I tell you, it’s not so bad when I have labels and boxes that hold together for another mailing…but it’s still hard, and gets postponed and postponed because the post office is a real chore, the lines go on forever, and when I’ve got a stack of boxes over waist high and am trying to maneuver them through the line, plus two or three slippery smaller packages, it’s a real pita.
I have imposed a nothing over 20 lbs limit, and that at least prevents a heart attack carrying the stuff up and downstairs…
But if there’s 5 and 6 20 pound boxes of books, plus little items, that’s a lot of trips.
I like to support the bookstores, but I wish they’d mail these things in early spring, so I don’t have to do this in summer heat.
Re Invitation, a question: Do we know how many years pass between Invitation and Foreigner? Not just thinking of “how fast does Bren acclimate,” but also, how long has Tabini had to evaluate Bren, before deciding to take the next step and give him a gun?
Mmmm…that, Levanah, is the NEXT short story. 😉
ms. cherryh, the post office isn’t necessarily the most cost effecitve option for you or the bookstores – and having to do postage box by box in line at the post office is NOT an efficient use of time either! if you can’t send them priority mail – pack, weight, print, drop off at usps or have usps pick it up – then either ups or fedex is much better as you can a)do the labels online and b)request pickup. since i am shipping glass i don’t use usps much unless it’s the jewelry, for larger packages or the precious metal line of jewelry i use fedex, a fellow glass artist i’m friends with uses ups, both will let you do the labels online and schedule a pickup. saves a LOT of time and a ton of back strain!