Here is how to buy a book for the holidays
Hard to believe, but Revenge of the Star Survivors is entering its third holiday season. I know it is the holiday season because the radio has been playing Christmas music since the day after Halloween, and the newspaper has been carrying ads for Black Friday specials. (Note: If you are younger than me, ask your grandparents what “radio” and “newspaper” are.)
Also, I know that the book is still around because I get statements from the publisher telling me that they have not yet sold all the copies they printed up. Their foot-tapping as they wonder what to do with that space in the warehouse is only implied.
Anyhow, one of the frequent questions that came up in the early days of the book’s life was, “Mike! How can a I buy a copy!” This was second in popularity to, “Hey! Should we call the police about the guy in the Star Wars shirt who’s taking selfies in the middle-grade fiction section?” The answer to the second question is, “Sorry, I’ll show myself out now.” And the answer to the first is below.
How to Buy a Book
Go to a bookstore. Your city probably has one, if you look.
Ask for a book.
If you do not know which book you want — say, “I am looking for a book that reflects my personal interests, which involve feelings of isolation, science fiction and snack cakes.” Someone can probably help you.
If the book you want is not there, ask them to order it for you.
Give them a little money.
Congratulate yourself!
Note: This advice works not only for my book, but pretty much any book. It’s really remarkable, when you think about it.
It is possible, of course, to buy books online. This is has fewer steps but is fraught with danger. For example, one large online retailer sometimes sells books in a way that diverts money from the publisher and author. The large online retailer does not care, but if publishers and authors do not have money, eventually it means you will not have books. So choose wisely.
How to Get a Signed Copy of a Book
If it’s amazing that you can get any kind of book you want just by going to a store and asking, it’s even more amazing that you sometimes can get a copy of the book you want signed by the actual person who made it! This always stuns me. You could spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a car without getting the autograph of Enzo Ferrari or Ferdinand Porsche, probably because they are dead. But you can spend nine bucks on a paperback and get the actual human who assembled the words to inscribe a personal note to you or the person you are giving it to!
The easiest way to get a signed book is to show up at a book-signing. My own events are listed on my cleverly named "Events" page. I have none scheduled as I write this. But that could change.
If you’re in the Dallas area, I have been known to meet people at convenient, well-lighted locales to inscribe a copy or two. And if you’re not in the Dallas area, shoot me a note at revengeofthestarsurvivors@gmail.com. We’ll find a way to work things out.
If you are looking for a bookseller to patronize, stores that have supported Revenge of the Star Survivors events include Interabang Books in Dallas, BookPeople in Austin, Tattered Cover in Denver, Second Star to the Right Books in Denver, and Barnes & Noble.
(If you’re planning on going to one of these stores in person, call ahead to find out if they have a copy on hand. They might – might – have to look it up. Encourage them to grab some extras to have on hand for the holiday rush!)
Let me say this once more for emphasis – although not every author offers the same level of personal service (read: is as desperate) as me, this process works with any book! And giving a book as a gift not only makes your recipient happy and smarter, it makes you look distinguished and loving, and it makes the whole world slightly better. You will NOT get this sort of ripple effect by purchasing almost anything else, although if you’re shopping for me, you could also get me that new reissue of Abbey Road and I would not complain.
But seriously, go buy some books. And thank you.