I received the following e-mail from Brian Hibbs, and am running it with his permission:
So, it took a week, but finally someone came in today and bought the trade – so thanks for that plea! I’ll be sure to reorder that copy.
Oddly, 15 minutes after THAT someone ELSE came in and asked for it as well (same deal – saw it on yer site) – I have their name and number so that’s 2 copies reordered now.
Maybe the thing to do is to promote each individual store? (“ This week, buy it at ...”) *grins, ducks, and runs*
Why grin, duck and run? I've no problem with that.
Okay, this is real simple: Let's call this the "Fallen Angel" Trade Service promotion, an ancillary to the book plates. Any store who's got the trade paperback and hasn't been able to move it, post here. Somebody then go and buy the damned thing(s). For yourself, to give to a friend, whichever. (Retailer, if you do mail order or on-line, be sure to indicate it.) Once it moves, the store has to report here that the book(s) has/have been sold. Buyer, then send the receipt in to "Fallen Angel Bookplate Offer" at PO Box 239, Bayport, NY 11705. Be sure to write on your receipt, "Fallen Angel trade service" or, if you prefer, "FATS." For those people participating in FATS, you'll get an extra something along with your bookplate. I'm not sure what yet, but it'll be cool. And retailers, although I obviously can't force you, what I'd then like you to do is reorder a copy or copies as Brian did.
Understand, I don't want to give short shrift to the monthly supporters. Fans who buy the monthly are our backbone. But we're on the clock, and right now DC is scrutinizing the sales of the trade paperback with a fine toothed comb. It's the first, best way to guarantee the continuation of the monthly series, so the more ways we find to move them out, the better our shot. Ideally what happens is that not only do trade sales increase, but that leads to people buying the monthly. If DC sees both fast movement on the trade *and* an increase in the monthly, we're golden.
PAD
Posted by Peter David at August 27, 2004 01:01 AM | TrackBack | Other blogs commentingI'll call my local comic shop in the morning and ask if they have one and if they will order another if I buy what they have. I have a couple of friends that might like the book. So can give it as an early Xmas present or something, since I've got all the issues. Actually my brother might like it too. Hmmmm who else will I owe a Christmas present to.
Tom Dakers
Well, this is my first time posting. But, I feel that this is a good cause. Fallen Angel is my favorite book every month, My Fiancees as well. Tomorrow, when we go get our weekly books, I'm gonna ask Aaron (the shop owner) to order me a copy of the TPB. Said TPB will then be sent to my Fiancee's Brother. It's the type of book he would dig, if he still read comics. Maybe this will bring him back to us. I know this isn't part of the FATS deal or anything...I just want to support the book. I've always supported Peters work in the past, but this title it seems even more important to me then other titles he's written. I was lived over Aquaman, Supergirl, and Young Justice. I do NOT want to lose Fallen Angel as well.
I don’t know exact sales figures of the top of my head but I know Peter is no stranger to various bestsellers’ lists. Shouldn’t there be a way of marketing that allows fans of Peter’s prose work to crossover and buy Fallen Angel. I know nothing about marketing but there has to be a way to alert Peter’s novel fans that he writes comic books.
Thanks for the dialogue!
It forced me to double check my stock and I hadn't realized that we'd sold through all 5 copies of our initial order and had been out for a few weeks.
We just got or 3 copy reorder yesterday and if anyone in San Diego is looking to checkout the series, Comickaze once again stands ready to serve you.
FYI, while we haven't seen our sales grow on the monthly, it is still selling within a copy or two of what we initially sold on #1.
PAD,
I asked this in the earlier FA thread, but it got buried quickly-my LCS has the trade-is it better "for the cause" to buy it from them, or from Amazon? I've got the monthlies, but would like to help keep it going.
Okay, where is Comickaze?? At Comic-Con, one of the things I was protesting was how hard it is to find comic shops in San Diego, and how ironic that is, considering that this is, after all, the hometown of the International Comics Convention (then I didn't find "Fallen Angel" at the major stands in the Con until after my wife had found the "Emily the Strange" booth, and gotten, basically, one of everything...)
...I work at a comic book store where we haven't moved our copy of the 'Fallen Angel' trade yet.
Have been waiting for the right moment/a decent paycheck/a sign from the Gods, evidently to go ahead and pick it up, because frankly, I want to see the story continue.
