tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post3271838338945201899..comments2023-05-29T07:15:27.839-07:00Comments on Finding Kat Heckenbach: Who's to Blame?Kat Heckenbachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-51887485674812088042012-02-06T10:26:07.072-08:002012-02-06T10:26:07.072-08:00I'm hoping the one school-bookstore thing is a...I'm hoping the one school-bookstore thing is an isolated incident. I've not heard of that before, or since. <br /><br />And I do agree about online book buying. I shop Amazon ALL the time. I actually recently blogged about a shopping day I spent at B&N and Books-a-Million, that ended with me going home ticked off because I couldn't find the books I wanted, but could have had my choice of like 27 different jigsaw puzzles and any array of toys, games, or desk accessories. <br /><br />There is definitely some blame to place on bookstores--especially those bigger stores like B&N. Do NOT tell me you don't have room on your shelves for books when fully HALF the store is taken up by non-book "stuff". But I have to give SOME blame, at least with indie stores, to the authors who have forced their hand and turned them against the rest of us.Kat Heckenbachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-5558563216281455662012-02-06T10:20:11.084-08:002012-02-06T10:20:11.084-08:00Well, since you're finding consignment to be a...Well, since you're finding consignment to be a requirement to VOLUNTEER in the school literacy program, I don't blame you. Me, I pretty much have given up on stores. They don't want to help me even if helping me would help themselves at absolutely ZERO risk. Fine. I understand they have problems. Best of luck, but I you won't see me crying when they go under. <br /><br />I'm perfectly happy to buy books on Amazon. I like pj's, no crowds, and home delivery, or even better, instant downloads to my Kindle.Caprice Hokstadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10625997639466258510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-74669684366637909732012-02-06T10:01:15.905-08:002012-02-06T10:01:15.905-08:00I think there WAS a time when indie bookstores COU...I think there WAS a time when indie bookstores COULD offer "different" much more often. Because there were very few to choose from. I think these days, they are flooded, and have been sort of backed into a corner: either drown in an attempt to sort through and ocean of sludge, or go with things that are sure-sells, which means more mainstream stuff.<br /><br />Yes, I think that's a sucky situation. All I'm saying is I don't think the ball got rolling because indie stores all sold out or something. I think the initial blame goes to the raging masses of crappy authors out there.<br /><br />As for signings...I've noticed a trend away from them. I've looked up the events calendars for the local B&N's around me--there are about four within driving distance--and NONE of them have had signings in ages nor have any scheduled that I can see. I also just attended an author signing at the indie bookstore I wrote about here The author was a NYT bestseller, yet there was all of about 20 people who came to the event--but they were "sets" of parents with kids, so she maybe sold 20 books or so? That makes it seem to me that they're not even worth it for me. But I would like to get my books on the shelves.Kat Heckenbachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-79777384177775550872012-02-06T09:22:55.848-08:002012-02-06T09:22:55.848-08:00The only reason I would care about bookstore consi...The only reason I would care about bookstore consignment would be to enable a signing event (as in, a very limited time, no shelf space required). While no, I would NOT pay an inflated price for an unknown author's book if I just saw it on a shelf with other big-names, the whole dynamic changes if that "unknown" author is sitting there IN the store. If brick-and-mortar stores want to stay open, they SHOULD be thinking about what they can offer that's DIFFERENT and BETTER than online shopping in your pj's with free home delivery. Hello? Why are Blockbusters dropping like flies?<br /><br />If the author is standing there, in the flesh, wearing an eloborate costume she made herself, displaying a large painting of an exotic world that isn't Earth, and signing books, I just might be curious. I might want to ask a question about the costume, but I'd be too shy to do it if I didn't buy a book. She's there to sign books. Buying a book and asking for the autograph is the a "ticket" to give me the right to approach this person. Before I became an author, I actually thought bookstores PAID authors to do signings. Aren't they an "attraction"? Why advertise and promote a signing if they don't expect it will bring people in the door?<br /><br />I wrote the book and got it published. I commissioned the artist to paint the cover picture and paid her quite well for the right to use it in all my promotions. I have a 16 x 20 framed copy and a desktop easel to display it. I also spent a HUGE chunk of change on materials and I DESIGNED and MADE a character costume. I brought pictures with me to the bookstores to show them that I would indeed stand out in their store. I offered to bring the books in myself and remove any that did not sell so they wouldn't even have to give me shelf space. But NONE of this is good enough for them because my name is Caprice Hokstad and not J.K. Rowling or Donita K. Paul or something else they recognize.<br /><br />I guess it's just as well. Booksignings don't really help much, from what I hear. Just don't ask me to care very much when physical bookstores go out of business. If it's just about book prices, let's all just shop online and forget about the stores.Caprice Hokstadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10625997639466258510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-4558854873333842182012-02-05T20:23:00.839-08:002012-02-05T20:23:00.839-08:00Yes, they'll consider it, Kessie. But they als...Yes, they'll consider it, Kessie. But they also say they take books on consignment "very, very rarely." So, I'm not getting my hopes way up.Kat Heckenbachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17690721679155795038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1036843894999783533.post-244853272895952992012-02-05T14:29:38.630-08:002012-02-05T14:29:38.630-08:00Oh, wow, that's interesting. At least they'...Oh, wow, that's interesting. At least they'll consider your book, right? Am I reading that right about the consignment form?Kessiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15019626781634777336noreply@blogger.com