Bookseller Seeks Advance Notice on Pinkwater Picks

When author Daniel Pinkwater appears on National Public Radio's Weekend Edition -- Saturday with host Scott Simon to read and discuss books for children, independent booksellers take note. That's because, inevitably, the title mentioned is quickly snapped up by consumers. However, because booksellers have no prior knowledge of which titles will be mentioned they are often left unable to immediately meet customer demand. "It's always an issue," said Carol Chittenden, owner of Eight Cousins in Falmouth, Massachusetts. "I don't order through the publisher. I try to jam the order through the wholesaler."

Hoping to find a resolution to the issue, Chittenden, e-mailed Pinkwater and asked about the possibility of hearing in advance which book titles he plans on recommending on the show. Though Pinkwater didn't commit to offering notice, he did offer suggestions on the ways in which booksellers might convince NPR to change this policy. " It wasn't a win, but our voice was heard," said Chittenden, who wrote about her efforts on BookWeb's Idea Exchange Forums.

Often wholesalers are also unprepared to meet the sudden demand, Chittenden noted. "It would be helpful if the publishers got word in advance. Then they could call the wholesaler and say, 'This title is going to be a Pinkwater Pick. How many would you like?'"

Chittenden started her letter-writing campaign in December and said she wrote about 40 letters and e-mails to Pinkwater. In January, he called Chittenden, and they spoke at length. "We had a long conversation and have exchanged numerous e-mails since then," she wrote in her post on Idea Exchange. "Though he says he and NPR are in the business of making a radio program, not selling books, and that the selection, the taping, and the broadcast are all subject to last minute changes, he's not wholly unsympathetic to our concerns."

Chittenden told BTW that Pinkwater said NPR would try to post titles in advance on their website, though she has yet to see any changes in NPR policy or advance notice of picks on the NPR site. However, Pinkwater did provide Chittenden with suggestions for booksellers, which she posted on Idea Exchange. He recommended that booksellers inform publishers, directly and via reps, about their need for advance notice. He also encouraged booksellers to write to Weekend Edition Saturday (National Public Radio, 635 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001, or [email protected]) and notify NPR that last-minute book features create a sudden demand for books that are often hard to get.

On the Idea Exchange many booksellers have commended Chittenden for her efforts towards encouraging NPR to modify their policy. Cindy Reardon of Sherman's Books and Stationery in Camden, Maine, wrote, "Thank you so much for doing this. It is a great source of frustration for me.... I will certainly be writing a letter. Thank you again for taking the initiative."

"My motto is you use what you have and you do what you can," said Chittenden. "You can't do everything, but if you have a voice, you can do something. I'm always impressed when other people do the things I always meant to get around to doing. If somebody sees something that should be remedied they should stand up and address it... or sit down and address it," she said. -- Karen Schechner