Win *signed* copies of THE HIDDEN STARS

[scalem X]

Actually the winners (huuray that's me too!!!)
should congratulate the other people who had the answer(s) correct and unfortunately didn't win. So that those people also have a congratulation.

 

[GOLLUM]

Congratulations one and all....

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

It will surely get here. I'll promote it.

Do the bookstores where you live stock many English language books?

Around here, it is very hard to get anything that wasn't published in the US -- American bookstores are very provincial that way.

 

[GOLLUM]

Around here, it is very hard to get anything that wasn't published in the US -- American bookstores are very provincial that way.

I find that somewhat depressing somehow....

As you know I was able to pick up THS in the local Borders bookshop as an import, so it's obviously been in Australia for some time, so I'm not clear on why it wouldn't have made it to the UK, although I suppose Borders being a US franchise might have something to do with it??....

 

[scalem X]

We have some english books, but they are mostly the really standard "best-selling" novels. But here and there stand some new books (by not yet famous writers). (depends on it's reviews I guess). Then ofcourse we've got loads and loads of translations.
We've got some book shops that are specialized in english/american books, but most of them are the shakespeare kind of type ad don't do fantasy.

 

[Marky Lazer]

I always mail order my books. I only read novels written in English, and hardly any of those can be found over here, except for Dan Brown and the like.

 

[scalem X]

Where exactly are you? In amsterdam there is this store who sells lots of books. They have an 'english fantasy' section.
Damn that name it sounded tipically dutch: something like Huizinga, schuifsma or something.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I find that somewhat depressing somehow....

As you know I was able to pick up THS in the local Borders bookshop as an import, so it's obviously been in Australia for some time, so I'm not clear on why it wouldn't have made it to the UK, although I suppose Borders being a US franchise might have something to do with it??....

I think that Borders being a US franchise probably has a lot to do with it.

As for the UK, I think they are about as reluctant to sell books by American publishers as our booksellers are to sell their books. I may have done American booksellers an injustice when I put it all down to provincialism. It may have something to do with copyright laws or trade agreements, put in place to keep different English language editions from competing with each other.

That wouldn't apply to foreign language books, of course, which are few and far between. But that may be the provicialism of the American reader (and our schools) rather than the bookstores and distributors. Few of us speak or read a second language with any proficiency; even the children of immigrants often don't speak their parents' language well (or at all).

So I always find it mindblowing and impressive when I meet someone from a non-English speaking country who actually reads English language books for pleasure.

I suppose it's human nature to either despise or be in awe of abilities one doesn't have oneself. I continue to be in the awestruck category so far as languages are concerned, even though the internet has introduced me to so many multi-lingual people.

(Of course if this ability leads them to read my book, so much the better!)

 

[nixie]

Pretty sure Waterstones stock it but W H Smiths least where I live only really stock the better known scifi and fantasy authors....Well Brooks,Eddings, Feist,Hobb, Jordan...and lots of star war books

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Pretty sure Waterstones stock it but W H Smiths least where I live only really stock the better known scifi and fantasy authors....Well Brooks,Eddings, Feist,Hobb, Jordan...and lots of star war books

American authors, but wouldn't those be editions put out by UK publishers, Nixie? At least, I'm sure British publishers have been snapping up titles by all those authors.

 

[nixie]

Your right there Kelpie...it's just annoying when you want a particular book and don't want to use Amazon cause you end up spending more than you can afford.I'll be glad when Ottakers opens as they stock a wide range of fantasy.

 

[GOLLUM]

Hidden Stars arrived for March release in MMPB in Melbourne. Retails at local price of $20, which is pretty standard for MMPB here and therefore more affordable than the TPB for those in OZ who've yet to buy the book.

Also spotted Mark Robson's Book 1 Imperial Spy for the first time here as part of the March release....

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I hadn't expected it to reach Australia so fast -- or to be so reasonably priced, considering how they gouged you for the trade paperback.

Thanks for telling me, Gollum!

* * * *

Meanwhile, I wasn't able to send the prizes out on Saturday as I hoped. Let's just say that there were ... adventures ... involving the maps and two different printers. But I did manage to get everything mailed this morning. Books, maps, and bookplates are on their way.

 

[Marky Lazer]

I'll be staring at my mailbox for the eyedrops

 

[scalem X]

huuuzaay, now only trust the mailing service.
really exciting.

 

[nixie]

Thanks Kelpie....

 

[Mark Robson]

Indeed, many thanks. I look forward to seeing the bookplate. It's something I've kept meaning to produce for mine, but haven't got around to. Besides which, there can't be many copies of my books out there that aren't signed already!

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I should point out that since the bookplates are homemade, there might be a bit of a challenge getting the backing off of the sticker paper ...

At least it wasn't easy for me when I tried it out -- but then I'm a bit deficient in the fingernail department. If you have someone in the house with a good set of talons, you might want to enlist their help.

 

[Winters_Sorrow]

I'm going to sound really ignorant here, but what is a signed bookplate anyway?

 

[Mark Robson]

It's a decorative piece of paper or card that normally has a little message on from the person who has given the book, or in this case, from the author. This is attached inside the front cover, or on the first page (if blank). The sort of messages can be anything from:

This book belongs to ...

to ... well just about any sort of message you can imagine really. I'm glad Kelpie has said that hers are home made, as they are somehow more personal that way. I have made some book plates for book prizes given in competitions before, but I wasn't particularly happy with the design. I'm a bit of a numpty when it comes to things like that.