John D. Freyer

posted by John at 11:49 AM

My Last Big Store Rant
Yesterday I went into an unnamed corporate bookstore and offered to sign the copies of my book that they had in stock. After twenty minutes at the information desk and 4 different employees helping me, we found the three copies of my book in their store. The reason it was so difficult to find is that according to the national bookstore chain computer system, my book has been placed in the computer manual section, Isle 37b. I talked to the manager on duty, who could plainly see that my book was not a computer manual. But told me that the book was categorized at the corporate offices in a city that if I tell you, you’ll know who it is.. And that he has no discretion in where books are placed. That even if he moved it to a more appropriate place that the other employees would dutifully place it in the section that the barcode on the back says it should go. He told me that I should try and call the main office directly, and gave me their #.. Great, thanks for giving me the general office number for a huge corporation. “hello, yes this is John Freyer and I’m an author…. “ pause…….. CLICK The point is who ever categorized my book didn’t read it. And now managers across the country who read it and think it should be somewhere else can’t move it. Meanwhile at Independent bookstores nationwide the book is in the new non fiction tables, in the art section, in the cultural studies shelf, and even on the tables as you walk in the door. That is because the employees at independent books stores not only read books (as even the managers at corporate stores surely do) but they also have the discretion to place the book where they think it belongs. I have done 7 readings so far, and the best turn out has always been at the Independent Bookstores. Last night at Capitola Book Café there were nearly 50 people there, and people were standing in the back. Just like my visit to The Ruminator in St. Paul, and Harry Schwarz in Milwaukee.

posted by John at 8:52 AM

11.10.2002

St. Paul and Onward
Here we go again, I’m on the road but three days and I’m already three days behind. I'll give a quick update as to my whereabouts and will promise to try and keep on track.. I think the drinks with folks every night will soon take its toll. Madison.. Was a pretty small crowd but was nice, Brandon who bought a full John Freyer outfit came and gave me his favorite shirt, My friend Sandy saw my name in the paper and came out as well. I hadn’t seen her since the last time I was in Madison almost six years ago. My first trip to Madison was a three day trip where Amy, Sandy and I interviewed people all over State Street asking why Sandy should or should not move to Madison, in the end they were pretty convincing b/c she move there the following month and has been there ever since. St. Paul was a big crowd and in the first five minutes I was heckled.. I kept talking about the “last time I was in Minneapolis” and a man in the audience hollered, ”You’re in St. Paul!” It went pretty well, I finally feel like I have the timing issues worked out. I have also put my glasses back on, reading in contacts has its ups and downs, and in Madison it meant blurry text just when I needed to read it. There were a good number of people from the project there, including, Sara Langworthy of Georges Cheeseburger Fame, Katherine of the Latham Homes and Ave Maria Green, the queen of rubber band land. We all went out for dinner at the Glockenschpiel a Czech bar and restaurant, where all of the appetizers include 6 or 7 types of sausage, mmmm sausage. As per my last trip to the Twin Cities, I had major car trouble, this time I blew out my radiator. I got it fixed at a place called Bobby and Steves, and they charged me about five or six times what it would cost in Iowa City… They also charge a $40 fee to open the hood, a fee that is tacked on in addition the $640 replacement of a radiator and rubber hoses.. I guess I’d put them on my list of places to avoid servicing your car at, unless you need the car fixed right now, (which I did, they were open till 1 am as well, so I guess I’m only complaining about the price)

posted by John at 12:01 PM