Does it still count if you work at a store and buy it there? :)
Maggie
Aside from comic book stores, it needs to move in general trade bookstores as well.
I looked up Fallen Angel this morning on Nielsen BookScan, which tracks sales of books on most major trade bookstores, including a large percentage of independents, chains, Amazon, and most general retailers aof trade books. You can look up how many copies have sold out of these stores (to the general public; as we say in the publishing industry, the 'sell through' number).
Sold through to date: 210 copies.
Yikes. That's not good.
By comparison, Tong Lashing has sold through about 2,000 copies, One Knight Only has sold 2,500 mass-market paperbacks since June, and about 2,100 in hardcover since last year. Star Trek: New Frontier: No Limits has sold through about 9,200 since publication, and Star Trek: New Frontier: Stone and Anvil about 11,100.
So yes, obviously, support your local comic book store. But if your comic book shop doesn't/won'tcan't stock the FA trade, you can and should also buy it at your local bookstore. If they're out, ask them to special order it for you. Send friends you've gotten interested in the series out to do the same thing. These sales numbers out of Walden, Dalton, B&N, Borders and the major indies are driving forces for publishers to determine whether other, similiar books will be published--like, say, further trades in the series.
PAD, I have one question:
Is the Bookplate offer valid for people who don't live in the US? I bought the monthly issues and I am on quite a small budget, therefore I'm hesitant to buy the TPB as well, but if it would mean getting a cool bookplate, that would facilitate my decision :)
Benjamin Gaede
Here's your chance to support "Fallen Angel" and at the same time do someting good to another struggling title:
http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?s=47d8678d08820759b9b19d89149e2f6d&threadid=17011
If you learn about any stores in the DC or northern Virgina area, let me know...I will go pick it up.
If you're close to the Herndon/Dulles Airport area I'd suggest Phoenix Comics at 678 Elden St, 703-437-9530. They speculate-buy a huge stock of stuff above and beyond what they get for us subscription buyers. Which seemingly works great for them, at least with me, since I pick up "hmmm looks interesting" titles and end up adding some of them to my subscription - it's how I ended up with Fallen Angel, in fact, despite my familiarity with PD's work.
Also nice, they'll pull things based on what they think you might like and drop it in your subscription pile... and if you aren't interested they'll just take it back and put it on the shelf.
Heck, if anyone is in the Lexington, KY area stop by The Comic Interlude on Waller Drive. I know that they have copies of the trade. If Kevin the owner is there tell him that Brian McQueary recommended his shop and he will probably give you a 10% discount on your purchase!
Peter,
I purchase the monthly book, but I also bought the trade from Amazon. I would have purchased the trade from my LCS, but, sadly, Diamond takes forever to get trades to my LCS when the owner has to order from the back list. He's not to sanguine about ordering lots of trades to stock. No idea why.
Heya there Peter, you guys are working very hard to see that Fallen Angel does well and I just wanted to let you know that I bought a copy of the trade in Edinburgh for £10 and I think it was a good buy. I really loved the whole thing, so just so you know - you have one fan of FA across the Atlantic.
:)
Why not adopt a term from anime, and call it "Fallen Angel Fan Service" (FAFS)?
We have five freshly ordered trades at my store. We ordered three when they originally came out and sold out about a month ago. We also have a fairly full range of the individual issues from #1 on. We do mail orders, so feel free to ask about shipping options.
Dark Star Books
237 Xenia Avenue
Yellow Springs, OH 45387
937-767-9400
darkstar@erinet.com
Peter, we keep a MINIMUM of 2 copies of the book in stock at all times, so I don't know if this counts or not. It sells out, we reorder...simple as that. We currently have 2 as far as I know.
Incidentally, you'll be pleased to know that the current issue sold no less than 5 (count 'em FIVE) copies today alone. Of course, we do get only the FINEST, most intelligent clientele......
(see Joe ducking the stones being hurled)
Oops, forgot to mention that we also ship worldwide....
And those clients are also only the finest, etc. etc. etc.
"I asked this in the earlier FA thread, but it got buried quickly-my LCS has the trade-is it better "for the cause" to buy it from them, or from Amazon? I've got the monthlies, but would like to help keep it going."
