An awkward situation, and a plea.: seanan

An awkward situation, and a plea.

All right: here's the thing. Discount Armageddon is officially released March 6th. That's the date we've been talking about for months, that's the date you should be able to obtain the book, that's the date when sales begin counting against my first week numbers. Any books which escape into the wild before then count against my overall sales, but do not count for that all-important first week. Also, because I am number-based OCD, any books which escape into the wild before then make me feel sick, cry hysterically, and basically become non-functional with stress. It's THE BEST THING.

As of midnight Monday/the very beginning of Tuesday, Amazon has been shipping copies of Discount Armageddon. Consequentially, Barnes & Noble is doing the same thing. I haven't been saying anything because DAW is trying frantically to fix it, and I didn't want to drive sales to the sites which have chosen to release my book early. (I don't blame B&N for reacting when they saw that the book was on sale; they're a business, after all. But it's not helping my stress level any.) Please, please, do not buy my book early. I know it's hard. I know that the urge to have the shiny thing now is strong within us. I've ordered dolls from Japan and Australia, and DVD sets from Canada and the UK, for just this reason. But those things were legitimately released in the regions where I was ordering them, and Discount Armageddon has not been legitimately released anywhere at all. Please wait until March 6th. Don't punish independent bookstores, and local brick and mortar stores, for some computer's hard-to-fix mistake. Please. I am literally begging you here.

It doesn't help that so much of a book's success is measured by their first week. I've basically thrown up every time I thought about my week one numbers (including just now), because these early sales could mean the difference between a series and an accidental duology. It's unlikely—DAW is very loyal, and they stand by me—but it could happen, and I am very much worst-case-scenario girl when I'm this flipped out. So please. Do not buy early. Wait until March 6th.

And then there are the ebooks.

Both Amazon and B&N have put the physical edition of Discount Armageddon on sale, but are still holding the electronic edition for the actual release date. People who receive their physical books early are reaping the benefits of a fortuitous, author-breaking error. People who have to wait for their electronic books are not being denied anything; they're doing what was supposed to happen in the first place. This has not stopped the exciting emails from rolling in. They mostly stopped after the first day, but on that first day, I was called...

See, apparently, the ebooks are being withheld because I, personally, am trying to force everyone to buy my preferred format (physical). So sexual threats and relentless abuse are totally acceptable, because it just shows me the error of my ways.

I have nothing to do with the books being available early. I wish they weren't.

I have no control over whether the electronic editions are available early. I'm glad they're not, but it's not because I'm a greedy bitch; it's because I don't want any editions available early.

I am literally sick with stress, and this is not in any way helping. Please, don't buy my books before their actual release date. Please, don't place an order with a site which is offering my books before their actual release date. Please, don't call me horrible names because you can't have what you want the second that you want it.

Please.

(Because it must be said...comment amnesty. I'm already crying hard enough.)

not_from_stars

February 23 2012, 23:02:06 UTC 5 years ago

New comment

*hugs*

I'm so sorry that you're going through this and that people are making it worse.

*sends tea and chocolate*

seanan_mcguire

September 24 2012, 17:23:40 UTC 4 years ago

Thank you.

droewyn

February 23 2012, 23:04:53 UTC 5 years ago

I'm so sorry people are being evil to you. I'm looking forward to buying DA on March 6!

September 24 2012, 18:00:48 UTC 4 years ago

djbp

February 23 2012, 23:11:11 UTC 5 years ago

Sigh, at least Amazon.co.uk still show a probable ship date after the 6th.

Wanders off to leave a plate of sarnies made with white bread and marg for Seanan and a beer and cookies for Coyote.

Hugs from me and quiet burbles from Socrates.

September 24 2012, 17:24:23 UTC 4 years ago

Thank you, bestest one.

erinwrites

February 23 2012, 23:17:31 UTC 5 years ago

Oh, honey. People really and truly suck. I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. *hugs*

September 24 2012, 17:50:00 UTC 4 years ago

Love you.

slantiness

February 23 2012, 23:22:58 UTC 5 years ago

Now I am very determined to buy your book, FROM a REAL BOOKSTORE, the WEEK IT IS PUBLISHED.

I don't really have any money but by golly I have enough for this >:-(

August 24 2012, 17:24:30 UTC 4 years ago

You are splendid.

murphys_lawyer

February 23 2012, 23:23:50 UTC 5 years ago

I am so sorry that a bunch of whining children with an overweening sense of entitlement have decided to pick you as a target because someone else apparently made a mistake.

