Funny thing about those release dates.

[I. J. Parker]

It seems to me that until this novel, all of my other releases have observed release dates set by publishers precisely. This time things are different. THE MASUDA AFFAIR, scheduled for release July 28 (today) in the UK, suddenly went on sale on Amazon UK a little over a week ago. And now a fan in the U.S. writes me that he preordered copy, scheduled to be released in this country October 28, will actually be shipped to her August 2. What gives?

I'm not complaining, but isn't that a little weird? Is it only Amazon that ignores release dates, or do stores also receive and sell books earlier? And what does that do to reviewers, who are supposed to get a head start with ARCs and post their reviews during the official release month or shortly thereafter?

Possibly this isn't bad. Normally we only get a month for the book to make its sales. Maybe this spreads out the time a bit more. I have to remain upbeat about this.

[I. J. Parker]

Thanks. Yes, it may be that the books are available for sale everywhere already. But then the late release date puzzles me. And there is also the question of warehousing. If books are ready 3 months before release date, they have to be stored. Now I'm really wondering about the significance of release dates.
Actually, Pepper, I've never encountered this before, either with stores or with Amazon.

[Pepper Smith]

Unless there's an embargo on the book's release, bookstores will often put a book on sale whenever they feel like it, once they've got it in stock. It's not that unusual, from what I've heard.

[B.R.Stateham]

I think it shows the clout of Amazon. Nothing more, nothing less.