I've been going round and round in my mind on this,and I think it's better if you buy it from the comic shop. Here's why: If the comic shop owner sees the trade just sitting there, he might be less inclined to carry the monthly. If, on the other hand, he moves out the trades, he will hopefully not only reorder the trade but figure that maybe, just maybe, he should increase his order on the monthly (or carry it at all.)
PAD
Just brought and read seven issues of the monthly here in NZ now including me there is 7 subscribers. That is better than most titles in the store apart from the big ones.
We've got it.
Waldenbooks
Frontier Mall
1400 Dell Range Blvd
Cheyenne, WY 82009
307-634-7099
We do ship if needed and if we sell out, I should be able to get more and even do orders shipped direct from the warehouse to the customers door.
You may be best off asking for me, but most anyone can handle this.
cal
Me and my partner shelled out for copies of the trade for each of us and both the only two in our local shop. Another comic fan friend is serving in Iraq and finally got my e-mail about this (I keep him posted on all the comic book stuff) and asked if I could pick up a copy for him and someone serving with him. Me and my partner called our local shop and asked if the two copies could be ordered. I'm also getting the word out, but honestly in the place I go to back in Brooklyn, pretty much everyone buys the monthly and some are a little resistant to buying the trade. I'm of the opinion that I want to keep this book so short of getting a sandwich and standing in front of Forbidden Planet I'll keep putting the word out. I hope it helps.
I am living in Britain and would love to get the bookplate as well. Is it all right to send you my Amazon receipt together with a self addressed envelope and Dollar banknotes?
I had problems with international reply coupons in the past which is maybe the reason why I didn`t get the Captain Marvel offer when I sent some to you.
If that is ok, how much would you need? I can`t get coins and sending coins in letters is not a good idea anyway.
Btw, I know its way off topic, but I thought people would hear would like to know, in case they already didn't, that Madrox #1 is up a Mile High Comics First Look! Yes, its the whole first issue! I have not read it yet, but I'm going to read it pretty soon! Just thought you guys would like to know.
As for Fallen Angel, I started out reading it and thought was ok, but I missed a few issues and when I came back I didn't really know what was going on. So I haven't been reading the book lately. I think FA has potential, but I'm not sure whether its really my kind of book. Maybe I will check it out again sometime soon!
DF2506
*sigh* Sorry for the double post. I just wanted to say I was writing that last post a little too quick and it shows. lol. I'm just pretty excited that the whole first issue of Madrox is up! Hopefully Peter will start a thread on it soon. Sorry for being so off topic.
DF2506
Even though I get the monthly FA, I had no problem in getting the TPB in the UK (ar Forbidden Planet in Newcastle upon Tyne). As a huge fan of the book I'd do almost (!) anything to keep it in print as its one of the few books that I think are worth buying, given that most of Marvel and DC's books are derrivative crap.
This is posted on behalf of Joe Ferrara at Atlantis Fantasyworld in Santa Cruz:
I got in 1 copy of the trade sold it and reordered it twice. I reordered the last copy on July 7th and it hasn't sold since. I would be glad to participate in this promotion. Can you post this for me? Joe
Great promotion. I ordered two initally and haven't moved either. I'll definitely reorder as they sell. Here's the store info:
Phantom of the Attic
3766 William Penn Highway
Monroeville, PA 15146
Thanks!
To the person who recommended The Comic Interlude in Lexington, Kentucky (Brian McQueary): While I'm not a frequent visitor to the store, I swung by this morning to see how many copies of the Fallen Angel trade they had sitting on the shelf, and I saw one copy, with all the other recent issues right next to it.
Let me preface by saying that I've never been someone who will buy both the monthly issues and the trades. While there are many great issues of great series that I'd like to own in collected form, I don't often double up and buy both the trade and the issues. Usually, I'll only do that if I think the series is really extraordinary, a book deserving of wider recognition and a continued life. For example, though I had all the early issues of Spider-Girl, I bought the trade and the manga-sized book when it came out, because its a book that deserves a life.
Well, this morning I walked out with two trades collecting material I already own, mostly because I think the books are so damned good that I want them to survive. One of those trades was the third in the Y the Last Man series, one of the few comics of recent memory that completely surprised me in terms of character, plot, and premise.
