==
I am pleased to announce that my good friend Ulrich Haarburste's book is finally available.
'Ulrich Haarburste's Novel of Roy Orbison in Clingfilm' is a paperback of 192 pages, A-format (that is 7 inches by 4.4, the smaller of the two normal sizes). The cover board is a cheeky little one-sided 200gsm with gloss UV varnish, the text paper a hand-picked Ensobelle 60gsm 120micron, taken from only the prettiest and most historically important of trees. Lovingly assembled by a mixture of cutting-edge technology and traditional craftsmanship, it is highly unlikely to explode and blow your ____ing face off. However Kelly Enterprises can accept no liability in case of accident. The product should not be applied rectally, although the book reviewers may have the final word on that. The cover design is spartan minimalist and seems likely to become a classic. It costs seven royal pounds, or whatever the equivalent is in flimsy foreign Monopoly money.
The book contains the original Orbison in Clingfilm stories from Ulrich's site, five new ones, and, God help me, an Orbison in Clingfilm novel.
This book actually exists I think that's pretty funny in itself
Table of Contents
ISBN: 978-0-9554602-0-3
Published by Serapion Books
Trade distribution by York Publishing Services
Online sales here
Cover price £7 (lowered for online sales to take account of shipping charges)
Guardian ('Inventively hilarious')
However if you're heart's really set on it, it can be bought online here.
The cover price of £7 has been reduced to £4 for online sales to absorb the p&p costs.
Postage is £2.75 in Britain, the same as amazon UK, slightly more to Europe and £5 to the rest of the world.)
Tel: +44 (0)1904 431213 | Fax: +44 (0)1904 430868 | Email: enqs@yps-publishing.co.uk
Update - I've received word that despite the above someone successfully ordered it from
Amazon - it seems the main wholesalers actually have taken a certain number of copies
into stock. So, it is possible to order it from Amazon UK (if you have an account with any
other Amazon you can log in to Amazon UK with the same password), but it does take
weeks, there is a £2 surcharge, and, I repeat, my own online seller
is much cheaper (and will deliver all over the world).
Later Update
My distributor's Amazon shop has now been set up - on the Amazon.co.uk webpage for the book click on
'Used and New available' then 'New' then 'York Publishing'. But I would still suggest you use
their own online shop in preference - it's simple to use, Ulrich and I get more money, and
it's still cheaper for you.
But again - are you sure you want to? Are you really going to walk up to the
counter in a bookshop, probably staffed either with foxy totty or a nice lady who could
be your mum, and ask for a book of fantasies about wrapping a dead pop star in plastic?
Are you really going to say 'Ulrich Haarburste's Novel of Roy Orbison in Clingfilm' out
loud? In a shop full of people? Perhaps you could write it down and pretend to be mute.
As for being able to just walk in and find it on the shelves, I'm working on selling it to bookshops now;
it depends on whether any buy it.
But again - would you even dare to take it off the shelf? You would still have to take
it and show it to the totty/nice mum-type lady at the counter. Shoplifting is your best bet.
But then, what if you get run over before you get home? The mortuary would give the book to
your parents saying it was found on your body, and imagine how devastated they would be. Your Mum
wouldn't know it was a joke. She'd think you were into that.
(By the way, imagine the time I've had of it trying to explain this strangeness to my
parents. And they've told all their friends their son has a book out, and now they will
have to explain it to them. And they told an old and respectable great-aunt of mine, before
they knew what it was about, and she is expecting a copy and will be heartbroken if she
doesn't get one, and more so if she does. However, I have a plan to obtain a book by the
august and recently deceased American journalist Michael Kelly and send that to her instead.
I suppose she may be upset to read that I have been tragically killed in Iraq, but not as much
as she would be if she found I had published a book about Roy Orbison being wrapped up in
clingfilm.)
[Update - wrong! I gave her a copy and she loved it. And gave me a very thoughtful and
perceptive review. That'll learn me to be ageist. Also it turns out she had both met Orbison and
lived in Dusseldorf.]
[*NB I've just heard from someone who tried to order it from a WHSmith's and wasn't allowed
to, despite offering to pay up front. They seem to have a policy of only ordering books that are
in stock with wholesalers. But most good bookshops are only too happy to order books.]
Depends on the shop but I would think this would be possible. You'd have to pay the postage
charges and what have you on top of the cover price - check with the shop.
(But again - is it wise? What if customs open it? Do not try this in Iran.)
If this current enterprise isn't a complete debacle I'll be trying to arrange overseas editions eventually.
ISBN: 978-0-9554602-0-3
And my distributors are:
Tel: +44 (0)1904 431213
Update March 27th:
There's just been a rather misleading article about the book in a Canadian newspaper group.
