Postal Strike

[Popin]

To the Canadians who blog, how are you dealing with the postal strike? Is it getting in the way of you reviewing books? Do you have advice to other Canadian bloggers who are going through this?

[Gareth Wilson]

OK, I'm not Canadian but the best advice I can give to people is to, if possible, ask for the books in an E-Reader format.  That way you can still enjoy them and its a direct link to the publisher.  The downside is if you're into hardcopy like me, then you'll have a serious problem.

[Dale Day]

I didn't even know about the strike until yesterday!

My publisher is in Montreal and wanted me to send them a copy of the signed contract by snail-mail. The clerk in the post office told me about it and said she couldn't guarantee delivery of the envelope - but accepted it anyway.

So, I scanned a copy of the signed documents into my computer [which I always do anyhow] and sent them via email. Apparently that satisfied my publisher so we're going to start working to get it out.

 

For more info, check my blog.

[Kristian Alva]

I've sent two review copies to reviewers in Canada this week. They were the ones who told me about the strike. I offered the PDF, but both wanted the physical copy, which I understand. That's the way I prefer to read, too.I certainly think it will delay reviews for publishers.

 

http://kristianalva.blogspot.com/

[MichelleKCanada]

Hi there, I live in Ontario. The publishers and authors that I review for, always send me PDF's and I just convert to my Kindle so no issue there.

 

Otherwise I'm all good. I pay most of my bills online. It is very annoying otherwise though. I plan to have a Kindle giveaway Contest to launch Margaret Ethridge's book Contentment in July and I just may have to send the winner the Kindle via UPS. These postal worker's jobs are already almost redundant so I have no idea why they'd rock the boat with a strike. Oh well, I'm not political or a union girl so what do I know.

 

MichelleKCanada

http://anotherlookbookreviews.blogspot.com/

[Vanessa]

I, personally, am getting irritated. Sure, I am now getting most of my review books in a digital format, but when it comes to review copies, I much rather having the hardcopy. Don't ask me why, but I find there's a difference. I also have giveaways going on, and it's very irritating to say to  a winner, "Yay...you won a book, but since I bought it before-hand...would you mind waiting a little longer to get it, because the post office is on strike?". It just annoys me. On the bright side, though,...I can't wait to get a HUGE pile of mail all at once when they are delivering again. I love getting mail :)

 

Vanessa

http://lovelaughandread.blogspot.com

[Bonnie]

I have a bunch of books that are currently locked up in some warehouse. I feel bad for the authors who sent them to me - yes I will read you book but I have no idea when I can post the review because it could be weeks/months before I actually get the book. I am just hoping that they don't get lost along the way with all the backlog.

 

I often get review copies in epub format so I still have books coming through but there are certain books that I prefer to have in hardcopy.

 

Bonnie @ <a href="http://www.handsandhome.ca/">HandsAndHome</a>

[Ann Craven]

I am not dealing so well. I have about 6+ packages floating around in the world because of the strike. I'm hoping it ends soon and that my books come in. We've been patient for too long.

[DG Publishing]

I had no idea about this strike. Our second author is Canadian, but we worked out contract work some time ago, so thank goodness for that. I hope this is resolved in a few months when he will need to physically approve his proofs.

 

I've just sent off a paperback for a giveaway to someone in Canada a few days ago. I hope they received it.

[Bobbie Crawford-McCoy (NURTURE)]

I'm not very pleased with the postal strike, but a short one isn't so bad. It will of course be more irritating if the strike carries on for weeks and weeks. Our clients (authors) have been very understanding thus far.

I would recommend accepting eBook review copies for the next few weeks, even if you'd rather have a hardcopy in hand. You can think of it as a mini gift for the author because an eBook is much cheaper to send. :-)