The Overlook Connection

[Randall Flagg]

Discussion about The Overlook Connection.
I have copied numerous posts into this thread.

[carlosdetweiller]

I nominate THE GREEN WOMAN by The Overlook Connection. I just received this little gem today.

Back in August The Overlook Connection announced the S/L of this graphic novel. Limited to 150 copies and you could pick your number. Numbers 1 & 2 were taken so I took #3. Paid $49.95 plus $6.95 shipping for a total of $56.90 up front via PayPal.

Here are some photos of this beauty. It is a regular trade edition with a spiffy little sticker on the spine identifying this treasure as an "Autographed Edition." Then to complete this deluxe package the authors have signed the back of the dust jacket and someone has written the book number freehand. No expense was spared and the attention to detail is breathtaking.

Oh, and to top it off I got #42 instead of the #3 I reserved.

Has anyone got a worse S/L than this?

[Randall Flagg]

Overlook Connection is famous for under-delivering. I am still waiting for my Coffin Case for Less Than Human by Gary Raiser. I have a note from Dave dated 1994 promising the coffins would be done soon (the book was announced-sold in 1992). Finally in 1996 after over 4 years of "stories" he sent the book without the coffin. The copyright page has the temerity to state: "A Limited Oak Coffin edition of 300.........". The book itself is very nice, although the type is in red. A nice novelty, but have you every tried to read 200+ pages printed in red ink?
The thread is great. It does raise the question as to what is the worst Stephen King signed Limited? I think I nominate TGWLTG S/L as the worst value.

Edit:
Maybe Dolso can make the coffin.

[WeDealInLead]

That worries me about OC. I have The Passage S/L on order from them. It was $50 cheaper than issue price which was weird but I couldn't pass it up.

I don't own a US S/L of UTD because it really does look cheap.

[carlosdetweiller]

Overlook Connection is famous for under-delivering.

Another thing about The Overlook Connection is recycled (i.e. previously used) boxes. I suppose the environmentally conscious would disagree but I like a new sturdy box when I order new books. The book in the first post in this thread arrived today in a previously used box originating from the Harlow Valley Packing Co. in Dublin, GA. According to the side of the box it once contained "one or more of the following: sliced smoked bacon, sliced smoked ham water added or sliced smoked shoulder picnic's water added." It also says "keep refrigerated." Thank goodness it is somewhat cold out today.

[Randall Flagg]

Another thing about The Overlook Connection is recycled (i.e. previously used) boxes. I suppose the environmentally conscious would disagree but I like a new sturdy box when I order new books. The book in the first post in this thread arrived today in a previously used box originating from the Harlow Valley Packing Co. in Dublin, GA. According to the side of the box it once contained "one or more of the following: sliced smoked bacon, sliced smoked ham water added or sliced smoked shoulder picnic's water added." It also says "keep refrigerated." Thank goodness it is somewhat cold out today.

I hope you aren't Muslim.

[carlosdetweiller]

Another thing about The Overlook Connection is recycled (i.e. previously used) boxes. I suppose the environmentally conscious would disagree but I like a new sturdy box when I order new books. The book in the first post in this thread arrived today in a previously used box originating from the Harlow Valley Packing Co. in Dublin, GA. According to the side of the box it once contained "one or more of the following: sliced smoked bacon, sliced smoked ham water added or sliced smoked shoulder picnic's water added." It also says "keep refrigerated." Thank goodness it is somewhat cold out today.

I hope you aren't Muslim.

Or Jewish? Or vegetarian? Thankfully none of those. Just a meat eating Methodist omnivore.

[e_taylor]

Even some of the OCP books that actually have signature pages are just poorly printed (looks like from a home computer) sheets with the signature added.

As long as you know what to expect you won't be disappointed. Its just a matter of the price points making you think you'll get something more.

[Merlin1958]

Ok, call me crazy, but $49.95 for a S/L book by a name author? That's not bad when you compare to the other guys. Yeah, Its a "Graphic Novel" and all, but c'mon the guys held it and signed it. You want "Big Ticket" S/L's got to CD. That's what they do. If I could get the same thing for my King "Graphic Novels" I would jump at it!!!!!! OC is doing a great job and should be appreciated for the small press publisher it is. From what I can see, its a great job IMHO. I like the more "personal" touch. Worst S/L? I don't think so.

[Rahfa]

Well...it's $49 because nobody will pay much more than that....they aren't heroes for charging a cheap price; they're charging market value. If SK did the same thing, it wouldn't be $49, so not really comparable.

They didn't hold it (of course, nobody ever holds the book...just the signature sheets), but just signed the dustjacket. I'm not sure I see a whole lot of personal touch...more like doing it as cheaply as they could.

