are not out-of-print.
Apologies flowed and I was invited to participate on a panel for mystery writers. When I arrived they had two of my titles set up in front of me. I asked the PR person where the rest of my titles were and she responded, "They're out-of-print."
Arrggg....I offered to bring the books in from my trunk but was told I couldn't bring out-of-print books into the store to sell. So after the talk, a flock of readers joined me in the parking lot and I sold books from my trunk.
You see your strongest fans will buy your books whether you're dead or alive!!!
So one day, while visiting in a city where several readers said they couldn't get my books, I walked up to the counter where the clerks are more than happy to check on books.
"Can I help you," he asked.
"Sure, do you have any books by Patricia Bremmer in the store?"
"Let me look."
I waited patiently while he searched the database.
"I'm sorry we're sold out."
"How many titles does she have?" I asked.
"Nine," he responded.
"Can I order them?" I asked.
He checked.
"I'm sorry they're out of print."
"Are you sure?" I asked.
Annoyed he responded, "Yes, ma'am they're out of print."
"Any idea why?" I asked.
"I think the author died," he responded.
I was set back to say the least. After the shock left, I felt my pulse and all seemed to be good. My heart was thumping loudly in my chest and my breathing grew rapid, but I took all of those as signs I was still very much alive.
So, when I returned home I called the store manager. We went through the same round of questions and answers and guess what. He confirmed my death!!!
After rechecking my pulse. I took in a deep breath and said, "There must be some sort of mistake."
"No, I don't think so," he replied.
"I'm sure there is," I insisted. "You see, I am Patricia Bremmer and not only am I not dead, but my books are not out-of-print.
Apologies flowed and I was invited to participate on a panel for mystery writers. When I arrived they had two of my titles set up in front of me. I asked the PR person where the rest of my titles were and she responded, "They're out-of-print."
Arrggg....I offered to bring the books in from my trunk but was told I couldn't bring out-of-print books into the store to sell. So after the talk, a flock of readers joined me in the parking lot and I sold books from my trunk.
You see your strongest fans will buy your books whether you're dead or alive!!!
