Sterling- distribution-related question for ya

[ManOfMiracles]

Hey, Sterling!

I've been meaning to tell you for a little while that I picked up and read the book. I don't mean it as a common turn-of-phrase what I say "I couldn't put it down." With my schedule, it literally takes me months to read a book. By the time I get some reading time at 2 or 3 am, I get 2 pages into it and I'm out like a light. The fact that I read through this in like 5 days is nothing less than amazing... it was well-crafted and extremely engaging! I was happy to finish it though... cuz I got back to getting some sleep!

Anyway, what is interesting is this... I manage a small bookstore. And I couldn't order the book! On a retail level, that is. We use Ingram, the biggest book distributor in North America. I phoned in to order it, and you're right, it's in the book database... but the didn't have copies to be ordered. So I ended up ordering with no problem through Amazon.

I was just curious, it there a reason that it's not available through this outlet (Ingram)? I am also involved with a small book publisher (and have had a few short stories published, as well... I'm also a free lance writer)... and we've been able to sell through them, who in turn, supply some of the bookstores that SHOULD then be able to fill special orders. There's also a distributor called Diamond Comics, who is primarily a comic distributor, but they deal with a lot of media books and paperbacks as well. I've seen a lot of music-related books in their monthly catalog. This might be an avenue to move at least another couple of hundred copies... we get some decent numbers through them, anyway.

Just thought I'd try to help... and sorry to beat a dead horse if you've tried this stuff already. Again, thanks again for a great read! Good luck on continued sales...

[Rockwriter]

Hey, Sterling!

I've been meaning to tell you for a little while that I picked up and read the book. I don't mean it as a common turn-of-phrase what I say "I couldn't put it down." With my schedule, it literally takes me months to read a book. By the time I get some reading time at 2 or 3 am, I get 2 pages into it and I'm out like a light. The fact that I read through this in like 5 days is nothing less than amazing... it was well-crafted and extremely engaging! I was happy to finish it though... cuz I got back to getting some sleep!

Anyway, what is interesting is this... I manage a small bookstore. And I couldn't order the book! On a retail level, that is. We use Ingram, the biggest book distributor in North America. I phoned in to order it, and you're right, it's in the book database... but the didn't have copies to be ordered. So I ended up ordering with no problem through Amazon.

I was just curious, it there a reason that it's not available through this outlet (Ingram)? I am also involved with a small book publisher (and have had a few short stories published, as well... I'm also a free lance writer)... and we've been able to sell through them, who in turn, supply some of the bookstores that SHOULD then be able to fill special orders. There's also a distributor called Diamond Comics, who is primarily a comic distributor, but they deal with a lot of media books and paperbacks as well. I've seen a lot of music-related books in their monthly catalog. This might be an avenue to move at least another couple of hundred copies... we get some decent numbers through them, anyway.

Just thought I'd try to help... and sorry to beat a dead horse if you've tried this stuff already. Again, thanks again for a great read! Good luck on continued sales...

Thanks, I'm glad you liked the book. You know, Ingram actually made an order of about 40 copies at some point, so if they have it as unavailable, perhaps they have sold them and not re-ordered yet. But you're right, book store distribution has been slow going for me, dribbles and dabs and mostly special order. I'm still working on it, so any ideas are much appreciated.

Thanks, I hope all is well.


Sterling