originally posted by Clansman
What if we picked one or two of these major sites and focussed our attention? Five might be a bit much, but if we each posted to one site, maybe once a week, and told people about these awesome books, then the much-desired buzz would start. For this to work, a concerted effort would be required.
So, what are the five major sites, and which one(s) should we target?
(In anticipation of storming the battlements of publishing convention, Clansman goes looking for his lochaber axe…)
originally posted by DarthJazy
I DO do not have the time to find a site that is large enough to start posting in but if you can tell me where to go ill troll that site 8 hours a day 5 days a week and post atlest 5 times a day or ore hehe
originally posted by Zorana Lewis
Well even in the UK books are hard to find unless you go looking on the internet for them. I went on a little wander through Birmingham (a large city) on Monday and I found the following:
Waterstones University branch: Stormed Fortress (2 copies) only.
Waterstones New Street branch: Stormed Fortress (2 copies), Traitor's Knot ( 1 copy) and Fugitive Prince (1 copy).
Waterstones High Street branch: Stormed Fortress (3 copies), Curse of the Mistwraith (1 copy) and Ships of Merior. (1 copy)
Borders: Stormed Fortress (2 copies)and Traitor's Knot. (2 copies)
WHSmith High Street: Don't sell them.
WHSmith New Street Station: Don't sell them.
Point is, if the books aren't available to entice the casual reader who might spot it in the shops and be interested, then how are they supposed to know about the series? Or if they're a pain to get hold of - which they are, unless you use Play.com, who have miraculously just got them all back in stock - then most people aren't going to bother.
Zorana - play.com got restocked because you told me it had sold out of copies, and I tackled it by request through my publisher. If I know, then I can do something. 
Computer auto reorder, these days, often determines whether books stay on shelves. To get that, the titles have to reach a certain number of sales per month. As you noticed, if the book is not on the shelf, it can't get seen, or bought - to reverse this, people need to know about the book (see it mentioned, reviewed, or hear of it from a friend) They have to ask for it - orders for books will trigger auto reorder status, if it happens with any frequency at all, because the computer figures, with difficulty ordering, the title is missing sales…so orders COUNT, and orders close together can reverse a book not being easily available.
I know this is the way it works in the USA, can't be all that different in the UK, etc.
One thing that can bounce a title OFF the auto reorder list, is, temporary out of stock at the publisher's or distributer's end. The computer sees no sales, and so, the title is dropped. Nobody takes time to "fix" the figure, or take into account why the title dropped off…too many titles, and the computer isn't smart.
I have certainly had books fall off of auto reorder in the past, when stock levels dropped, in merger messes.
It goes back to - awareness of the title in question. Enough people hear of it, ask for it, order it - bingo!
Thanks for your impressive inventory!
originally posted by Clansman
After ranting a bit above, and completing some research, I have started a thread on Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles website, and others of you may wish to join the website and participate the discussion, and start some threads of your own. If Janny gets five threads (she currently has one) then she gets an author forum.
I need the rest of you to participate to make this work. Otherwise, I'll just be a lone voice in the wilderness, and that will really tick me off.
Here is the address for the thread I started:
http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/forum/43970-janny-wurts-most-under-recognized-fan tasy-author.html
[From the moderator: Please read this entire thread regarding netiquette at the referenced site.]
Please contribute to the thread, and start some new threads of your own, perhaps related to specific books (a Stormed Fortress thread would be a good idea). It will only cost a bit of time, not money.
(Message edited by admin on February 23, 2008)
originally posted by Adam Bradbury
Clansman,
Great thread you started at:
http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/forum/43970-janny-wurts-most-under-recognized-fan tasy-author.html
[From the moderator: Please read this entire thread regarding netiquette at the referenced site.]
I just posted on it myself. We really do need to start spreading the word about's Janny's works out in the wider community.
I really wouldn't like to imagine a world without her books being on my local bookstores shelves.
(Message edited by admin on February 23, 2008)
originally posted by DarthJazy
done
originally posted by DarthJazy
Why doesn't HarperCollins America carry Janny?
originally posted by Clansman
'Cause they are idiots.
Anyway, a new thread by another poster has popped up on sffchronicles.co.uk. It is about Janny and character development. Excellent fodder for discussion, should you fellow fans be so inclined to head that way. The link is:
http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/forum/44058-janny-wurts-and-character-development .html
[From the moderator: Please read this entire thread regarding netiquette at the referenced site.]
