JOEL GRIFFETT

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Waiting (im)patiently

   

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Joel Griffett

I spoke too soon. The first batch of books, so I was told, was supposed to be in my hands last Friday (24th May). As per my last blog post, I thought the hard bit was over but I am still waiting (im)patiently and growing increasingly frustrating by the lack of communication from the printing company. For a week they were silent on me and only on Friday morning did I get any update – and not the one I wanted. The book would not be ready despite the promises and I have yet to receive an updated despatch date.

This is not good news for anyone; I wanted to kick on and get selling the book, galvanised by seeing it in the flesh for the first time, but it is worse still for all those who have ordered a copy and are wondering where it is. I had a few emails last week from people asking exactly that and I can only apologise to anyone reading this in the same boat.

To anyone who has yet to order a copy and is not willing to wait, the book is now available as an ‘eBook’ for tablets, mobiles and Kindles via Amazon HERE. I never thought I’d use Amazon but turning it into an eBook was one of the easiest tasks I’ve completed in the last few months and now I understand why so many authors self-publish their books on this platform…

Again, I can only apologise for what is now turning into a farce but as soon as I know, I’ll provide another publication date and once I have the copies they will be sent out as fast as humanly possible.

If you wish to pre-order a copy you can do so HERE via my online shop, now with shiny new professional sounding domain.

One response to “Waiting (im)patiently”

  1. philip@htpbook.co.uk Avatar
    philip@htpbook.co.uk

    Hi,

    I used TJ for years while I was at the Trevithick Society, had a sensible contact there and they always came up trumps.

    Then, I believe the company was taken over, changed its name slightly, installed some new equipment and my contact disappeared. Based on previous experience, I used them for my H.T.P. book in 2020, but my cover artist had no end of trouble sorting out sizes of type and illustrations, a problem he’d never had before.

    When the books eventually arrived, they were about 20 short, had some uncut pages and didn’t supply any spare covers, a standard practice of printers. I got the impression that they’d had problems in the printing, and I had received whatever they’d managed to drag out of the presses. I missed the personal contact I’d had for years.

    I was going to have my Farm Industries book, which is being formatted at present, printed there, but following your experiences, I will probably look elsewhere.

    Generally, printers are a disappointing lot but I’d had years of good service from TJ. I can understand why many authors go for Amazon.

    I know that TJ had some prestigious clients, like the Folio Society. I note that the society sold out in 2021. I wonder if they were running from a future with TJ!

    My address is 3 Park Road, Redruth TR15 2JD. If I haven’t given you a copy of my Trevithick ‘Genius’ book, what’s your address? That was published by Daniel Nanavati at FootSteps Press. https://footstepsbooks.com/ Daniel continues to sell the book POD and I receive little credits in my bank account.

    I hope all your problems are soon resolved!

    Philip

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