Comments on: ARGG! http://www.murdershewrites.com/2007/08/22/argg/ Ten Authors. Five Genres. One Blog. Because the only thing scarier than a loaded gun pointed at your head....is writing about it. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:25:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: J. Carson Black http://www.murdershewrites.com/2007/08/22/argg/#comment-119509 J. Carson Black Thu, 23 Aug 2007 23:35:59 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=538#comment-119509 Deb, if you can do that, you're my hero! Deb, if you can do that, you’re my hero!

]]> By: Deb http://www.murdershewrites.com/2007/08/22/argg/#comment-119457 Deb Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:01:04 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=538#comment-119457 test---checking time stamp on posts... test—checking time stamp on posts…

]]> By: Deb http://www.murdershewrites.com/2007/08/22/argg/#comment-119440 Deb Thu, 23 Aug 2007 11:08:35 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=538#comment-119440 True, Jake. J.D. Robb, James Patterson, and I'd probably throw in Sandra Brown. Hey Poppy, I work with the Safeway group on a corporate level, and have been talking to the CEO about getting a grip on this scale back of books. I think they may do a turn around. Fingers crossed! True, Jake. J.D. Robb, James Patterson, and I’d probably throw in Sandra Brown.

Hey Poppy, I work with the Safeway group on a corporate level, and have been talking to the CEO about getting a grip on this scale back of books. I think they may do a turn around. Fingers crossed!

]]> By: Poppy Southcott http://www.murdershewrites.com/2007/08/22/argg/#comment-119396 Poppy Southcott Thu, 23 Aug 2007 03:11:36 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=538#comment-119396 Karin, I used to buy books at Safeway, but ours just did a major remodel and they stripped the book section down to only the NYT bestsellers. Some clerk told me all the new and remodeled Safeways are going to be like that. Karin, I used to buy books at Safeway, but ours just did a major remodel and they stripped the book section down to only the NYT bestsellers. Some clerk told me all the new and remodeled Safeways are going to be like that.

]]> By: J. Carson Black http://www.murdershewrites.com/2007/08/22/argg/#comment-119373 J. Carson Black Wed, 22 Aug 2007 23:34:09 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=538#comment-119373 Aw, Nat, hope you feel better soon! I'll cry along with you. Pretty soon there will be only two authors left: J.D. Robb and James Patterson. As much as I like them, it would be nice if there were more. You know, after we've read all of J.D. Robb/Nora Roberts and James Pattersons books. For variety's sake. Aw, Nat, hope you feel better soon! I’ll cry along with you.

Pretty soon there will be only two authors left: J.D. Robb and James Patterson. As much as I like them, it would be nice if there were more. You know, after we’ve read all of J.D. Robb/Nora Roberts and James Pattersons books. For variety’s sake.

]]> By: Deb http://www.murdershewrites.com/2007/08/22/argg/#comment-119346 Deb Wed, 22 Aug 2007 19:25:54 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=538#comment-119346 Ah, Nat, how're you doing? Still in a lot of pain? Ah, Nat, how’re you doing? Still in a lot of pain?

]]> By: Natalie http://www.murdershewrites.com/2007/08/22/argg/#comment-119345 Natalie Wed, 22 Aug 2007 19:15:46 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=538#comment-119345 I'm too addled to comment wisely on this thread, but I did NOT need depressing news this morning. Day two after surgery, and all I can do is cry... Somebody get me a tissue. I’m too addled to comment wisely on this thread, but I did NOT need depressing news this morning. Day two after surgery, and all I can do is cry… Somebody get me a tissue.