Despite having read the page above, as he referred to it in our exchange, and despite not
having read the book, the journalist
states that it's 'backed by a U.K. publishing house' and opines that this 'is reason for aspiring
writers worldwide who have yet to see their work published' to lay violent hands on themselves
out of rage and frustration. For the benefit of them, the book is entirely self-published
and backed by no-one but me. Savvy? I am the publisher, I assembled the book and paid for the
printing, I am responsible for the whole thing from start to finish, I spent six months arranging
the distribution, and all the money risked on the venture is mine.
Although Ulrich kindly granted the journalist a lengthy audience, he has been disappointed
to find that only one of his mots made it to the finished article and he fears lest
his musings be lost to posterity. To mollify him I have posted the unedited interview on his
website, here.
===
Not only have Waterstone's Deansgate (in Manchester) taken copies of my book into stock, they
gave it a special display shelf and look look look, look at the pictures:
That is most cool indeed. I don't know if you can see on the picture but the book itself is
wrapped in clingfilm and they've also been wrapping copies in clingfilm for customers.
Many, many thanks to Chris and the rest of the staff. And thanks for sending the picture.
Today was a good day. It's days like today that make you feel it's almost worth getting out of the uterus.
(I should point out that Ulrich Haarburste himself is rather less grateful. Indeed he is somewhat miffed to be on the 'Cult' shelf and thinks he should
rightfully either be in the World's Classics section or under German Literature between
Goethe and Heine.)
And! I gather Waterstone's Brighton have a load of copies in stock too.
It's also definitely been taken by Waterstone's Edinburgh George Street and Waterstone's 311 Oxford Street London,
but I don't know how many because my initial sales report was useless, and by
John Smith campus bookshops in Dundee and the University of London. This was as of several
weeks ago, there's a time lag with my reports, so I don't know if anyone else has it yet.
(If it's not in stock in your local bookshop they can of course order it for you.)
Also, for those who didn't see when it was on the front page, I've had a breathtaking, blushmaking review from a woman who has a literary radio show
in America. It was so good, in fact, I've decided I can't link it in case anyone thinks I believe it.
Put it this way, it was so favourable that even Ulrich felt flattered. He told me that
'At long last I feel some small hope that I may after all be fully understood within my
lifetime' and has forwarded it to the Nobel Prize Commitee.
====
(NB, although he credits it to me - much to Ulrich's annoyance - my name doesn't actually appear
on the book, so asking for me won't get you anywhere in shops. It is Ulrich Haarburste's Novel
of Roy Orbison in Clingfilm, by Ulrich Haarburste, which you should ask for in a loud and
unashamed voice. A furtive murmur will look much worse, after all.)
My own online sellers will
of course deliver anywhere in the world.
Incidentally,
Waterstone's Manchester probably always have been and always will be the best damn bookshop in
the country, and I'm not just saying that because of the lovely display above. Every time I've been
in it's been like a child's dream of a sweetshop, like Borges's Library at Babel. I must try and
find the link to a forum I stumbled on where a former member of staff was talking about the time
(when they had about half a dozen future writers working there) when they became the first
Waterstone's to clear a million quid turnover over Christmas, largely by virtue of
stocking copies of, oh, every damn book that has ever existed. I think I was there that year:
I staggered to the till barely able to see over books, mostly for myself I have to say,
but a woman ahead of me in the queue bought £100 worth. Mostly paperbacks, and this was a time
when £100 was worth a lot more and books were much cheaper; you could buy a lot for a hundred quid
and it was a hell of a lot to spend on them. She giggled with embarrassment, I remember, when the
total was announced, but was completely happy. I bet few of those books were for Christmas presents
either. I will track that woman down one day and marry her.
Update: the bloke who wrote that has done a longer review on a literary blog:
http://bigother.com/2009/12/17/my-favorite-new-books-of-2009-part-2/
I still don't have an American distributor. I have lost track of which bookshops are ordering
it in Britain. I know there's at least one Waterstone's in London ordering it in barrowloads
but I'm not sure which one. I am rubbish. I was not meant to be a businessman. Commerce is
vulgar and sordid. Wanted, a fat sweaty man with a cigar to help me with this and steal all
the profits. Must put his arm around my shoulder avuncularly and say things like, 'Trust me
and you'll be farting through silk.' Should then fart through silk to demonstrate. It is a
strangely beautiful sound, like the gentle sough of a cut souffle deflating. At gatherings of the
Confederation of British Industry they do it competitively, awarding points for both duration
and elegance.
YPS are now handling the direct online sales as well as bookshop orders.
The new online sales page is here.
By the way I occasionally hear from or of people who've bought it or are planning to buy it
for insane prices on Amazon. Don't! Use my online sellers! It's cheap as chips there and they
won't rob you, or at least they haven't robbed anyone yet.
===
[*PS (for prospective self-publishers) It seems only fair to YPS to point out that
I designed the cover of the book, not them. History will be my judge.]
