Georgia with signed copy of Manuscript Found in Accra
Georgia with signed copy Manuscript Found in Accra.
Posts Tagged ‘Manuscript Found in Accra’
Georgia with Manuscript Found in Accra
September 26, 2014WHSmith a failing High Street chain
January 27, 2014Can it get any worse with WHSmith?
Unfortunately, oh yes.
I wanted to give a present each to two sisters. I decided upon Manuscript Found in Accra, pick up now, as on special offer in WHSmith.
Yes, on special offer, but try finding a shop that knows, or has in stock.
Knowing where not in stock, or no more than one, I thought I would try where I had not yet tried.
WHSmith Farnborough had a grand total of one copy in stock.
This was getting to be beyond a sick joke. I sought out the assistance of a member of staff.
What she told me was unbelievable, they had just sent back seven copies.
I pointed out, sticker on book clearly said, Buy One, Get one Half Price, how is this possible when you only have one copy in stock?
A second sticker said book was £3-99, ie half price.
She then bizarrely told me, you do not have to buy the second one of that book, you can buy something else!
I am wishing to buy Manuscript Found in Accra, but I am told maybe I should buy something else!
Books have become commodities, like baked beans, out of stock of one variety, well buy a different variety.
She questions why I wish to buy two copies of the same book, tells me this is not what people usually do. Buying two copies of the same book, is apparently seen as abnormal behaviour.
I ask for the manager.
The manager basically tells me the same thing. They had ten copies, sold two, are sending seven back, leaving one in stock. He too questions why I wish to buy two. At the same time, he tries to tell me it clearly is not selling, but even he concedes, odd to return when on offer.
I was even told it was not an international best seller. Simply not true. And yet the manager conceded, Paulo Coelho does sell.
And why do they have Manuscript Found in Accra, catalogued as a health book?
It does not sell. An international best-seller, from an international best-seller, and it does not sell.
Could this be, because complete failure to promote on special offer? Could it be because not on display in the window? Could it be because all that is ever on display is celebrity crap, which they are bribed to display by the publishers, as the only way to sell celebrity crap is through marketing hype and massive discounting?
It then occurs to me, when do they have deliveries? Thursdays. And when do returns go back? Thursday. Therefore, those going back, have not yet gone back? Correct. They are in store? Yes. Therefore, can go and get?. No, system will not allow, once removed from the system, the boxes are now sealed.
But to be fair to the manager, none of this is his fault, it is the imbeciles at head office, his hands are tied, and he does his best to be helpful. Even he, can see the crass stupidity of the system he is forced to operate under.
He checks on the computer. He confirms what I already knew low stocks in stores, Godalming has three, but Guildford has ten.
He tries Godalming. Same problem as Farnborough, removed to return, only one copy on the shelves. Tries, Guildford, yes, still have. He asks, that they reserve for me two copies. He even offers to drive over and pick them up, but I say no, I will go and collect.
WHSmith has on special offer, Manuscript Found in Accra, an international best-seller, from an international best-selling author, fail to have adequate stocks, fail to display, then do not sell many, then send back what stocks they do have, before the offer expires.
You could not make it up if you tried.
Manuscript Found in Accra: Buy One Get One Half Price in WHSmith
January 24, 2014
Manuscript Found in Accra WHSmith buy one get one half price
The offer of last week in WHSmith continues into this week, Buy One, Get One Half Price, as does Offer of the Week, half price, but no mention in store.
Both offers are running simultaneously, ie buy one, get half price, buy two, get second one at half of half price.
Manuscript Found in Accra, set in Jerusalem on the eve of the attack by the Crusaders, is the latest from Paulo Coelho.
Manuscript Found in Accra: No 12 in WHSmith chart
January 18, 2014
Manuscript Found in Accra WHSmith No 12
Manuscript Found in Accra is currently No 12 in WHSmith chart.
There are two offers on Manuscript Found in Accra running simultaneously in WHSmith
Buy two books, get first half price, get second at half the half price.
Buy one, treat a friend.
Manuscript Found in Accra, set in Jerusalem on the eve of the attack by the Crusaders, is the latest from Paulo Coelho.
Manuscript Found in Accra: Buy One Get One Half Price in WHSmith
January 18, 2014
Manuscript Found in Accra WHSmith buy one get one half price
I walked into WHSmith in Farnham to find Manuscript Found in Accra Buy One Get One Half Price.
This I found odd, as in Guildford, only the previous day, Offer of the Week, half price.
I queried, what I learnt was, yes, it is on offer as Offer of the Week at half price (though not on display in the store), and it is on offer at Buy One Get One Half Price, therefore, if you buy two, you get the first one half price, the second one is half the half price.
A bargain. Do not miss out, buy two, one for yourself, one for a friend. Go mad, buy four.
At least it explains what I could not understand on my receipt yesterday, it said special promotional offer, and a further £2 was knocked off.
The Offer of the Week, ends on Wednesday, I assume the Buy One Get One Free ends that day too, but even if not, buy before closing on Wednesday to take full advantage of the two offers.
Manuscript Found in Accra is currently No 12 in the WHSmith charts.
Manuscript Found in Accra, set in Jerusalem on the eve of the attack by the Crusaders, is the latest from Paulo Coelho.
Manuscript Found in Accra: Offer of the Week in WHSmith
January 17, 2014
Manuscript Found in Accra WHSmith Offer of the Week
Manuscript Found in Accra, now out in paperback, is Offer of the Week in WHSmith.
The offer ends on Wednesday.
Half price!
This is cheaper than Amazon!
Grab whilst you can, one for yourself, one for a friend.
Manuscript Found in Accra, set in Jerusalem on the eve of the attack by the Crusaders, is the latest from Paulo Coelho.