]]> By: Allison http://www.murdershewrites.com/2007/08/22/argg/#comment-119343 Allison Wed, 22 Aug 2007 18:51:58 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=538#comment-119343 Deb, my point is that you can have no books at Walmart and hit the NYT list because Walmart doesn't report its numbers TO the NYT list. If people are not buying books at Walmart it no impact on the NYT list. Period. I agree, if your print runs are getting cut because you're not at Walmart, that sucks big time. An author is now going to have to rebuild their career with the purpose to hit a list so that they can get back into Walmart. I know they are cutting back on their titles BUT I don't think that means NO non-NYT author will get into Walmart. I'll be checking regularly and if I'm proven wrong, I'll be the first to admit it. But to be honest, this has been going on for months, it's not a sudden thing. I was contacted back in March or April by an author who was concerned about this situation. I've heard from industry people that they are cutting back, but that the results are not known yet and it's totally and completely out of our hands. Those who can impact it would be publishers (paying more co-op) and they'll only do that if they see a hit on their bottom line. IMO. Deb, my point is that you can have no books at Walmart and hit the NYT list because Walmart doesn’t report its numbers TO the NYT list. If people are not buying books at Walmart it no impact on the NYT list. Period.

I agree, if your print runs are getting cut because you’re not at Walmart, that sucks big time. An author is now going to have to rebuild their career with the purpose to hit a list so that they can get back into Walmart. I know they are cutting back on their titles BUT I don’t think that means NO non-NYT author will get into Walmart. I’ll be checking regularly and if I’m proven wrong, I’ll be the first to admit it. But to be honest, this has been going on for months, it’s not a sudden thing. I was contacted back in March or April by an author who was concerned about this situation. I’ve heard from industry people that they are cutting back, but that the results are not known yet and it’s totally and completely out of our hands. Those who can impact it would be publishers (paying more co-op) and they’ll only do that if they see a hit on their bottom line. IMO.

]]> By: Karin http://www.murdershewrites.com/2007/08/22/argg/#comment-119336 Karin Wed, 22 Aug 2007 17:45:43 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=538#comment-119336 I don't shop at Walmart. The few times I have ventured into one, the book section has been a tattered mess. That said, I realize I am one of few Americans who does not shop at Walmart. Allison, I think you may have hit on something. What the publishers tell the authors could be skewed to stack in their favor. ie, sorry we can't spend the money on you if the preorders aren't there. I also suspect if the variety isn't on the WalMart shelves, with time those readers will go elsewhere for more of a selection. I buy a lot of my books at my local Safeway. The section is always clean, well stocked, and well maintained. I never look at the NYTimes rack. I go straight to the regular rack. I love scouring and touching the books in the regular section. I have noticed as I am doing that, as other readers come by they too bypass the best seller rack. My suspicion is, since there is always more of the same there, they look to the regular rack for variety. I don’t shop at Walmart. The few times I have ventured into one, the book section has been a tattered mess.
That said, I realize I am one of few Americans who does not shop at Walmart.

Allison, I think you may have hit on something. What the publishers tell the authors could be skewed to stack in their favor. ie, sorry we can’t spend the money on you if the preorders aren’t there.

I also suspect if the variety isn’t on the WalMart shelves, with time those readers will go elsewhere for more of a selection.

I buy a lot of my books at my local Safeway. The section is always clean, well stocked, and well maintained. I never look at the NYTimes rack. I go straight to the regular rack. I love scouring and touching the books in the regular section. I have noticed as I am doing that, as other readers come by they too bypass the best seller rack. My suspicion is, since there is always more of the same there, they look to the regular rack for variety.

]]> By: Deb http://www.murdershewrites.com/2007/08/22/argg/#comment-119334 Deb Wed, 22 Aug 2007 17:41:02 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=538#comment-119334 The challenge, Allison, is that it IS a Catch-22 because it creates a vicious circle. You can't make the sales needed to make the Times if your books aren't where people go to buy them....if your sales are down simply because of a buyer change, I guarantee your next book's print run will be lower--fewer places to sell to....Besides, suppose last year you sold 10,000 books, but 30% of your sales came from Walmart...losing that would be a HUGE hit... The challenge, Allison, is that it IS a Catch-22 because it creates a vicious circle. You can’t make the sales needed to make the Times if your books aren’t where people go to buy them….if your sales are down simply because of a buyer change, I guarantee your next book’s print run will be lower–fewer places to sell to….Besides, suppose last year you sold 10,000 books, but 30% of your sales came from Walmart…losing that would be a HUGE hit…

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