Titles of new stories have been obscured for greater suspense.
But they involve Roy Orbison. Being wrapped in clingfilm.
Needful information: short version
'Ulrich Haarburste's Novel of Roy Orbison in Clingfilm'
by Ulrich Haarburste
Some reviews
Review of Contemporary Fiction 'Consistently innovative, surprising, and very, very funny... the most enjoyable experimental novel I’ve read in years'
Longer one on blog by same bloke ('the funniest and most audacious new novel that I’ve read in many years')
Bronwyn Carlton at WFMU ('Brilliant work')
Needful information: longer version
Can I buy it online?
Are you sure you want to? What if your wife or husband or someone finds your credit card bills?
What if government agents are tracking your net usage? Twenty years from now you could be a
crusading MP or congressman or whatever, about to cast the deciding vote
on a piece of legislation you've spent months pushing through which will abolish all bad things
and make the world a happy place for everyone for ever, and just as you stand up to speak you
hear a little sticky rasp and look round to see a Man In Black - with dark glasses - an agent
of the Evil World Ruling Cabal, standing at the back of the auditorium toying with a roll of
clingfilm, smiling menacingly and shaking his head at you forbiddingly. Instantly you
realise, he knows, and you're buggered. You swallow drily, sweat starting on your brow,
and try to resume. "Mister Speaker...as sponsor of this bill," - you hear another rasp - "as
sponsor of this bill, which we have all fought long and hard to bring into existence" - rasp -
"this bill to abolish all bad things and make everyone happy forever," - behind you the evil
agent gives a cough that sounds like, Jetta - "I am suddenly compelled to ask, are we
rushing into this? Are we making a grave mistake? Are bad things really all that bad? Poverty,
disease, war, crime, corruption - are these things not part of the lifeblood of any great nation?
Who are we to abolish them? Foolish nonsense... must change my vote... consistency is the
hobgoblin of small minds... bigger picture..."
Bookshops can order via Nielsen or contact York Publishing Services direct:
Can I order it from Amazon?
No. Or you might be able to try but it's not worth it. To obtain a proper Amazon listing publishers
have to give them a reduction of 50% or more, and agree to various other things, which I can't
afford. They'll list you as in stock if the book is stocked by wholesalers, but I don't know
if that's going to happen either as wholesalers want a similar cut. Currently the book is
listed on Amazon UK by default - this happens automatically once you have an ISBN number.
But it says '4-6 weeks to obtain' and adds a £2 'hard to source' fee (it wouldn't be hard to
source at all, they'd just have to type in a request through the Nielsen system, but they
can't be bothered). I really don't know what would happen if you tried to order it from them.
From my own experience trying to order books from small imprints by that route, they would
likely just mess you around for six weeks and then announce they'd been unable to find it. At some
point in the future my distributor may set up something where we would avoid all these problems
by having an Amazon shop, but that remains theoretical for now. Really, you might as well
order via the online link above, which is cheaper than Amazon, or via a bookshop, see below.
Ordering from bookshops (in Britain)
Most bookshops are only too happy to take orders for books they don't have in stock.
Just tell them the title, author's name and/or ISBN.
Ordering a copy via a bookshop outside Britain
Ordering copies if you run a bookshop (or any other kind of shop)
If you encounter any problems with any of the above, please mail me (michaelhoratiokelly@yahoo.co.uk)
===
Update May 29th
Ooh ooh OOH!
Update September 7th:
Yay! A review in the Guardian, concluding 'highly recommended to non-fetishists,
who will find it inventively hilarious.'
Update October the something:
An edition has been published in New Zealand by Lawrence & Gibson.
Click here to
see the cover. At the
launch party
a new world record for the most number of people
wrapped in clingfilm simultaneously was established (41), although there was not,
technically, an old world record.
Jan 08
Also now in stock in The Broadway Bookshop, Broadway Market, Hackney (the first independent
bookshop in Britain to take it) and the Waterstones in Garrick Street and Camden High Street
in London. As well as all the places mentioned previously and about a dozen others I should
have mentioned ages ago but I forgot and now I can't find the reports.
Dec 08
Waterstone's in Manchester Deansgate are still ordering it by the shedload. Any of the other places
I mentioned may also still have it in stock, especially Waterstone's Brighton and The Broadway
Bookshop, who also ordered some fairly recently. Otherwise you can order it from a bookshop or
online.
For Americans, it is often in stock in the excellent Quimby's in Chicago
at 1854 W. North Avenue, who are selling crazy copies and I wish I could find an American
distributor. If not, my online sellers will deliver overseas.
Nov 09
A glowing
review in the rather prestigious 'Review of Contemporary Fiction' in the US.
Ulrich is rubbing shoulders with some very exalted company there.
(PS Click here to read a digression on a similar
theme.)
Dec 2010: