…just blame the supply chain.

This is “almost-but-not-quite the final version of the cover. (What do you think has changed?)

At least that’s what I think is happening these days.  It doesn’t seem to matter what the item is or whether it is slow in arriving, late, unobtainable, not in stock, back-ordered or just not being manufactured at all.  Ask the “why” question  (or the “where” or “when” question) and the answer will be basically two words: SUPPLY CHAIN.  My response (if only in my head) is also two words:  BULL PUCKY!

So, today, when I wrote the editor of my forthcoming (publication date: May 2nd) book for Arcadia Press, The Ghostly Tales of the Long Beach Peninsula and asked when I might expect copies, why was I not surprised at the answer:

Yes! Copies are forthcoming! As with most industries around the world, we’ve been hit with supply-chain delays. The books hit the warehouse a few days ago (weeks behind schedule). But many have already shipped, and the rest will do so this weekend. So fingers crossed you should have books by mid-next week.  Please let me know if they’re still MIA by the end of the week. I’m sorry about this. It’s truly maddening but out of our control.

One Version of The Supply Chain

I’d sincerely like to blame Mrs. Crouch for this one.  I have visions of her gumming up the works at the printer’s just to draw a little more attention to herself and to the other ghostly characters in the book.  But… I’m sure there are other books involved in the supply chain slowdown — not just mine (or, as she would prefer to have it, not just Mrs. Crouch’s!)

Keep your fingers crossed.  And if you should have an encounter with Mrs. C., please let her know that this is the book that will introduce her to the younger readers of Peninsula history.  She really needs to be a bit more gracious!