Update: I could not understand on my receipt yesterday, it said special promotional offer, and a further £2 was knocked off. I learnt today, also on offer at Buy One Get One Free. Thus buy two, first book half price, second book half of the half price.
Top Story in Arthur’s Daily Book News (Wednesday 22 January 2014).
Paulo Coelho in Duomo di Milano
October 27, 2013Talk given by Paulo Coelho in Duomo di Milano, 23 October 2013.
Paulo Coelho onorato presso il Duomo di Milano, pieno di appassionati, per raggiungere 10 milioni di libri venduti in Italia.
On Sunday, ie today, The Alchemist marked 275 weeks in the New York Times Best Seller list, not bad for a slim volume first published 25 years ago.
Vacation reading
May 20, 2013
Manuscript Found in Accra
Manuscript Found in Accra
Manuscript Found in Accra
Manuscript Found in Accra: Speak to us about defeat
April 22, 2013Then my neighbour Yakob said:
‘Speak to us about defeat.’
And he answered:
* * *
Does a leaf, when it falls from the tree in winter, feel defeated by the cold? The tree says to the leaf: ‘That’s the cycle of life. You may think you’re going to die, but you live on in me. It’s thanks to you that I’m alive, because I can breathe. It’s also thanks to you that I have felt loved, because I was able to give shade to the weary traveller. Your sap is in my sap, we are one thing.’
Does a man who spent years preparing to climb the highest mountain in the world feel defeated on reaching that mountain and discovering that nature has cloaked the summit in storm clouds?
The man says to the mountain: ‘You don’t want me this time, but the weather will change and, one day, I will make it to the top. Meanwhile, you’ll still be here waiting for me.’
Does a young man, rejected by his first love, declare that love does not exist? The young man says to himself: ‘I’ll find someone better able to understand what I feel. And then I will be happy for the rest of my days.’
In the cycle of nature there is no such thing as victory or defeat: there is only movement.
……………………….
And within that cycle there are neither winners nor losers, there are only stages that must be gone through. When the human heart understands this, it is free and able to accept difficult times.
……………………….
Losing a battle or losing everything we thought we possessed will bring us moments of sadness, but when those moments pass, we will discover the hidden strength that exists in each of us, a strength that will surprise us and increase our self-respect.
……………………….
Wait patiently for the right moment to act.
Do not let the next opportunity slip.
Take pride in your scars.
Scars are medals branded on the flesh, and your enemies will be frightened by them because they are proof of your long experience of battle. Often this will lead them to seek dialogue and avoid conflict.
Scars speak more loudly than the sword that caused them.
— Paulo Coelho, Manuscript Found in Accra
Recently published Manuscript Found in Accra.
Set on the eve of the invasion of Jerusalem by the Crusaders. The action takes place in a square.
A manuscript is found in Accra. It tells the story of the eve of the Crusaders attacking Jerusalem. The style is very much that of Kahlil Gibran The Prophet and Jesus the Son of Man.
Failing bookshop chains
April 4, 2013
Manuscript Found in Accra No 28 in WHSmith
It is easy to see why bookshop chains are failing.
Over the last couple of years, we have seen the Aleph farce and NeverSeconds farce, two potential best sellers not on display.
Last Thursday saw the official UK publication of the eagerly awaited Manuscript Found in Accra, in the US Tuesday of this week.
The publisher having failed to set an embargo (better than actually forgetting as they did with Aleph), Waterstone’s and a few indie bookshops stole a march and had it on sale, and on display. But why not on display in the window?
Today, I had junk e-mail from Waterstone’s, usually I delete unread, but today I had a glance. Books I must read for April. No mention of Manuscript Found in Accra. Same for junk e-mail about ten days ago. I daresay publishers pay for a mention, not based on merit.
Thursday of last week WHSmith had it on display at half price, if you looked hard enough, but not on display in the window, and if asked, the staff not a clue what asking for. One store had three copies, another two copies.
I even took the trouble to speak to the manager in one of the stores and point out he had an international best seller.
Tuesday, I visited WHSmith. One copy of Manuscript Found in Accra, that was after speaking to the store manager.
Today, same store, not a single copy!
I asked a member of staff. She wandered aimlessly around the store with me in tow. No we don’t have, I will get some one to look it up. No, it is out of stock.
I am then told they have deliveries on Thursdays. Today is Thursday. And? We have not opened it up yet. And when was the delivery? This morning. It is late afternoon. And you have not yet looked at the delivery? We were too busy. I look around the store and see it is empty, staff standing around like zombies. Does your computer system not tell you what was delivered? No.
No one had a clue what I was asking for.
I walk out of the store in disgust.
We have seen many High Street chains go bust. I am surprised Waterstone’s and WHSmith are not among them. Of the two, WHSmith is the worst. The staff seem to be Asda or Tesco rejects and know nothing about books, the shops are shabby as though in a pound shop.
Last week Manuscript Found in Accra was number 28 in their charts, this week, one week later, nowhere to be seen, I wonder why?
The publishers are to blame. Writers need to take a stand. Fine you may offer my book to a chain at a big discount, but you must offer the same discount to the indie bookshops. But having said that, many of the indie bookshops (if you can find any) are crap too. I rarely go in bookshops, they are depressing. Usually piled high with celebrity crap. A very rare exception is P&G Wells, an indie bookshop in the back streets of Winchester, a joy to visit, as bookshops used to be.
Note: Manuscript Found in Accra, opened at No 2 in Barnes and Noble on day of publication. Maybe unlike WHSmith, they made it readily available.
Note: Manuscript Found in Accra, opened at No 2 on Amazon. Which only goes to show the demand and where it could be in WHSmith if they got their act together and actually sold books!
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