Any way you choose, you're bound to lose in New York City

[vovat]

Today is the day of the summer solstice. I guess that means the days are going to be getting shorter from now on. That will make bethje happy, I'm sure, but not me.

Anyway, yesterday, Beth and I travelled up to Jersey City to visit not_glimmer. We took the PATH train into Manhattan, and went to Books of Wonder, which I have to visit every time I go to New York. They'd recently moved two doors down, and started selling cupcakes and such. I bought cupcakes for Beth and myself, and, more importantly (at least to me), two Oz books I didn't have yet. One is Philip John Lewin's The Witch Queen of Oz, and the other Sherwood Smith's The Emerald Wand of Oz. It really seems like Oz books appeal to such a niche audience that it's surprising they keep publishing new ones. I'm glad they do, though.

After the bookstore, we went to eat at a Thai restaurant. This was the first time I'd had Thai food, and it was pretty good. I had the Pad Thai, which consisted of noodles, chicken, shrimp, peanuts, and bean sprouts. For dessert, we went to a different place (I don't remember the names of any of them), which had really good cheesecake. I guess it makes sense that New York would have high-quality New York cheesecake.

Later, we went to Toy Tokyo, where Beth and I bought little magnetic Super Mario Bros. figures. I got Luigi and a Spiny, and she got Mario dying and a mushroom. Beth also got a Mario stage figure, which had some Bullet Bills and such. Then, before leaving the city, we stopped by the bookstore where Jordan works. He had put on some Young Fresh Fellows albums, and it was really cool to be able to hear them in a public place. At that bookstore, I bought A Tourist Guide to Lancre, one of the Discworld maps. It's pretty cool, and it includes the Place Where the Sun Does Not Shine, a clever running gag from the series. I still want to get the Ankh-Morpork map, but I haven't had any luck in finding that one.

We then went back to Jersey City, where I met Tavie and three cats. (Actually, I met two of the cats before going into New York, but I'm not about to let facts interfere with my narrative structure. {g}) I like cats. Beth thinks I sound like an old lady around them. {g} Anyway, Beth, Erin, Tavie, and I talked for a little while; and then Beth and I went back to her house. It was a fun day. It's nice to get up to New York for something other than a concert.

I believe Laura Cantrell's new album was released today, but neither of the two music stores I checked had it. I'll probably buy it tomorrow; there are two places on my way to work that are likely to stock it. Unfortunately, CD prices tend to be fairly high at both of those places, but I'll probably pay them anyway.

Comments

[slfcllednowhere.livejournal.com]

I was gonna post this earlier, but then I forgot, but then seeing Beth's post reminded me. It was funny for me reading about that cos I remember most of those people from the Conan and Kids newsgroups and other places, not that I was really friends with any of them, except Sarah.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I know Beth used to read the KITH newsgroup. I'm really not all that familiar with the show, personally. I've seen a few random episodes and Brain Candy, but that's about it.

"..it's surprising they keep publishing new ones."

[(Anonymous)]

Thanks for buying my book, "The Witch Queen of Oz". The first (and probably only) print run is now sold out. Most new Oz books have very small print runs. This is because outlets that could promote and sell new Oz books don't want to be bothered when they can sell Harry Potter in their sleep. To get into the chains, one must have a distributor with whom they already have a working relationship. To get the distributor, you need a track record where they're going to make enough money quickly to justify their efforts. To get the track record, you need to have already been sold via the chains... Therefore, small houses publish limited runs. I hope you enjoyed the book. I am presently writing another Oz novel, "The Master Crafters of Oz" which I expect to have in print on 2006.

Philip John Lewin

Re: "..it's surprising they keep publishing new ones."

[vovat.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. I can see how it would be hard to get a book into chain stores, but it would certainly be cool if they DID carry Oz books in big chain bookstores! Actually, Borders used to carry a few Emerald City Press books, but I don't believe they do anymore.

I enjoyed your book, and I'm sure I'll read the new one, if I can find it.