20 October 2006
I can't wait to see this cat again. They don't come much better than Booty the Cat.
And it would be nice to have a cat to pet right now. What a week. It's been One of Those Weeks -- one I thought would never end, and which I can't quite believe actually has wrapped up now, because it seemed as though I'd be trapped in it forever. Mainly, it was about the books.
Pre-orders went smashingly well. Up until the point when I had to actually send out the books. I sent the request to our distributor the day they arrived in the warehouse (the 12th). 'Whoop,' I thought, 'I will have the books tomorrow and people will begin receiving them on Monday, and birds will land on my shoulders and the streets will be paved with ginger biscuits.'
No books on Friday. No books on Monday. No books on Tuesday. 'Um, distributor, where are the books I need to send? I've got the envelopes all addressed and ready to go! I need the books!' What are these 'books' you speak of? they asked. They claim to have never got my e-mailed request, though it was sitting happily in my sent box without so much as a bounced error message.
Now, at this point, if I were the distributor and my system had failed, resulting in the delayed shipment of books, I would have apologized profusely and had the books on the next van available. I might have even taped a bar of the finest dark chocolate to the top of the pallet, because my stressed-out client might need a nice treat. Instead, as the mere publisher and client, I sat wringing my hands.
No books on Wednesday (the publication date). No books on Thursday. No books Friday morning. I had no books. What did I have? E-mails inquiring as to the whereabouts of individual preorders. A cancelled order. Stress. When we spoke to them today, they said the request had gone through on Thursday, so they'd be shipped today (Friday) and arrive on Monday. . . probably. Not good enough! After several phone conversations, they finally agreed to get the books on the next van and that they would absorb the cost themselves (they had to think about this?!).
So the books arrived at 2:40 today, and I got them all packed up and sent in the day's second post pick-up. Your books are on their way(s).
I really am disgusted with the way our distributors handled this. Because you can tell people, 'The books haven't arrived from our warehouse,' but all they care about is the fact that they don't have a book in their hands (and fair enough, too). It makes me feel as though I've let down all the wonderful people who pre-ordered. When people hand over money for something, they deserve professional service, not excuses. And we may be a small publisher, but who cares about that? Not our customers. They shouldn't have to. I don't want them to ever have to notice.
So, now that the books are finally floating around the postal system, I can breathe out again. I leave in three days, and I've just found out that it costs $250 to check my guitar on the plane (without insurance, mind you), so I have to figure out another way to get it to America. But at least those books are in the post.
I'm very much looking forward to getting my book, but never at the expense at seeing someone so stressed out! Take a deep breath and go get yourself that chocolate bar that they were so very unkind to neglect to send you.
posted by Julie at October 20, 2006 09:31 PM
I work retail, in a very well loved baby boutique, so I know, on some small scale, how awful one feels when you don't have the product that the customers desire. Remember, its not your fault.
Perhaps you could ship your guitar through the post or UPS?
posted by sarah at October 20, 2006 10:51 PM
You poor thing - what a week you have had. I had been wondering about the books but only because I am desperate for post that isn't bills. It is a shame that your distributors let you down but I had/have every faith in you and snowbooks.
When are you off? I wish you a very safe journey - sorry I have no ideas about the guitar.
posted by caroline at October 20, 2006 11:06 PM
don't stress out on my behalf, i will be very excited on what ever day i get the book... and you must be able to ship ups for less and have the guitar insured as well? hard to believe and airline would get away with that....
posted by stephanie s at October 21, 2006 12:14 AM
That sounds like an awful week! I hope your last 3 days in London are nicer, and that you have the chance to relax. And good luck figuring out the guitar. (Reading your posts about moving makes me strangely stressed too, probably because I'll be doing the same thing before too long and I'd forgotten just how hectic international moves & saying goodbye to a city can be).
posted by suzy at October 21, 2006 03:16 AM
My book is here! Hurrah! Royal Mail's first class actually means something for once...
Good luck with sorting out the guitar and all the rest of the packing. I don't suppose you'll be at knitting on Tuesday so Bon Voyage, have a safe trip!
posted by Flibbertygibbet at October 21, 2006 08:18 AM
Way to go, Royal Mail! That went out at 16:00 yesterday, and it got to you this morning! Granted, it didn't have to travel very far, but you can hardly expect that to stop the postal service if they're determined to delay things.
posted by Anna at October 21, 2006 11:53 AM
i was delighted to just walk into my closest waterstone's and not even have to go all the way to the shelf for a copy...it was out on display on the table in the middle of the art section (which is just by the crafts in my store, so this is good too). for some reason, i thought the size of the stack would make you smile -- enough that you can tell it is well stocked but not enough to make one think it hasn't been a popular purchase this week! unfortunately i found out quite quickly that waterstone's do not allow encourage photography in their shops. but please take my word for it.
and also i am loving it very much. perfect, perfect timing.
thank you. ♥
posted by shimelle at October 23, 2006 09:07 AM
i was delighted to just walk into my closest waterstone's and not even have to go all the way to the shelf for a copy...it was out on display on the table in the middle of the art section (which is just by the crafts in my store, so this is good too). for some reason, i thought the size of the stack would make you smile -- enough that you can tell it is well stocked but not enough to make one think it hasn't been a popular purchase this week! unfortunately i found out quite quickly that waterstone's do not encourage photography in their shops. but please take my word for it.
and also i am loving it very much. perfect, perfect timing.
thank you.
posted by shimelle at October 23, 2006 09:08 AM
i'm so psyched! i can't wait for mine! and, i work for a magazine and we have trouble with distributors and printers all. the. time. just enjoy your new published book!
posted by colleen at October 23, 2006 07:35 PM
I am so excited....can't wait for the book to arrive. Sorry you had the issues with the distributors not getting the books to you on time. I suppose I will get my copy here in Minneapolis by today hopefully or at the latest on Friday. I can't wait to flip thru the pages.
posted by Alina at October 25, 2006 05:21 PM
WHO CARES WHEN IT COMES IT IS AWESOME. Simply awesome. There is nothing else like it, Anna. It's full of love, and heart, and soul. And I mean that most sincerely.
posted by Alicia P. at October 27, 2006 06:32 AM
I got mine today! London to Australia in 10 days.
Thank you so much for the book, it's so beautiful.
It's a calm, thoughful book (is it odd to describe a book this way?) and I spent a lovely afternoon outside on my deck (having threeses instead of elevenses) reading it and being inspired.
posted by Karyn at October 30, 2006 10:29 AM
hi there:
My book arrived safely today in Toronto, Canada. Thanks - can't wait to have a look at it.
posted by JD at October 30, 2006 02:21 PM
Mine arrived in Singapore safely too! It's a great book, thanks!! :D
posted by li li at October 31, 2006 07:13 AM
Yay! It arrived yesterday in Norway - and it is lovely! Couldn't wait to show it to one of my crafty friends, and she loved it too.
I am sorry it was such a hassle for you, but I assure you, it was very much worth the wait :)
posted by pendlerpiken at October 31, 2006 07:23 AM
My book arrived on Monday and it´s a treasure! Thankyou for all your efforts getting this out, I´m very grateful and GOODLUCK starting your new life in America! How exciting!
posted by claudia hochegger at November 1, 2006 10:41 AM
hi anna,
just wanted to let you know that my book arrived safely last week in ontario, canada. i've already finished reading it and i must say it was absolutely wonderful! thank you so much for your efforts and thank you to all of the contributors. it's refreshing, inspiring, and my fingers are itching to try out some of the projects.
cheers!
gillian
posted by gillian perry at November 10, 2006 04:52 PM