Bakersfield News

There are many bonuses to working at a book store.  I’ve been doing so for over seven years and love the bonuses!  Stripped pocket books, magazines and nice discounts.  Plus, you’re in an environment that allows you all you need to survive.  Books and coffee.  Ahhh. 

Working at a bookstore also allows me the opportunity to read new books before they come out - prior to their actual release dates.  These books are called “advanced reader copies”, or “ARC’s” (as we say in the business), and are sent to book stores sometimes up to six months in advance.  They are usually uncorrected, unedited proofs, but come nicely packaged in paperback format and usually in a poor man’s version of the actual cover.  This works out pretty cool for those of us who like to keep ahead of the game, and works out for the publishers, too, because having booksellers read their product early let’s them get “free” advertising when the bookseller loves the book and starts talking it up prior to release.   That’s the idea, anyway.  What happens if we don’t like it?  Same thing.  You can tell the customer that as well, but – chances are, if the customer is a fan of any particular author, they’re going to get the book anyway.  Can someone say, “Win-Win Situation”?

The only downfall to this scenario is that you usually don’t get the highly anticipated copies of books that people are dying to get.  You’d never have gotten Harry Potter’s last six books this way, as they were under lock and key until release date.  I’m sure if someone has an ARC of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, it may just be worth something.  After J.K. Rowling’s career took off and Harry became the must-have book, they required book stores to not even open the boxes of books until the release date.  Same with The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown.  After his massively successful Da Vinci Code, it was “in the vault” until release date. 

For authors who’ve been picked up by major publishers, I’m sure having your book sent out as ARCs must be a sign that they’ve “made it”.  They’re in the big time. 

This happened recently to a friend of mine.  My friend worked with me at a book store about six years ago.  She quit because her husband’s job was transferred out of state.  She was sad to go, but said it would free her up to start writing that book she’s always wanted to write.  These are the things people say when unexpected stuff like this happens.  Some people follow through, some people don’t.  Nora followed through.  After completing her manuscript, she contacted a literary agent (with help from a friend) who then started to submit her work to publishers.  She was awarded a three book deal with publishing giant Simon & Schuster!  Not bad for a first timer!  Not bad at all.

Nora was kind enough to send me a full copy of her actual manuscript!  It was weird reading her book, which at this point resembled a stack of white paper as if you just opened a package to put into your printer.  But, as I flipped through each page, carefully restacking it nice and slow, I noticed that my friend was, in fact, a damned good writer!  I was reading it, not through her voice and personality, but from the characters in the book.  I completely forgot that my friend had penned these words and phrase and fit them into a story that was pretty damned good!  She told me her book would be out by next year (which is now this year), and that if I wanted, she’ll make sure the publisher sends me an ARC.  I was thrilled for her, and thanked her for the offer (which I quickly accepted, by the way)!

Well, I just received the ARC for my friend’s book (which is due out in August, 2010).  They (the publishers) changed the name from Shooter to A Bad Day’s Work and added a young woman on the cover carrying a news camera.  Her book has reviews on it by famed mystery and suspense writers Marcia Muller and Lisa Scottoline.  It also says it’s book one of a trilogy.  Wow!  My friend is big time! 

 The story is set in Bakersfield, and opens up with a murder in Buttonwillow where this shooter (mobile news camera person) must get to so the station can broadcast footage of her work on that evening’s news.  Apparently, it’s a very competitive job – first shooter on the scene gets the best footage.  The murders and suspects are all over the Bakersfield area, which should thrill all the locals, as we Bakos get the added bonus of actually knowing where she’s talking about. 

Nora and I still communicate via facebook and emails.  I’m so proud of her!  She’s the same, though.  No big head ego, no pompous attitude, just the same old Nora.  Kinda goofy, kinda nerdy, silly laugh and same values… all the same things that make her so endearing to me.    If you get a chance in August, come to Russo’s Books and buy A Bad Day’s Work by Nora McFarland.  It’s funny, suspensful and very well written.  And you may actually know who the murderer is!  (Perhaps I can even talk her into a Russo’s book signing!)  How far is Georgia from here?