My book at Kinokuniya Bookstore in San Francisco
Okay, y'all, some great news ! Starting in Feb 2012, my book will be available nationwide in bookstores and comic book stores ! World domination ! ... okay, make it national domination. *sigh*
But wait ? Isn't your book already available at stores ?
Yup, it is but it isn't as far reaching as it will be in 2012. Right now only a handful of stores around the country carries it. Starting in Feb, my book will be able to be ordered from *any* bookstore and comic book store in the country.
And here's where I need your help.
Look, I'm not a well-known author. It's not like I'm J. K. Rowling and bookstores orders hundreds of copies. I haven't been on Oprah or have a name Kardashian so honestly, I don't expect the person who orders books for bookstores may know what cosplay is plus I'm sure they are swamped with new titles every week. Chances are, they probably won't order copies of the book unless say...... a customer wants it ? ^^
If you like your local bookstore / comic book store to carry it, please ask them to carry it. If you need the ISBN number, it is 978-0615349060. What would even be *better* is that if you want to buy a copy of my book, please order through them. Support your local bookstore / comic book store !
So starting in December, my book will be available for bookstores/comic book stores to order. How it works is this : bookstores order the books, my distributor tells me in Jan how many books they need. I ship it out to them, they ship it out to the bookstores and Feb. rolls around and volia !
That's all I ask :) Please help me spread the word :)
In the meantime, I'll be shutting down my online store at the end of December. I figured if it goes nationwide in Feb, and it is already available on J-List and Amazon, then do I need to maintain my own store ?
So for the month of December, I am offering the book at $5 off as well as free shipping (it'll save you all together about $10 bucks) plus I will sign the book as well as include free stickers and postcards. This offer unfortunately is only available here in the US (sorry Canada, Mexico, and the rest of the world). Remember, it takes 7-10 days to get to your location so if you want to get it for someone for X-mas, order early ! After this, only way to get signed copies is to find me at a con.
That said, it has been an *incredible* experience for me for the past three years. When I started taking cosplay photos at AX 2008, I had no idea that 4 years later I would have a book available in stores across America. I spent the past 20 months at 29 cons talking to cosplayers from coast to coast. I can honestly say the thing I take away from my whole adventure was the opportunity to just talk to people all over the country and realized how cosplay has really inspired their lives. And really, that in turn, inspires me. I've always rooted for creativity and despite the negative aspects of cosplay (i.e costs, dramas), I believe it is a very positive aspect in one's lives.
I'm not sure what 2012 will bring but I can tell you one thing - I won't be hitting that many cons next year. It'll be much, much less and I hope to get into cons I've never had a chance to attend - such as Anime Boston, Animazement, Youmacon. Please follow my Facebook and Twitter and I'll keep you up to date on what's gonna happen.
You can also relive my 2012 by visiting my YouTube channel - most of the cons I attended, I made a video for and you can also check out on Flickr where I posted from cons I've attended in the past few years.
Hope y'all have a wonderful Christmas holiday !
cheers :)
ejen