A long time ago, a typo in a group post amongst the Avon Authors became the butt of some good-natured ribbing. I don’t even remember who it was, but someone had gone to their local store to see if they could “spoot” the new books that were supposed to be out that day.
Book spooting! We all laughed, but after that it became a monthly tradition for everyone to report in and give “book spooting” reports as to when our various titles had arrived at ones local Walmart, Target, B&N, Borders, Books-a-Million, grocery stores, et al. This was before all the instant information was available for authors and we each liked reporting in about our various corners of the country (and the world) as to when the new books came out.
Often times, we intrepid authors would be the front line of cajoling and in some cases, harrying poor booksellers to “GET OUR BOOKS OUT.” Besides being creative spellers, we were a pushy lot. 
So it was with some delight and surprise when @JoyfullyReviewed over on Twitter posted this picture of Lord Langley is Back in Town at her local Giant grocery store a whole five days early from when it was supposed to be out:
The pic made me smile and remember those sometimes hilarious “book spooting” reports.
Then I thought about how much easier it is now to book spoot. Just bring out your phone and snap a picture and in a click it is on Facebook or Twitter or email. Kewl Beans!
So here’s the CONTEST:
Send me your book spooting reports! Either a pic on Twitter with #LordLangley or upload it to Facebook and tag it with my name, or just make a comment down below where you intend to find the book or have ordered it from. You can also email your pics to me at “Elizabeth AT ElizabethBoyle DOT com”. I’ll give you all until midnight, PT, Saturday, June 4th to give spooting a try and get your entry in.
PRIZE: A Portland goody bag, featuring some fun chocolates, coffees, goodies, and of course, books from one of my favorite Pacific NW cities.
And remember, harry booksellers at your own risk. Lovely people 99% of the time, but when unfed or overworked, they can be dangerous. Approach with chocolate and you should be safe.
my copy in transit (got the email notice that it shipped out yesterday), alas it will not arrive in time for me to enjoy over the wknd:( so will have to go to work tired Wed or Thurs morning after being kept up late reading it 😉
No sightings this side of the water but I will be at walmart scooping up “Lord Langley is Back in Town” as well as your friend Julia Quinn’s book “Just like Heaven” on Tuesday just in time to get your autograph when you come to B&N in Silverdale, Wa. on June 6th! Can’t wait to meet you!
I ordered my copy on 19th February from Amazon UK and hope to get in in the next couple of weeks. Can’t wait!
already in transit from Borders.com. They had it 40% off even without coupons. Scheduled to arrive Jun 17! – oh well, free shipping. Well worth the wait. That’s leaves enough time to re-read Felicity’s & Thalia’s stories.
I plan to buy it at B&N as soon as it comes out.
Ordered my ebook last week from b&n. Ready to read…
Haven’t been out looking yet, but will be ordering it from Amazon this week!
I ordered mine with another book from Booktopia (an Aussie online bookstore)on 13 May. Both were due out today but only one was shipped and it wasn’t LL 🙁
Oooh ooh, Amazon finally shipped mine (along with Julia Quinn’s.) Should have it in time to read this weekend!
Ordered from Amazon, just waiting for it to arrive. Very much looking forward to reading it; may have to go back and read the others first if it doesn’t hurry up and get here soon!
Downloaded it at 6am yesterday from Kobobooks.. finished reading it by 4pm… not a lot of housework got done.. but I had a lovely day. When did you say your next book come out?
The next one comes out June 2012. I know, I know, sorry for the long wait. But I am looking at bringing my Brazen books back out–either in print/ebook, of just ebook, and I have a short story that I will be putting up in the Fall for ereaders.
Ordered mine from Borders and should arrive any day now. Can’t wait. What is book is next?
The next book is Along Came a Duke, the start of new series.
Picked up my copy from Walmart today. Can’t wait to start reading it!
my dream booksigning would be in the auditorium of my old highschool…FOX senior high in Arnold, MO. the reason is because #1…it could fit alot of people comfortably and most importantly because I really learned to fall in love with writing on that campus. 3 of my favorite teachers ever taught me there and i still get inspiration in my writing from people i went to school with or things we did. MY DREAM AUTHORS TO SIGN WITH, IN RANDOM ORDER…YOU(NOT JUST SAYING THAT), EILEEN DREYER, THE AWE INSPIRING MS.BINCHY AND JOHN STEINBECK. i would also insist that instead of “buying” the book they wanted autographed that they bring books to donate to local church and school libraries…