But, like I said before, at $49, it's not terribly overpriced or anything...but doens't make it an especially impressive effort. "Usher II" looked worse...

[Merlin1958]

Well...it's $49 because nobody will pay much more than that....they aren't heroes for charging a cheap price; they're charging market value. If SK did the same thing, it wouldn't be $49, so not really comparable.

They didn't hold it (of course, nobody ever holds the book...just the signature sheets), but just signed the dustjacket. I'm not sure I see a whole lot of personal touch...more like doing it as cheaply as they could.

But, like I said before, at $49, it's not terribly overpriced or anything...but doens't make it an especially impressive effort. "Usher II" looked worse...

Well, they probably "held" the DJ then, Man, I gotta move on from this game!! LOL LOL LOL

[carlosdetweiller]

Ok, call me crazy, but $49.95 for a S/L book by a name author? That's not bad when you compare to the other guys. Yeah, Its a "Graphic Novel" and all, but c'mon the guys held it and signed it. You want "Big Ticket" S/L's got to CD. That's what they do. If I could get the same thing for my King "Graphic Novels" I would jump at it!!!!!! OC is doing a great job and should be appreciated for the small press publisher it is. From what I can see, its a great job IMHO. I like the more "personal" touch. Worst S/L? I don't think so.

Peter Straub is one of my favorite authors. I've read all of his books at least twice and some more than that. I think I even like reading his books more than books written by Stephen King. I have a large Straub collection and am continually trying to add to it. Having said all of that the fact is that Peter's signature adds little if any monetary value to a book. When a new Straub book is published it is child's play to get a signed copy of the first edition at the published price. Booksellers like VJ Books, Mark Lavendier and that "signed first editions" guy all sell legit signed copies at issue price. When Straub does a signing one only has to call the bookstore and order one at the retail price.

The book with which I started this thread is a signed first trade edition not much different from many others available at issue price for anyone who wants to do a little searching on the internet. It is advertised as an S/L in a misleading manner (IMO). When I pre-ordered this little jewel I'm not sure what I was expecting but I was expecting something better than a signed trade edition with a number written on the f***ing dust jacket.

Well, as the saying goes "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

[Dave Hinchberger]

In response to The Green Woman signed and numbered edition with the author's participation: Just to be clear, this is not a limited edition. This is a signed and numbered copy of the Vertigo edition. We did not produce this as a limited hardcover from OC Press, nor have we ever listed it as such. We were limited to the number of copies to be signed, and we offered our customers the chance to pick a number (first come, first served on the number of course). We did however offer monetary compensation to the authors and thus we had to increase the price. In fact many of you ordered your copy early at the original price of $49.95, we had to increase that price once the second author unexpectedly agreed to sign (and which we paid him for too), but we did not increase the price of any early orders - that was just a bonus for you - and we appreciate advance orders. There has obviously been some confusion and I hope this helps. If you have any questions you are always welcome to e-mail me at overlookcn@aol.com or call us at 678-567-9777. Thanks and Happy New Year to everyone on The Dark Tower web site. All my best, Dave Hinchberger, Owner, Overlook Connection Bookstore and Press. Jan. 2nd, 2011

[carlosdetweiller]

This is a signed and numbered copy of the Vertigo edition. We did not produce this as a limited hardcover from OC Press, nor have we ever listed it as such.

With all due respect, Dave, I am going to post the original e-mail that I received from you in August, 2010. I would ask the other members of this forum to read both pages of the e-mail promoting the book, asking them to keep an open mind and not be too influenced by the preceding posts in this thread, and then decide if they think this offer is for a signed/limited edition or a signed copy of the trade edition by Vertigo. Vertigo is not mentioned at all in this promotional e-mail.

If you were reading this e-mail for the first time what would you have expected to receive? An S/L or a copy of the common trade edition signed on the back of the dust jacket with the number scribbled on by hand?

[divemaster]

I would think that I was receiving a signed and numbered book, of which only 150 were produced.

[Room 217 Caretaker]

After reading the Email, I personally would have assumed Overlook Connection as the publisher. Therefore, when I read "signed edition" a limitation page would have been expected.

Mulleins
Cumberland VA

[Rahfa]

"There will only be 150 copies of this signed edition."

The claim is pretty cut and dry; from that, I would expect a book with some sort of firm limitation - which the signed dustjacket DOES do in a way...but barely. I mean, if you got Straub and the artist to sign a DJ at some point in the future and just gave it some random number you would technically create another copy of "this signed edition."

But, the ad doesn't claim anything like "bound in signature page" or anything like that....so it is accurate as far as that goes.