Keep calm, keep notes, and when your book is officially released, write it all up. Name names. Shame them. And if you feel up to it, then post it.

I'll keep an eye open for when your book makes it to the UK, too.

September 24 2012, 17:49:43 UTC 4 years ago

silvertwi

February 23 2012, 23:34:10 UTC 5 years ago

I actually saw Jim Hines' post before yours, but I'm commenting here.

*hugs* if they're wanted. I'm so sorry that's happening to you. I wish I could fix the world so this didn't happen, to anyone.

I'm also going to buy three copies of Discount Armageddon instead of one and give the extras to libraries. In the first week. If I had the money to spare to buy 50 copies, I would do so. Hang in there. You have other people who admire you and respect you who are rooting for you.

September 24 2012, 18:00:31 UTC 4 years ago

jongibbs

February 23 2012, 23:39:11 UTC 5 years ago

{{{hugs}}}

August 23 2012, 22:28:29 UTC 4 years ago

*hug*

rollick

February 23 2012, 23:41:53 UTC 5 years ago

Well, on the bright side, I tweeted about it in a frothing rage, and a bunch of people read your post and sympathized or thought the book sounded terrific or both, so they ordered it… for Kindle.

August 22 2012, 20:36:26 UTC 4 years ago

Awesome!

acelightning

February 23 2012, 23:48:20 UTC 5 years ago

First of all, *HUGS*

When people are "fans" of a particular author or performer, they have a woeful tendency to feel as if they're in some sort of personal relationship with the object of their admiration. If that person somehow fails to live up to their fans' expectations, no matter how unrealistic those expectations might be, the fans feel betrayed, as if a lover had cheated on them or something, and their affection turns to anger. (I was appalled at the "person in the street" interviews I heard from Newark last week, where people were demanding their "right" to attend Whitney Houston's funeral. Somehow they expect their fan status to confer upon them the same intimate privilege as the poor woman's family.)

Well, fuck that shit. Your fans, including me, have no claim on you. You could decide that you're never going to write or sing another word for the rest of your life, and it would be nobody's business but your own. (Although I devoutly hope you never do so!)

So take a few slow, deep breaths, and "ground and center" yourself. Have some of my virtual chocolate and a virtual cup of tea. And another *hug* or ten.

September 24 2012, 17:59:19 UTC 4 years ago

4 years ago

biomekanic

February 23 2012, 23:53:56 UTC 5 years ago

To paraphrase the hippies from Avatar: The Last Airbender: "Don't let the asshats get you down, Seanan"

September 17 2012, 18:34:32 UTC 4 years ago

Thanks, honey.

sirriamnis

February 23 2012, 23:54:11 UTC 5 years ago

That sucks a lot. My sympathies. Take a long hot shower, cuddle cats and ignore jerks.

August 23 2012, 22:27:57 UTC 4 years ago

Cats are awesome.

tactical facepalm

nimitzbrood

February 23 2012, 23:56:37 UTC 5 years ago

Geeze. First I wish I could say I can't believe people would say such things but unfortunately I can easily believe it. (I work in tech support.) Inside these beings are exactly the words they spout at you and I hope you can take some small comfort in the fact that in one way or another Karma will get paid back threefold on their actions. (Not equivalent to visiting each one of them with a chainsaw personally but try and take the small comforts where they come from. K?)

Second I personally won't be buying your book before the release date. I could easily since I am now permanently employed again. Out of respect I will be waiting until my taxes come in and then probably buy multiple books of yours. :-) (I'm behind on my reading. Way behind. Your books were on my list of first major personal purchases with the tax money.)

Third and finally (before I have to go shovel snow) Daw has already seen your worth from the start. This is not the end of the world even though that tiny, tormented, scared, and screaming voice in your head is telling you so.

You've got gifts, you have words in you, you have music in you, you're chock full of art and magick and wonder, and on top of all that you're beautiful. No petty swearing little (*&%W* will _ever_ change that.

September 24 2012, 17:23:23 UTC 4 years ago

peachtess

February 24 2012, 00:04:15 UTC 5 years ago

Very sad people are treating you this way. I shall be purchasing both the ebook and physical copy on the 6th.

August 22 2012, 20:15:54 UTC 4 years ago

wednes

February 24 2012, 00:07:47 UTC 5 years ago

Hey man,

filkertom hipped me to this nightmare you're enduring. How awful.
A book release is supposed to be exhilarating and wonderful, but it's...this? I'm so sorry you have to deal with this.
As an author myself, I could not even imagine. And for your so-called fans to get so shitty with you? That is just appalling and obscene.

