If it seems I’ve not been quite myself this week, at least here on miscmum, you’d be quite right.
In a nutshell: it appears that a number – not an insignificant number – of my book copies arrived back from Asia with marks on one of the pages that are totally unsatisfactory. I paid for 100% quality, and this I did not get.
I was unamused.
To be fair, though, the printing company have totally agreed with my complaint and will re-print the affected number of copies.
I stress this: anyone who is about to receive – or has already received – a copy of Surprise! can be totally assured their copy was in pristine condition: this is because I checked it myself. As I will for thousands of others next week. Because next week I will be sitting in my distributor’s warehouse, by myself, for a whole day sorting the marked copies from the unmarked ones. Of all the good ones, I will stroke each lovingly, perhaps give them a little kiss, before they get boxed up again and begin their journeys (hopefully) Australia-wide.
Some might question why I’m admitting this here, and the truth is I’ve always been open and honest about this project – the good and the bad parts – and seeing as I’m doing an author talk about it next month and will be discussing this hiccup there, I don’t see why I can’t here.
Look, these things happen: even so, I’ve spent a lot the past 48 hours drafting outraged and frustrated emails in my head (and I think I had a right to, because this is such a crucial project to me.) I have budgeted for every single one of those books to be perfect. I can’t afford returns due to damage. I don’t want to. It reeks of amateurism and is embarrassing. It’s not like I’m a massive publishing house who can write off damages on the accounts book as ‘whoopsies’ and that said I bet they don’t like doing it either.
Anyway, at this point I can be glad it was picked up and that a plan’s been made. Once it’s over I will dust off my hands and say, “Next challenge, please!”
Which will be book launch. And I haven’t even started thinking about it yet.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
A good post, with a professional judgement.
Jean-Luc Picard’s last blog post..Section 31 Annual Conference (Part Two)
They’re re-printing for free, right? Otherwise I imagine this post would contain a lot more anger.
Michelle’s last blog post..Flash of Genius and Changeling
You are correct, Michelle!
Good that you picked it up so quickly!
Hope it’s a very small blip on your writing career though
Jayne’s last blog post..Trivial History October 4
Oh that’s terrible that the books were marked up AND you have to sit in the warehouse and go through every single one of them. That sounds like something I would do! Bring some happy music to keep you company.
Casey’s last blog post..Spin Cycle: Anger Management