The other was the last remaining Fallen Angel trade sitting on the shelf. Now ordinarily, I'd give the trade a pass, because I feel like it would be better for someone new to the series to have the trade, but given that the trade has been out for a few months now, I'd rather buy that shelf copy and hope that it spurs the shop owner to get behind the book even more than they have already by reordering a few copies of the trade and keeping their shelf copies of the issue plentiful.
Fallen Angel is, quite frankly, an extraordinary book. I've grown quite frustrated lately with the state of the comics industry. Frankly, I grow bored with the material offered by the big companies. Fallen Angel, like Y the Last Man, Fables, Gotham Central, Spider-Girl, and Sleeper, is just one of those books that needs to continue. I'm happy to do my part by buying the trade and passing it around to friends and family who don't ordinarily read comics. Suffice it to say, I'll also be taking PAD up on his bookplate offer.
I will take a moment to compliment The Comic Interlude in Lexington, Kentucky. Not only did it seem to be a professionally run establishment, it also had multiple copies of Fallen Angel displayed on its shelves, along with all the other books I just mentioned. In other words, it hasn't fallen prey to that mentality whereby they order copies only for pull list customers and only 1 shelf copy. It's a great store, and I strongly advise any Kentucky resident to swing by when you're in Lexington.
I'll always try to spread the message, especially since I'm always amazed that such great books sell comparatively poorly compared to books that I find to be complete and utter dreck. Out of politeness, I'll refrain from mentioning any titles. I think there's an audience for almost any kind of book in the marketplace, but sometimes, I wish my fellow comics fans would be a little more adventurous, trying out books that are "off the beaten path," because I've found that the best books I've ever followed have been books that I discovered only because I was being "adventurous." :-)
I too have a single copy I've been unable to sell. I have a decent number of subscribers, but walk-in sales have been slim. Please check out www.hijinxcomics.com for locations to either of my stores in San Jose, CA.
dan shahin
2050 Lincoln Ave,
San Jose, CA 95125
www.hijinxcomics.com
I've just ordered the trade (from Amazon, if it matters), so it better be as good as you say. I've actually stopped reading comics entirely over the past couple years, so I'm not sure if this is a testament to how much good will you've built up for me with your writing, or just how good you are at begging people to get this, but either way, I suppose you deserve a pat on the back for this.
Feeling a little hard done by here. I understand trying to encourage people to buy the trade with this bookplate incentive, but what about the fans that have supported the book from the beginning and continue to buy it on a monthly basis. I know I have encouraged people to read FA and will continue to do so.
Both copies of the Fallen Angel TPB sold today. I'll add more copies to inventory with my next regular reorder.
Thanks for the TPB promotion!!
Take Care,
Roy Thompson
Phantom of the Attic in Monroeville
Okay I should point out that I recently wanted to buy the trade for "Fallen Angel". The first place I looked was on this website. I could not find a link showing me where to buy. I went to my regular online service mailordercomics.com and found it and placed an order.
PAD, maybe there is a link and I just missed it, if not shouldn't you provide a link for this like you do your other works?
staright up?....this is good news man, good news!
"Feeling a little hard done by here. I understand trying to encourage people to buy the trade with this bookplate incentive, but what about the fans that have supported the book from the beginning and continue to buy it on a monthly basis. I know I have encouraged people to read FA and will continue to do so."
Unless we see something like a 50% increase in monthly sales over the next few months, which isn't likely (of course, I managed it with "Supergirl" and, oddly, it didn't help)the best way to make sure the book comes out monthly at ALL is by focusing on bumping up trade sales. I do not at all mean to diss the supporters of the monthly book, who remain our backbone. But right now I can't split my focus in too many directions; if I do, they won't have a monthly book to read.
I am working on coming up with something nifty for monthly supporters. Just bear with me. Meantime buy a trade for someone you want to get interested in the monthly.
PAD
Hey there,
We have a copy that's been sitting on our shelves for a while, if any of you folks are nearby.
Thanks a lot,
Andrew Neal
Chapel Hill Comics
136 E. Rosemary St.
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919)967-4439
Peter- we sold one copy of the trade to a customer living in Japan who read about the situation online. We sold another today. Hope it continues. Joe Ferrara
A few copies of Fallen Angel have sold at The Great Escape in Nashville, but we've had a couple just sit on the shelf.
Stop in or check out the store online!