Please keep this up. The other thread is a couple of days old and has well over 20 posts, and only 2 from me.
(Message edited by admin on February 23, 2008)
originally posted by alexith
Well I have added my 2 1/2 cents to both of the threads. I think it was a good idea to carry the discussion onto that broader forum.
originally posted by Mark Stephen Kominski
Me, too. Now if only 25,000 of our closest friends would just do the same…
originally posted by Clansman
It would be good if several more of you would start threads at ssfchronicles.co.uk (at least three). This way, Janny will get a dedicated author's thread, which is really important for exposure and getting the right information out about her writing.
Look at all the topics we have on this page alone to choose from. Pick any that interest you, or use new ideas. My immediate, off-the-cuff suggestions:
1. Sulfin Evend & Lysaer's redemption could be blended quite nicely, and could be expanded into a discussion on corruption and sympathetic "bad" guys generally. Before I get hammered, note the quotes on "bad".
2. Elaira and the Koriathain and Moriel Prime. The role of women generally in WoLaS.
3. WoLaS: how fantasy has grown up from just being about a farm boy with a magic sword and a kindly old wizard who disappears when things get tough.
4. WoLaS: unintended parallels with current events (i.e. The War on Terror).
5. Stormed Fortress: what a cool and amazing and brilliant and compelling book it is (add your own adjective).
And that's just off the top of my head. However, if the same person keeps starting new threads, they lose a bit of their power.
Come on people! We've got a little momentum, so let's make it a lot of momentum (please, no political references).
originally posted by Clansman
Regarding my last post, I should point out that it would be appropriate for people to only join ssfchronicles.co.uk in good faith. In other words, don't join just to raise awareness about the WoLaS, but rather join to be a contributor in that community in other topics as well.
It was pointed out to me quite bluntly (check it out at the link above) that just to join to raise awareness about WoLaS is a kind of spamming. I did not intend to do that. I did intend, and do intend, to talk about Janny's books. I also intend to talk about other authors there. In my enthusiasm in the above posts, I did not mention that. I certainly do not wish to bring Janny's name into disrepute, so if you are inclined to join in, do so as a true member of that community, and comment in other threads as well.
I went there to tell other like-minded people about great books. That is what all of us should do. It is also good to step out of the safe confines of our favourite author's webpage and talk to others about how good she is, and maybe face a little rough going.
Just a thought.
originally posted by Jeffrey L Watson
An FYI: I added admin messages the posts above that has the links to the forum containing threads about Janny's works. These were added so that anyone new coming into the topic will read the full extent of how to post over there. That an influx of people who only post in those threads and no others is not acceptable behavior.
A disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this forum are those of the posters and not endorsed by either the moderator of the forum or by Janny Wurts. Any negative or inflammatory remarks should not be interpreted as an effort by either of us to denigrate the publishing industry. The remarks are allowed to remain in the spirit of free speech.
Jeffrey L Watson
(Message edited by admin on February 23, 2008)
originally posted by Clansman
Posted an SF review on sffchronicles:
http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/forum/44211-janny-wurts-stormed-fortress.html
Take a peek!
originally posted by Clansman
Hello? Anybody else out there on the Chrons? There's a few, namely Grimward, dekket, churning away. Others are most heartily welcome to join us. with a new Janny thread. I don't want to start too many of my own, as it gets a bit old for some of the unenlightened.
originally posted by Greebo
Heh - I'll join up - just had a little look on there and it looks amazing. Plenty of interesting places for me to lurk, read and post. My opportunities to comment can be limited as I am on half-speed dial-up and I have to watch my power consumption (limit computer use) as I live in the wilds and we are on solar. Having said that I will definitely be participating when I can. Good luck all.
Cheers
Jules
The Lizard of Oz
originally posted by Clansman
Greebo:
Are you The Procrastinator?
originally posted by Greebo
I is.
originally posted by Greebo
Hey Clanny dude:
Just a thought, but I wouldn't worry too much yet about getting Janny a sub-topic on the Chrons. If we want more public awareness, or just to remind people about Janny, then having the Janny threads out in plain view in the general topics is probably just where they should be.