If it had just been called a "personally signed dustjacket that we've limited to 150 Overlook-produced numbered copies," I think that would have been a more accurate description.

At best, the original statement is a very loose intepretation of what we all believe a true s/l edition consists of. I wouldn't call it a 'lie,' but I think the statement's truth is stretched pretty far.

Having said that, at $49, I don't think this is overpriced...I'm sure customers would have been perfectly content to buy it with a more specific description of what they were getting. As always, the motto should be "promise less than you deliver and everybody will always be happy."

[Merlin1958]

Well, perhaps some of the phrasing was vague or open to interpetation, but I am no where near the experienced collector some of you folks are and the fact that it is a "Graphic Novel" and was priced at $49, would have told me right off that it was not a S/L with a limitation page, etc , etc. I don't recall ever seeing a traditional S/L for less than 3 figures. At the very least, I would have emailed him and asked "What's this"? before buying. I have always found Dave to be extremely communicative and open. To me, Graphic Novel = Comic Book. I'm sure he offered a complete refund to you, no? With all due respect, if it had been handled privately as a customer service complaint, I know Dave would have done something to try to make you happy in the end.

[carlosdetweiller]

I don't recall ever seeing a traditional S/L for less than 3 figures.

Really? Traditional S/Ls for a lot of authors other than King usually go for less. Here is an example of the new Repairman Jack novel by F. Paul Wilson to be published by Gauntlet. This is one that is fresh on my mind because I just ordered a copy. The signed and numbered edition is $85. I've bought S/Ls by Straub from Borderlands Press in that price range too.

http://www.gauntletpress.com/cgi-bin...R_ID=541558051

[carlosdetweiller]

I have always found Dave to be extremely communicative and open. I'm sure he offered a complete refund to you, no? With all due respect, if it had been handled privately as a customer service complaint, I know Dave would have done something to try to make you happy in the end.

Well, prior to starting this thread I sent an inquiry wanting to know why I didn't get my requested number of 3 or (as an alternate) the next lowest number instead of the #42 that I did receive. (The webpage still lists many numbers lower than 42 as available.) Still waiting on the reply. So, in this case, the customer service that you rave about seems lacking to me.

[Merlin1958]

To each his own, I guess

[Patrick]

My personal opinion is:

The email above is technically correct, however it is clearly misleading in spirit and expectation. Nowhere does it mention that this is a trade edition from another publisher nor does it state that the signatures and limitation will be on the back of the dustjacket rather than in the book itself. Buyers should not have to proactively contact a publisher to ask these things. With known reputable publishers, the answers are, and should be, assumed to meet the collector/small press customer market expectations.

[Rahfa]

Many, and almost ALL, of CD's non-SK limited editions are below $100...(actually, I'm talking out my ass...I think I'm right, but I'm not going to go to CD's website to confirm).

I'm not sure what difference it makes whether it's a graphic novel/comic book/novel/novella/whatever...SOD I+II is basically a graphic novel, right?

Bottom line is it was advertised as 150 signed-limited copies, but they did nothing but add their own alteration to an existing trade edition...that's not really that "limited." Sure, you can always email anybody and ask for clarification...but there should be reasonable expectation that the basic description is accurate and not open to misinterpretation, like this one definitley was.

[Randall Flagg]

I find Dave Hinchberger to be public in offering to help/satisfy a customer, but when contacted he offers excuses rather than assistance. A prime example is the coffin case for Less Than Human. I know the issue is over 15 years old (perhaps that is why it should be resolved!), but when contacted requesting original pictures, specs, info etc. so that an aftermarket case could be sought, Dave's tepid response was "

Don't have any specs or pictures handy. This was quite some time ago. If I do run across them I will probably post them up on the site for the sake of history.

Sorry I couldn't be of much help.

Best,

Dave

Perhaps it is time to break a separate thread out discussing The Overlook Connection.

It took years, but Cemetery Dance came and discussed issues, and most importantly resolved them.

[Merlin1958]

I find Dave Hinchberger to be public in offering to help/satisfy a customer, but when contacted he offers excuses rather than assistance. A prime example is the coffin case for Less Than Human. I know the issue is over 15 years old (perhaps that is why it should be resolved!), but when contacted requesting original pictures, specs, info etc. so that an aftermarket case could be sought, Dave's tepid response was "

Don't have any specs or pictures handy. This was quite some time ago. If I do run across them I will probably post them up on the site for the sake of history.

Sorry I couldn't be of much help.

Best,

Dave

Perhaps it is time to break a separate thread out discussing The Overlook Connection.

It took years, but Cemetery Dance came and discussed issues, and most importantly resolved them.

Very true, but CD had Sai King to bail them out of their errors. Just saying....