s.e.v.e.n.'s dad holding my books

travelling books
Originally uploaded by S.e.v.e.n

the books are getting around. s.e.v.e.n. gave a pair to his dad, who's going to leave them at Hollins University in Roanoke, VA.

Greg at restop

Greg_reststop_on way to cali
Originally uploaded by drm2b

This photo was uploaded to my flickr group by drm2b, who took a whole daytrip to distribute copies of "She's the Girl" and "Collecting Candace," and posted a slew of shots in the group.

Fabulous.

first photos of a traveling book!

Originally uploaded by G r e n

The wonderful Gren (aka Betty) posted this on flickr last week, and it got me so excited all over again about sending books out. After seeing them in cartons for so long, it's so great to start getting responses from people who have been getting their books and leaving them in random locations.

There are labels on the inside cover of most of the books I sent out, directing people to this blog. Can't wait till I see a comment from someone who picked one up and came by to visit.

mini-rant: Returns

If you happen to come across a copy of "She's the Girl" or "Collecting Candace," you'll notice that first, it's been signed. Secondly, there should be a label on the inside with a short blurb about the publishing industry sucking and all that, and then the address to this blog.

Two reasons for that: first, so that people who just come across the book know how the hell it ended up in their hands.

Secondly, so nobody can return the book to their local bookstore.

Returns are killing authors and publishing companies.

It's completely bullshit that people can return books. It's essentially stealing, and it costs the industry (meaning, people like me) lots of money.

If you buy a CD or DVD and use it, you cannot return it. That's how it should be. You've listened to it. Maybe you liked, maybe the movie sucked ass more than anything. But that's the chance you take when you buy entertainment.

It's never guaranteed.

So why are books different? Why are you allowed to buy a book, read it, think to yourself, "meh, it was ok, but I'm not sure it's really worth the $12.95 plus tax that I paid for it," and then return it for your money back?

WTF is up with that?

If anyone who is reading this returns books, please fill me in.

Read, don't return.

S

the big book giveaway starts

happy me with books
Originally uploaded by smalldogs

I got such a fantastic early response from the flickr peeps. Some are even sending extra money to help pay for boxes and labels, stuff like that.

This is the first time in years that I've been actually glad I published these things. Thanks guys.

inventory

inventory
Originally uploaded by smalldogs

this is my leftover inventory from small dogs press.

i no longer sell my books. so if you ordered it on amazon.com, or some other site, and you've gotten an email that it will be sent in X-weeks, they're lying to you.

i'm the only one who has the inventory, and i refuse to sell it for many reasons. mostly because the book industry is pretty much designed to kill off small, indie publishers and unknown writers.

i contemplated recycling these books, but instead have decided to send them on a journey. i've already sent off 5 to a friend in Australia, and another 5 to a friend here in the states.

Each books has a label inside that rants on the book industry a bit (i just can't seem to stop doing that), and asks the person who's picked it up to pass it on when they're done.

i'd rather give all my books away for free than to sell even one. it's my way of telling the publishing industry to "fuck off". although that may seem futile to some of you, it's very meaningful to me.

if you'd like to be part of the book giveaway, email me, or join the group i started here on flickr. it's my hope to send off each and every one of these books somewhere around the world, in order to get them read. not paid for, but read.

after all, that's why i wrote them in the first place.