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Civil War News put out a great supplement section to their January 2008 issue titled “Calendar of 2008 Events.” Just as it sounds, it contains information on events throughout the year including date, location, description, contact info, and a website url. We’re using this section to plug our Civil War authors into book signing events and panel discussions at various events throughout the country. Luckily a number of our authors live close enough to these events that they can easily make the drive in a day trip.
Is there a similar type of calendar listing for your book’s genre? There are hundreds of Revolutionary War and Civil War events and reenactments that feature book signing events. Or is there a local author day at your library? Do some research and find out. Whether in print or digital form, find a list of upcoming events in your area that you could attend and contact the event coordinator about your interest. Or, tell your publisher where you will be and when (whether traveling for business or pleasure) and see what events you can latch onto. With spring just around the corner and the summer tourist season right after, it’s a great way to sell copies of your book during the busy season.
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3 comments:
Off topic, but I recently came across this comment and was wondering what your thoughts might be:
"The decline in the number of Independent bookstores around the country is in direct correlation to the decline in total unit sales of individual titles over the past fifteen years. The big booksellers started demanding some sort of revenue from the biggest publishers to make up for this drop in business. What resulted is a non-competitive marketplace where the biggest retail booksellers get huge advantages over the smaller retail Independent bookstores. This is a sad commentary for the publishing industry but fostered by the unwillingness of the biggest publishing companies to address the issue. As a result, the market for small stores continues to decline."
Best,
RGW
Hi Richard,
Savas Beatie doesn’t work with bookstores that frequently because our distributor takes care of all of our trade orders (to chain and independent bookstores, Amazon, etc.). If we are in communication with a bookstore, it is usually to plan and publicize an author book signing event.
That being said, what you said is true. Just look at the number of independent bookstores that have gone out of business in the last ten years (and how many big bookstores have been plopped down in their place) and you can see the same correlation. Whereas independent bookstores might have a couple copies of many titles (relative to their size), chain stores purchase and push a select number of titles and carry dozens and dozens of copies. They know they can move these books because the big publishing companies have the budget to back them, pay for large table displays, etc. It all relates.
Sarah
Thanks Sarah. It is sad to see these smaller operations go by the wayside.
Best,
RGW
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