You hang in there, man. All the buzz of people wanting to buy early must mean it's an awesome book that people will love. I don't know that first week numbers are all that. Plenty of people find success by growing their readership a little at a time.

September 17 2012, 18:45:58 UTC 4 years ago

Thank you for your support.

Also your icon is awesome.

elialshadowpine

February 24 2012, 00:07:51 UTC 5 years ago

*hugs offered*

August 7 2012, 21:29:55 UTC 4 years ago

*hugs gladly taken, and returned*

cryptaknight

February 24 2012, 00:10:01 UTC 5 years ago

These are your fans calling you these horrible, misogynist things? People that enjoy your writing? I am truly flabbergasted. And appalled. Really, really appalled.

I'm also sorry that people trying to do right by you and pre-order are now inadvertently contributing to a stressful situation. I planned to wait until March, and will continue to do so.

August 7 2012, 21:29:32 UTC 4 years ago

I'm not sure "fan" is the word, but "fanatic" surely is. The problem being, what they're fanatic about is getting their own way, not playing nicely with the other children.

kestrels_nest

February 24 2012, 00:16:46 UTC 5 years ago

Seanan, dearheart, please don't make yourself sick over this. DAW makes the decisions as to whether to keep a series going, and they already know about the mistake and how it happened, so I would hope they'd take that into account when looking at your numbers regardless of what the best seller lists do. I am also sure your official first week numbers will shine despite Amazon's mistake.

As for the immature horse's rumps whose response to frustration is to threaten or abuse you....if you can without further distress, report them. That sort of thing is contrary to pretty much every ToS agreement I've ever seen.

I will wait for me e-book, but I'll also be sure to buy it that first week now that I know how much it matters. We've got your back, kid. HUGS

August 7 2012, 21:28:46 UTC 4 years ago

Thank you. Very much.

And DAW has been wonderful.

deborah_c

February 24 2012, 00:17:18 UTC 5 years ago

I get called a lot of horrible stuff on a regular basis (mostly in real life rather than online) but I'm still shocked.

I'm not sure whether UK sales count toward the numbers. Amazon here are currently quoting 14th March as the expected delivery date, but I've cancelled my pre-order, and I'll reorder it on the 6th. (I'd prefer to buy from a real bookshop, but we're pretty much down (even in Cambridge) to having big chains, and I don't think they'll have US books immediately...)

On a separate note, do you have any idea why Amazon might have sent me an email two weeks ago changing the expected date for Blackout to July 9th, and then another last week saying it was no longer available and cancelling the order?

vixyish

February 24 2012, 18:15:16 UTC 5 years ago

That's probably not something Seanan's gonna have the answer to, but it seems to me like it must be another error? Amazon UK's current page for Blackout just says not yet released and available for pre-order.

mutantenemy

February 24 2012, 00:22:05 UTC 5 years ago

**Shink! Shink! Shiiiiiink!**

**Grumbles as she sharpens her machette and thinks of the asshats who believe you have any control over when your book is published, let alone what the cover looks like, or how much it will cost.**

**Ponders silently in Pooh-fashion that perhaps dismemberment of rude readers is not the best solution. Most fun? Yes. But not the wisest.**

**Sighs and reverently slides her machette back into her knitted cozy**

**hands you pretty pumpkin cupcake, gives you virtual hugs, and says, "You are one of my favorite authors. I can totally wait for your book to be released. My Nook will be ready and waiting."**

Haters are gonna hate, but Zombies are always love. Let them have brains. :)

August 7 2012, 21:19:29 UTC 4 years ago

I love you like burning.

Just FYI.

cgbookcat1

February 24 2012, 00:24:15 UTC 5 years ago

I'm sorry that people are being such jerks. Of course it's not your fault! I preordered last fall (from Amazon) without thinking of such things. Now I wish I could cancel and wait until the release date, but I believe it's been shipped. Next time I'll make a point to go with an independent, even if they have to ship across half the country. Maybe I'll buy an extra and donate it to the local library.

Sending thoughts of hot cocoa your way.

August 7 2012, 21:19:08 UTC 4 years ago

Thank you, very much.

anna_en_route

February 24 2012, 00:34:45 UTC 5 years ago

It sucks that this is happening and those people are children.

From the outside publishing seems like an extremely broken system (I know, I know it's the best one that there is at the moment), I hope at some point in the future it is improved.