It was bound to happen one day.My book. On offer at a garage sale.
And the worst insult -- they were only asking 10¢ for it.
The title?
Chapter & Hearse.
Not only that, but there were cozies sitting there from two of my author pals. (One of them I had blurbed.)
I asked the woman running the sale if she'd enjoyed the book, which looked a little worse for wear with dogged ears and a savagely split spine. She said, "I never read it. It either belongs to my mother or daughter."
Not any more. It's MINE now. And the next time I meet up with an old pal who asks me what I'm doing these days, I'm going to give it away.
What would you think if something that took you six months to make was on sale for 10¢?
.
Wow, that's a tough question. I think at first my heart would sink, but then I'd realized that not everyone values books the way writers do. :(
ReplyDeleteHave a worse story. Found an autographed copy of my one book that I gave to someone you know- a cozy author- for sale online. At a used bookstore where she turned it in for credit and they happen to sell online. I asked & they showed me the inscription. I was devastated.
ReplyDeleteHow heartbreaking. But I agree, sometimes realizing that some folks don't value books as much as the authors can help.
ReplyDeleteFirst I would feel joy that someone originally invested money to buy the book. Then I would hope that the book had some value and was not considered worthless. Then I would feel some relief that the book is not in the trash, and has a value remaining to the seller. Even if that value is only .10 cents.
ReplyDeleteOn a more positive note, I have to think perhaps someone else might buy the book and fall in love with it, only to want to read more by the author :)
ReplyDeleteGood opportunity to pass your book on... check out BookCrossing and considering letting your book out into the wild!
ReplyDeleteOoops; meant to leave an url... BookCrossing: http://www.bookcrossing.com/
ReplyDeleteI wonder how you feel about libraries that sell ex-library copies cheap? I bought Bookplate Special for $0.25 at a library sale, but this prompted me to buy the rest of the books in the series.
ReplyDeleteI'm always disappointed to hear a library has decided not to keep one of my books, and yet I've bought my fair share of library discards too (and wondered how they could part with such WONDERFUL books!!!). But I'm very glad to hear that 25 cent investment led you to purchase the rest of the books in the series. Thank you so much. (My dentists thank you, too.)
ReplyDeleteIf it helps Lorna, my library has many copies of the Booktown Mystery books (I only read cozies so I'm not sure on the other series). I'm not sure how libraries work in the US but here in SK, Canada the library sells copies they consider in too bad a state to loan, ie they've been read a lot, cracked spine, dog eared. They usually have bought a new copy and are selling the old copy off.
ReplyDeleteI love finding new series this way. I bought Maggie Sefton and Kate Collins book this way too, and then go buy the other books in the series leading up to the cheap copy.
I probably would have cried and then of course, bought my book back! The other two would have come along with it. You have to think though, that this lady obviously is not a lover of books and didn't know what a gem she had! Why do people insist on bending pages and roughing up their books...that is something I do not handle well. I love, love, love library sells...you never know what great finds you'll discover!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Bella. Libraries discard because of overuse. How heartbreaking to see your creation in such a state. I don't discard my cozies (or many others for that matter); my friend Jeri and I buy the books and then squabble about who gets to keep them on her shelf. I won the Booktown series and they are all lined up on my shelf - no garage sale in their future!
ReplyDeleteI was mulling over this dilemma of seeing your book at a garage sale for 10 cents, and I could think of a positive way to express an idea I had about the wonderful book for 10 cents. Often in my life I could not afford the retail price of a paper back. I would go to yard sales and was so excited to buy a book for 25 cents or less. Otherwise I wouldn't have that book. I did go to the library to borrow books, but there is nothing quite like owning your own copy. I am able now to have a Kindle and I usually get my books to read on the Kindle.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering what you think we should do with books that we've read (and DVDs and CDs) that we are done with and no longer want.
ReplyDeleteI think you're overly anxious about the situation. Chill out. Of course people don't keep books forever (or DVDs, CDs, or videogames, etc.) A lot of work went into making them, especially in movies. The reality is that people sell, trade, or give away items they no longer use, even book lovers. Otherwise the items would just sit on our shelves and never be used again. Ever buy a DVD for $20 and only watch it once? Even if you love books (even an autographed one), you may not want to keep it forever.