A while ago my friend Tara and I went to Toronto to meet Sophie Kinsella. After we'd met Sophie and had our books signed, we ended up talking to her publicists for a bit telling them how we handsell her books all the time, etc.
At that point we were told a secret, he took us over to the shelf and showed us Sophie's other name. So, we went back to the store buzzing with this news and ordered up the books. The publicist also told us that in the next month (April, I guess) they were going to be running a contest. When Shopaholic Takes Manhattan came out they ran a similar contest, every time a bookseller talked a customer into buying the books they got a ballot and then at the end of the month the ballots were all thrown in a hat and one winner was chosen. The prize in that instance was a trip for two to Manhattan for a weekend, airfare, accomodation and $1000 to spend while there.
They said this years contest would be similar, with the winner getting to choose between a trip to Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal and the $1000. Because the contest is open to all the booksellers in Canada they had to make the prizes something that would interest everyone. So, we reported that back to the people at the store, and suggested to them all that they read at least one of the books so they could handsell them.
Not one of them listened to me, and when the month was over, and we sent the ballots in the only names on the ballots were mine and Tara's. I'm going to have to make sure I tell them all that they should have listened to me! ;) (hee!)
So, today I'm at work trying to handsell Marian Keyes books to a customer who was off on a trip to Europe (lucky thing!), and let me tell you it was taking some work. Apparently her favourite kinds of books are those in which the character struggles with an illness and ends up dying. Which sounds terribly depressing to me, however Rachel's holiday appealed to her because the main character is a drug addict. Yes, I'm serious. The phone rings and Monica answers and then comes around to tell me it's for me. Generally if we're talking to someone, we don't interrupt them, so I was sort of curious. She told me it wasn't my mom (who is pretty much the only person who calls me at work), so that made me even more curious.
When I answered the phone the woman identified herself as being from Random House, and my immediate thought was, what on earth have I done that would concern Random House? I have such a guilt complex.
After asking me how to pronounce my last name she went on to ask me if I remembered the Shopaholic contest, and said that they'd pulled my name as the winner!
To which I intelligently responded "You've got to be kidding". Anyway, she tried to explain things to me, but realized quite rightly that I wasn't really in absorbing information mode, so she said she'd call me back tomorrow.
I had to give her the address for the store, for home, etc... I guess she's got an information package and release forms for me and whomever I decide to take with me to sign. Also, all the details of the prize, because honestly, I don't remember what it was, I didn't think too much about it, because who ever thinks they'll actually win?
Thank you Random House, thank you Sophie Kinsella and hell...thank you Indigo!
Posted by Michelle at June 2, 2003 06:09 PM