It's Gone!...No, it's $.39.

If you’re a published author and your book is out of print, spare yourself the humiliation of going to Amazon.com or one of those on-line book dealers and looking up your masterpiece. Even during the big holiday buying season. Steve Martin will never have this problem.

For my book, “It's Gone!... No, Wait a Minute…Talking My Way into the Big Leagues at 40”, published by Villard in 1993, copies are available for as little as $0.39. I don’t think the instrument has been invented to calculate my royalty on $0.39.

And then there are the comments.

Ex Lib (meaning an ex library book). Even libraries dumped it! And to add further indignity, a blog reader mentioned he bought one recently that was an ex lib from Seattle. I broadcast in Seattle!

I can scan the book & author’s signature in your request. Someone ditched a copy I signed. Since I didn’t do any book signings (the publisher said I was not famous enough – also great for the ego), this means the copy probably belonged to a friend… or relative.

Gift inscription included Someone who didn’t even buy it wants to unload it. And it’s worth the $0.39 to get it the hell out of the house.

Remainder table price still on dust jacket Alerts the buyer that the original list price was $1.00 or two for $3.00.

Unread There were a bunch of those. Not sure how they could tell. No mustard on the pages? No one underlined the “good” parts?

Looks like an interesting title Be still my heart!

I must say the only comment that bugged me was the library tossing it out. So I decided to check which library near me still featured it. Starting from nearest location, within ten libraries the distance was up to 233 miles. So I feel better. That’s still within walking distance.

SWITCHING GEARS:

There have been a lot of programs this year on the anniversary of the "Summer of Love". But the best has been saved for last. GREAT BIG RADIO. from the 23rd through New Years Day sets the Way-back machine for 1967. During that stretch, nothing but the music of 67 -- the big hits you remember, the great ones you forgot, the ones you thought you'd never hear again, the ones you were hoping to never hear again. Beatles, Stones, Motown, psychedelic, sunshine, folk rock, protest, Monkees, Memphis soul, Beach Boys, garage bands, Sinatra (two of 'em), acid rock, bubblegum, chicken rock, Jimi, Jim, Janis, and my personal favorite -- Lulu! Hear it ALL here on GREAT BIG RADIO.

And no this isn't a Pay Per Post. I'd make less than my book royalty.