The Bookshelf ~ December 2024

lectori salutem

Beth Brower is the author of twelve books, including The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, The Q, the Books of Imirillia, and The Beast of Ten. She also writes here on Beth Brower Scribbles Away.

DEAR READERS,

As many of you know, The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 8 dropped a little early! Huzzah! I’m so excited for you to have the next two months of Emma’s journal on your shelf. There are some deeply important moments to be found.

PAPERBACKGATE:

As many of you also know, there has been a glitch on the Amazon paperback details page for Emma M. Lion: Vol. 8, which means the paperback is posted for a few moments and then is reported as temporarily out of stock.

A reader dubbed the events of the last few days Paperbackgate, so let’s run with that!

It has been deeply frustrating for many of you, and I’m terribly sorry. I understand how maddening it is to try and purchase a much anticipated book. I’m in regular contact with Amazon and you should all have your books in hand before long. The kindle and hardcover copies are available without a hitch. Readers are finding moments when the system will put their orders through and many paperback books are going out.

If I’m going to write about characters who encounter the unexpected with patience and a wry smile, I’m going to have to live up to it myself. So let’s do St. Crispian’s proud and handle this unexpected challenge with equanimity and humor.

(A note on Amazon: Working with Amazon has always gone wonderfully well. I’ve never had an issue over all these years. The Emma 8 paperback page has a rare bug. It is unfortunate, but it has never happened before and I do not expect it to happen again. So please be kind in your thoughts, as they might tip the scales towards it being resolved sooner than later.)

Some of you have asked if other bookstores are carrying the book. You will have to call and ask. I don’t know which bookshops around the country have already purchased Emma 8 and which have not.

THE 193 CLUB

For a handful of hours on the 28th and the early morning of the 29th, the live Emma 8 paperback file had an unexpected mishap where three lines were combined on the bottom of the page. It was seen immediately, resolved, and uploaded anew. Whatever copies were printed during that time will include the error, while those printed before and after will not.

When I became aware of the issue, it reminded me of the wheat penny stamped with a mint error. Those are now quite valuable. And I thought, “Hey! There is now a 193 club!” So Rhysdon Press has decided to release a special commemorative bookplate!

Now, if you would like to return your paperback and reorder a copy that does not have the duplicated line, certainly do so! But, if you would like to stay in the club, all you need to do is email a photo of your page 193 and your address to…

contact@rhysdonpress.com

…and I will mail you a signed bookplate to place in the front of your copy. (See lovely bookplate below.)

I don’t know how many were printed. As the file was replaced immediately, it could be quite a small, exclusive club.

My sister’s copy came and she is not in the 193 club.
My assistant is.
I have a copy in the 193 club.
My cousin does not.

Anyway, for those few of you who are in The 193 Club, send an email to contact@rhysdonpress.com and we’ll send you the signed bookplate.

DECEMBER 7TH!

I will be selling and signing books at the Springville Library this Saturday from 12:00 to 2:00! (I will not have copies of Emma 8 to sell, so bring your own ordered copies to get them signed. And if the timing doesn’t work out, don’t worry. I have an event in February.) There will also be Emma M. Lion totes and Imperterritus pins!

Selling Christmas Trees by David Jacob Jacobsen (1821-1871)

December is here. Crisp, frost lining every morning. (At least in this hemisphere. Hello to my readers in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Brazil, and elsewhere, heading into summer!)

For me it is to be a season of releasing the final 2024 St. Crispian’s Gazettes and hibernation. There have been a good many things in my life that I’ve put off to ensure the work on Emma 8 could be completed in time. (A choice I was happy to make.) But now, I am going to disappear into winter like a dormouse and tend my own life’s little gardens. Amongst these tasks will be the setting up of our Christmas tree, placing gold stars everywhere, the drinking of berry and hibiscus tea, rearranging my nonfiction shelves, and going on long walks.

Thank you ever so much for all the support.
I hope all your Emma 8 paperbacks arrive safely and soon.

May it be a season of all light: bright, illuminated, incandescent, glorious.

x Beth

This cracked me up. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Tybalt.