Lynsay, David.

What is the actual release date for Vampires are Forever?

I received an email from amazon.com which mentioned the release date as 29th Jan. 2008.

I thought I'd read Feb. 2008 as well.

Today at the World's Biggest Bookstore (Toronto)the books are already on the shelves.

It's my understanding that books purchased before the actual release date don't reflect in your overall sales numbers because they don't actually start recording sales until that date.

So, I'm wondering if I should wait until the true release date to buy the book.

Thanks,

Connie

Hi Connie,

The official release date is the 29th of January. You're absolutely correct when you say that sales aren't recorded until the actual date on which the book is supposed to be published. An early release does have an adverse effect on where the book shows in the listings and it is annoying when this happens. The only thing we can do is to bring it to the attention of publisher and hope they can talk to the retailers.

I've already seen the books on the shelves of other stores here in Canada and they all seem to be subsidiaries of Chapters Bookstore. Chapters, or at least their subsidiaries, such as Coles, do appear to have a very lax policy when it comes to respecting embargo dates and which, in turn, strikes me as being very disrespectful to all of the authors who are affected by this kind of thing.

But since the book is already on the shelves I'd have to say you should grab a copy while you can, put your feet up and be one of the first to read Thomas' story. The only thing is - and I'm sure we don't need to say this, is to ask you not to post any spoilers about the book here on the forum until everyone gets a chance to get the book.

Hope you enjoy it.

Dave

Thank you David!

I've noticed that Indigo stores go quite the other way. Often I have to wait a week or more after the release date before a book shows up on the shelves. Hadn't noticed early shelving at the former Chapters/Coles, etc. stores.

I guess I shall be making a slight detour on the way home!

Connie, whose lips are sealed

Mr. Spice,

I have pre-ordered my books from my local bookstore, before the release date. It's a small Bookland, which is part of the Books-A-Million chain. I like to order locally, because we are a small city with only one other specialty bookstore in town. Otherwise, I have to drive an hour to go to the larger bookstores like Barnes & Noble, or order online.

I like keeping my little bookstore in business, even though I have to wait a couple of weeks for the books to come in. If I don't preorder, they may not get the books, or may get only a couple of copies. Since they order mine, they are put behind the counter, and I'm called when they arrive. That way, I'm guaranteed to have my books, so I don't have to worry about a "cat-fight" in the Romance section of the bookstore over the only copy available. But, I don't pay for the books until they come in after the release date, so does that go into the sales records, etc. Just wondering...

Sometimes the Kroger Grocery Store or Wal-Mart will get the books, but I've never seen them out before the release date!

wren

Dave, my bookstore called me tonight and said my Vampires Are Forever books are in already. They came in on today's shipment. (I always get two, because I buy one for my sister who lives four hours away and we read together...and her birthday is in two weeks.)

I didn't expect them in before the release date. She also said Vampire, Interrupted would be in around mid-February, but I can't remember the date.

Of course, I'm excited, but I want them to count on Lynsay's sales. Each book counts for the bestseller lists, right?

wren, pleasantly surprised but will keep quiet...no spoilers

Wren were you able to pick it up? Here we can not.
They keep them in the back until the release date then hide them

Mr. Spice

I read the other posting on this page, and it peaked my intrest. I just checked out BOOKS-A-MILLION web site, and it says you can buy it now, and have in 2 or 3. ( don't want to get anyone in trouble, but its not fair to lynsay)

I can pick them up tomorrow. I could have even gone tonight, but we were having dinner when they called. They know me so well in this bookstore that they probably just called to tell me my order was here. Originally, when I placed the order, they said it would not come in until the end of the first week of Feb., and Marguerite's book would come in around March 12th.

I can wait and pick them up on the release date. I don't know that the regular bookstore workers that I know in this bookstore would know that it hurts an author if it's sold before the release date. But management should know, and explain that even orders have to wait until the release date.

I found it odd and surprising, because I was expecting my books in February.

wren...perplexed