[Gary Wassner]

If any of you have the inclination, or if you like my books, or if you think you might like my books, or if you like to see other titles from independent presses and small presses at your local Barnes & Noble stores, would you do me a favor????

Call your local B & N and ask them when they are getting GemQuest in.

It seems that is one of the best ways to get them to stock titles by the independents. Ingram often shows the books as non-returnable, which is not true, and/or unavailable, which we all know is not true. B & N orders from Ingram. Hence, they don't order unless someone calls. Then they look it up in the computer and they see it as available and returnable. I don't get it, my publisher doesn't get it and my publicist doesn't get it!

So, if you want to help out me and all those other struggling authors whose great books are being published by small and independent presses in the US, then call your local Barnes and Noble and ask for my titles and some of your other favorites.

Thanks everyone. Anything you do is much appreciated.

[Sammie]

Can we do anything to help here in the UK, Gary?

[Gary Wassner]

Sure. Thanks so much for asking. Stores buy and stock books based upon requests if they are not routine imprints for them. So if you request the books or suggest to the store manager that they carry them, then often they do. They are available through Ingram like every other book they buy.

[saintjon]

Yeah I've actually copped out on my ordering online thing, I'm getting the local shop to do it for me, that way they can see your covers (which are really awesome) they probably haven't heard of you yet and they might order a few more for the shelves. It's just a tiny store up here in New Liskeard but I was really impressed with some of their choices on what to make available (I've been looking in every boosktore I go to all over ontario for Legend by David Gemmel and A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursual K Le Guin and lo and behold find them both on my first trip to the store right here)

Anyways, if they're open today I will tell them to order all your books for me.

[Gary Wassner]

You are a saint, Saint.

[saintjon]

So I got the first 3 Gemquest books today and the store-owner was actually saying he thought they looked pretty good. I'll offer him a loaner when I'm done with them.

I just read the opening of the Twins at lunch today and I've just gotta say it's too bad we won't be seeing more of that character. ... as far as I know at least.

[Gary Wassner]

As far as you know.

I am glad you got them. Keep me posted on your progress.

[Gary Wassner]

Things are moving along. My books shipped in the last two weeks to the Barnes and Noble stores around the country that do well with Fantasy. But an author's work is never done. :( Now they have told my publisher that if The Twins sells well then they will order the next two in the series. If they don't, then they will all come back in a big box after 60 days. The race is on. What a business. And I never even realized it was a business at all when I started to write.

If you have the inclination, nows the time to stop by your local B & N and ask for GemQuest.

[starry-eyed]

So the other day I stopped at the local B&N to order your book (The Twins) and was told it was unavailable in their wherehouse and could not be ordered.
The store is in Federal Way, Washington if you want to follow up.

[Gary Wassner]

Here's the problem. The people in the stores are not always all that intelligent, sadly. THere was an original edition of The Twins that is out of print and unavailable. They never seem to look past that one, which pops up first in the computer. All they need to do is look for the Windstorm Creative edition, which shows up next. They even have it on their shelves!

It's sad but this happens all the time. Please, if you don't mind, if you are back in that store, or if you call them, explain that to them. I just did an event at Barnes and Noble!! Frustrating.

But thanks so much for the effort. Let me know what they say if you call them.

I figured out where Federal Way is. Sorry for being so ingnorant about my geography.

Just for informational purposes, and to find out if what I told you is correct, I called the store myself. Yes, they gave you the wrong info. Yes, they can order it, but you have to ask for The Twins by Gary Wassner, not GemQuest, The Twins. If you ask for Gemquest, the out of print edition shows up.

Now the only other problem is that it is not currently on the shelves in that store and they do need to order it, which will take two weeks or so, they told me.

Some of the stores have it in stock. SOme are waiting for delivery. The good news is that many of the stores that did get their deliveries have sold the books and are now waiting for their reorders. The bad news is that B & N doesn't have any stock in their warehouse, so they need to wait for it to come. Ingram, which supplied the B & N stores, has it on order from my publisher. They too need to wait for delivery.

If you wish, you can order through paypal directly from www.windstormcreative.com

Sorry for all the trouble. NO one should have to go through all of this to get a book! These are the perils of publishing with a small press.