Report from the Road, Part the 2 (Chicago)

[lagilman]

Borders loves me. Lots. And I love them back.

 

On Saturday and Sunday, Mine Hostess Tina and I went to the local chain stores, to see what stock I could find and deface. And every single Borders in town not only had a copy of the new book, 
they had between three (nice buy for trade) and ten. TEN!

 

I signed them all, natch. Plus the three-five copies of STAYING DEAD in mass they had on-hand, plus the occasional copy of CURSE THE DARK.

 

Kudos especially to the teams at those bookstores, who were knowledgeable, attentive, alert, and in one case, went the extra few steps to make sure that everything went smoothly, and the author walked away feeling not only job-well-done but actively purring. 

 

B&N was decent, but not up to Borders standards. And the least said about Waldenbooks the better – they carry me not at all, and when I inquired about the possibility of the books showing up I was told “our readers don’t buy much sci-fi, they’re more interested in literary.”

 

Yeah, right. You sell romance novels and bestsellers, babe. Don’t get highfallutin’ on me.

 

We also did some shopping, natch.  :-)

Sunday night I was taken off for tapas and blues until small hours of the morning, wherein I got asked to dance twice and hit up for my phone number once. I am amused (in the third case, when I informed the gentleman that my SO would not be pleased, he gave what I’m sure he thought was a compliment: ‘he must need a shotgun.’ Sexist as hell, yes, but not in the offensive way, and he backed off without further incident.)

 

Monday was the reading at the Red Lion Pub, which was lightly attended but the reading (and my promotional fortune cookies)  seemed to be well-received, and the guitar jam session afterward was a blast. Several Springsteen and Dylan tunes were brought out for the visiting Jersey girl, and I was actually encouraged to sing along, thereby proving true friends don’t mind a little ear damage. *wry g* And I have cred now for knowing all the lyrics to “City of New Orleans” along with a few other tunes.

 

Tuesday, after a visit to the local zoo and too short a time in front of the meerkat enclosure [oh, for a camera with me!] it was time to head off to Elgin and the Gail Borden Library, which is a lovely lovely place. I want one. Not all the signed-up crowed actually made it, but we had a good time natheless, and I got some of the locals into the library for the first time, which makes it all worthwhile.

my youngest fan....                                                                                    the author discovers a typo....

I read a different piece from Monday night, and I think it worked better, although I did hear one person saying that if they hadn’t read the first book they’d have been lost as to what’s going on. Ah well. If I’d read something from the first book, people would have complained that they didn’t get to hear anything new. So….

 

Wednesday I hit a Borders in the ‘burbs (a nice, upscale strip mall in some town or another on the ride back to Chicago) and signed more books, but the rest of Wednesday was the Social Day --  caught up with various LJers *waves at the LJers* and then had dinner with an old high school friend and her family, one member of which I had not met (note to self: set up introductions between Lizzie and Ty, have marriage contracts ready. Check and see if parents would rather three she-camels and a mare-with-foal, or three mares and a she-camel). 

 

And then it was Thursday, at the airport early enough to catch an earlier flight, and home before nightfall.

 

Off again tomorrow for a party in the southlands, but home early Sunday and not goin’ nowhere (except hopefully a signing in Boston) all of July. *collapses in puddle*

Comments

[shsilver.livejournal.com]

Sorry I missed you.

[ckd]

The crazy thing? Waldenbooks and Borders are part of the same company.

[lagilman]

Same company, sure, but aimed at different markets. Walden was established to be the 'mall' store -- the bestseller and impulse buyer. Borders aimed itself at the Reader.

[neutronjockey.livejournal.com]

True,true...though Waldenbooks are slowly giving away to Borders Express stores. Same MO, different title for corporate continuity etc.

[kalligraphy.livejournal.com]

I used to shop at Waldenbooks. But since they don't stock any decent sci fi and fantasy, I stopped. So saying their customers aren't interested in sci fi is sort of correct, but that is because they don't want our patronage. Their loss.

Have you been watching the meerkat show on Animal Planet?

[nick-kaufmann.livejournal.com]

Nice picture of you.

[jmward14.livejournal.com]

Waldenbooks can be trained. It's just a long process. There's a Waldens at a mall about a mile from my house, across an aisle from a Barnie's Coffee. Since part of my exercise program involves a walk of two miles, five times a week and the Barnie's makes good iced tea, they see me A LOT. The Walden's sf/fantasy section and their manga section are each as big or bigger than the romance section.
Already working to make sure they'll have copies of my book when it appears early next year. Self-interest and proximity are wonderful things. :-)
Congratulations on your Chicago adventures. Sounds like a great time all around.
Cheers,

[sfmarty.livejournal.com]

Seconding the query about Meercat Manor, a series that is running on Animal Planet.