Weird Question Perhaps

[jpskewedthrone]

OK, I'm still working on the damage from the flood so I'll do an official update later. I'm up to about 300 paperbacks lost though. And I gave up on the CDs and DVDs. If it had just been water they might have made it, but the silt from the flood sticks to everything and DOESN'T COME OFF. Really. You scrub (this is on furniture, not the CDs) and scrub and scrub and it looks like it's off and then the water dries and you see . . . more silt.

I did actually get a call from the insurance company and I'm covered, so that's good.

The most heartbreaking loss for me: I had a first edition 'Salem's Lot by Stephen King, hardcover, with the typo on the coverflap, great condition. Totally gone. It was in the last container, so had been soaking in water for 4 or 5 days, however long it's been. Last time I checked, about 5 years ago maybe, it was worth $550 at auction. *sigh*

Anyway, the question, regarding how to possibly promote myself more:

How the hell do you get your book on the "Coming Soon" list at amazon? Skewed didn't show up there. I'd like to get Cracked on there. I'm thinking it's a publisher thing: they pay to get them up on there. Maybe not. If anyone out there knows . . .

Comments

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

I am so sorry about your collection. Every time i read your postings i wince for you, and then (the downside of writer mind) picture myself in the same sitch, post quake, since it never rains.

Re the question, I sure don't know. My book is supposedly coming out in a month but there is zero mention anywhere. (The only thing that keeps me from being depressed, since I don't have the courage or the cash to go out and pimp myself and the book is, when the first one of this particular storyline came out, there was zero mention anywyere, and it's in its seventh printing right now. Word of mouth does work--though of course not all the time, and the new one might tank without a tiny sploosh.)

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

Word of mouth is everything. I'm still trying to figure out how to get it. I just keep going to cons, where the general response so far is "Who are you?" *sigh* I did have a friend who said that at my last con I walked by and someone near said, "Is that Joshua Palmatier?" in an excited voice. That made me feel good. Now if they'd only tell 100 other people and convince them to buy the book. *grin*

Good luck with book 2. And let me know if you find an answer to the amazon question . . . or how to get word of mouth!

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Books 2 is rattling along--I thought the first half was solid, but I discovered the prose is so awful half the hemisphere must be gasping from the gas emmissions.

Word of mouth isn't anything anyone can control, or at least by anyone like me--middle-aged, zero charisma, little poise, of no interest in the physical world. To deliberately generate word of mouth, I am convinced, one needs influence. The impetus for the word of mouth acceleration on my one success appears to have been an on-line book group of teens who apparently liked it, swooped in and made a zillion amazon reviews and links. (this was back when 10 was considered good, especially if they weren't obvious puffs from friends and relatives. They made about eighty within about five weeks.) That caught the notice of the editor, who arranged the paperback sale, and so it went. Had nothing whatever to do with me. I discovered it when the editor pointed it out; I'd been hiding from reviews because the very first one was a slamdunk.

[ddelill.livejournal.com]

Hi - just thought I'd introduce myself since I just added you to my friends list if that's ok. I am from Coudersport and graduated with a BA in French and Chemistry from LHU. Small world, hey?

Sorry to hear about the flood damage. There was quite a bit around the DC area, but nearly as bad as you guys got up north.

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the sympathies. I'm pretty much over it now. No more weeping over the dead books or anything anyway.

I added you to my friends list as well. Now you're in grad school? What brought you to my journal?

[ddelill.livejournal.com]

Yes...life took me from lock haven to Tucson, to NC, back to Tucson, and finally here in DC where I'm entering my 4th year of grad school at GW.

I can't quite remember how I found you. I did a google search one day, something to do with Coudersport, and I found your website. I "re-found" the site today and noticed you had an LJ. Voila - histoire complete. I've read a few back entries already.

Have a happy 4th!

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

Good luck with the grad school. It can hurt. I'm glad I'm done with it. You trying for the PhD? A science grad degree is even worse.

And based on what I've read of your LJ, I'm guessing that Coudy produced another gay man. Although I can't claim that since I was born there but didn't live there for long.

Sympathies on the food poisoning.

[ddelill.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the good wishes - only 2 more years than I'll be Doc Dan! :-D

Yup, another gay man from Coudy. Both my brothers were born in coudy, but I was actually born in Troy, PA. How long were you in Coudy for?

Food poisoning sucks ass! Thank G-d it's over!

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

Not long. A year? Something like that. Haven't been back (except to visit) since. Did hit PA a few times though. State College. Lewisburg. Bloomsburg. Now Lock Haven. College and teaching mainly.

[ddelill.livejournal.com]

I hope you enjoy the Haven!

If you're ever in DC, look me up...and if I get back to LH, I'll be sure to stalk you too. :-D

[endelarin.livejournal.com]

So sorry to hear about your flood losses! Several years ago my basement flooded with two feet of water and I lost some irreplaceable things, including all my archived writing (try recovering from a flood-damaged floppy diskette), my books and my childhood photographs. The only photos that survived were pics from my wedding album -- to my ex. *sigh* There surely must be a practical joker loose in the universe. Anyway, you never know, another first edition of SALEM'S LOT might yet turn up in your future...

Wish I could help on the Amazon question. I suspect it's something you'd have to get DAW to do, though. Knowing Amazon, that would be a feature they sell to vendors. Of course, I could be way wrong about that.