Monday, April 6, 2009

Fall Already!?!

Does anyone else feel like the ordering seasons are right freaking on top of eachother? I feel like I just got done ordering Summer (which in some cases I did!) books and already I have to think about things that are coming out in December . . . some of which are the paperbacks for things that aren't even out yet! How am I supposed to know if I want something if I have NO IDEA how it did the first time? And the publishers complain about all of the returns. Maybe it wouldn't be such an issue if we actually had more than 10 minutes to see how a title does before we have to buy it in 3 different formats. I love the book world and I love my job, but this is one of the most irritating quirks. I hate to buy a title just to return it because I am of the mind to be prepared just in case something hits.

Not that I'm not excited for the fall, particularly for Stephen King's new one (I know, I am a total sell out, but seriously, he is guaranteed to please in my world . . . especially when I am in the midst of childbirth which I will be with this new one) Under the Dome and Diana Gabaldon's Echo in the Bone. I know, they are at hilariously opposite ends of the spectrum but both authors are able to entertain me for hours on end without me feeling like I have wasted my time and since both titles will probably be over 1,000 pages, I feel like I am going to get my money's worth as well. I am also excited for all of the little gems that are sure to be hiding in the catalogs. I love sniffing out first time authors or respected midlist authors that are new to me (which, given that I am 27 isn't that hard even being a buyer and having access to all of the titles that I do).

I just get so excited and so depressed in the same instant when the next season's catalogs start showing up from UPS and FedEx. I can't wait to see what is in them but then I realize how much time it takes to put all of the orders in and lose some of my interest. That is why I can't wait for Above the Treeline's Edelweiss to launch. For someone like me who buys all of the adult and all of the kid's books for a 10,000 sqft. + store, it's a big undertaking because I input all of my orders every season. If Edelweiss allows me to order, section, and import it all into my POS without having to spend hours with a 10 key, I am all for it. I will change my whole routine not to have to put catalogs in. I stacked them all up once to see how tall it was when I had them all ordered for the season and it was as tall as I was (I am 5'2" if I'm lucky). That's ridiculous! At least with e-catalogs I won't have to worry about them falling over on me . . .

Did I mention that I love my job?