Archive for February, 2010
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No Time To Be Grumpy!
Yesterday, I had a bad experience with customer service. This morning I thought “I should just blog about that and tell the world how unhappy I am!”
And then I thought, “Or not.” We all have enough reasons to be grumpy. I don’t have to share that with the world. Instead I can tell you about the person who did her best to fix it.
So, the quick story. My daughter lost the power cord to her portable hard drive. The one that has her very important robotics project on it! I went to one office supply store: ” Sorry, we don’t carry that brand or power cords.” Brusque but not rude. Just not very helpful.
Second store, where I had bought the SimpleDrive. No spare power cords. I asked if they could just open the box and show me the power cord so I could duplicate it at an electronics store. NO. Absolutely not. Unless I wanted to buy it, look at the cord and then pay a 15 % restocking fee to return it. Did they know the power cord configuration and requirements. No. Why didn’t I go home and phone Hitachi. Seemed to have little comprehension that I was working against a tough time line.
We need the cord. Fast.
I bought another SimpleDrive. Took it to my car, and looked at the power cord. Thought, “Well, this cord will power the existing drive, but it would be nice to have a cord for each drive.” So I wWent to Radio Shack in the same complex. There, the sole clerk was trying to comfort and educate someone with a Very Bad Phone Plan. She succeeded. And after turning them from angry people to happy customers, she quickly found me the substitute power cord I needed and sold it to me with a smile. And took the time to warn me to double check the polarity to be sure it was correct and assure me that I could return the item if it wasn’t needed.
I should have caught her name. All I can say is thank you to the wonderful lady who works in the evenings at the Tacoma Mall Radio Shack. I was turning into a real grouch and your attitude and helpfulness helped me change mine!
Robin
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Happy Valentine’s Day, Tacoma
http://www.youtube.com/user/Sabotageanddialogue
That is one of my favorite statues in Tacoma!
Robin
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Interview at SciFiChick and other news
Just yesterday I did a question and answer session with the website SciFiChick. It’s already up tthere today, and with a bonus. People who leave comments on the interview are entered into a drawing for a limited edition dragon figurine. It features pocket dragons by REAL MUSGRAVE!! If you’ve never seen Pocket Dragons, you can scroll down and find the image below the interview. They’re adorable.
Today I spent time with Shawn, signing copies of Dragon Keeper for his autographed book service, The Signed Page. It was wonderful to see such a nice tall stack of hardbacks waiting to be autographed.
We were talking about how soon Dragon Haven is coming out. May isn’t that far away. Soon Shawn will be putting up a link on the page for people who wish to advance order copies of Dragon Haven. And, if you wish, you can order both hardbacks as a set and have them signed and shipped to you. If you enjoy owning signed first editions, The Signed Page is a great website to watch.
Other reminders for March! Warriors, edited by George RR Martin and Gardner Dozois will have a March publication. Tor is the publisher. In addition to my story, there are TWO tales from George RR Martin, and stories from such luminaries as Gardner Dozois, Naomi Novik, Joe Lansdale, Peter S. Beagle . . . and the list just goes on and on! EDIT AND CORRECTION!No. There is only one George RR Martin ‘tale’. The other is his introductory piece! Sorry to be confusing!
But the big news for me is happening in the UK. March 4th is the release date for Dragon Haven in the UK. It’s the concluding volume of the Rain Wilds Chronicles, and finishes the story of the dragons and their keepers. It has a stunning cover by Jackie Morris. (Scroll down on Jackie’s site to see covers for some of my books! As well as heartbreakingly lovely pictures of ginger cats!)
I’ll be adding some more dates to my events calendar soon. I have a feeling this whole year is going to just race by me.
Robin
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Had a Great Time at Fort Lewis
Signing table at Fort Lewis PX
This was my first time to sign at the PX. And it was great! Meghan met me at the gate to give me my visitor pass, and then took me to the PX and in the back hall. So many posters of people who have signed before there. Hulk Hogan! Gracie, of Brazilian juijitsu fame. Terry Brooks, of course! And lots of cheer leading teams and all sorts of other celebrities.
The staff made me very welcome (Godiva chocolate!) And the signing table with the back display was spectacular. I had a nice line of people waiting for me. I think what struck me the most was how nice everyone was, not just the PX staff, but the people in line, too.
I had an absolutely great time. And now I’ve got a US Army T-shirt and a coffee mug with the US army logo. Maybe I should wear the T-shirt when I greet my Marine Corps nephew when he gets home from Afghanistan? Or, hm. Maybe not.
Robin
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New Dragon Haven events added!
I’ve just added some updates to the events schedule. For the first time, I’ll be visiting Milwaukee, Wisconsin. On May 24th, I’ll be signing at Boswell Books and on May 25th at Next Chapter books in Mequon.
And while I’m in San Francisco, on May 12th I’ll be at Books, Inc, the Mountain View location, at 7:30 in the evening.
As I know other details, I’ll add them.
This is going to be a lot of fun. Hard to make myself settle down and do my work until then.
Robin
Upcoming Appearances
- 04/22/11 - 04/24/11 in in Mons, Belgium at
Trolls & Legendes - 05/26/11 - 05/29/11 in in Epinal, France at
Imaginales - 06/11/11 - 06/13/11 in in Saint-Malo, France at
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