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wordsmittenmedia · 5 years

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Books, Authors, and Booksellers

From SIBA for our readers. Visit SIBA soon.

How To Market Your Book to Independent Bookstores

Looking for ways to get your book into our bookstores? Here are some tips from SIBA and Southern indie booksellers:

Your Book

First, a disclaimer. Whatever the subject of your book, however long you’ve labored over it, and as wonderful as you’ve been told it is by friends and family, there is no guarantee that a bookstore will choose to sell it. Booksellers are inundated with catalogs and solicitations on a daily basis. Buying decisions are based on booksellers’ experience and knowledge of their customer base, but other factors can also exert influence — price of the book, space in the store, even money in the bank.

So don’t expect a bookstore to stock your book just because you live down the street or because your writing group loved it. That said, here are some ways to maximize your chances. First and best idea, be a regular customer at your local bookstore. Let them know you are a reader and a writer. Buy books from them, talk books with them. This goes a long way when you need something from them!

Approaching Bookstores

1. Know the Marketplace

Get to know your neighborhood bookstore. Be a regular customer, attend their events, and become a familiar face. SIBA has over 100 independent bookstore members throughout the south, all with distinct personalities and communities of readers. Many are specialty stores that sell subject-specific titles (Travel, Children’s, Metaphysical, etc.). With that in mind, do some research before you approach bookstores. Visit stores in your area and note their clientele. Do their customers look like potential readers of your book? Bookstores arrange titles largely by category or subject matter. Where would your book be shelved and is that a strong section in the store? Just as it is a good idea to get to know your local banker when you need to take out a loan, it’s a good idea to get to know your local bookseller if you’d like them to carry your book.

2. Who & How To Contact

Every store has at least one book buyer; larger stores may have several. Some bookstores require you to make an appointment; others will often see you on a drop-in basis. Your first step should be to identify the store buyer. A phone call is usually all it takes — ask for the book buyer. Be persistent, polite, and patient—booksellers are as busy as you are. Be prepared to briefly describe your book and in which section(s) it might fit. Have a brief “elevator speech” summary of your book ready in advance, and be ready to go into more detail if you are asked. If the buyer’s not there, find out when she or he will be in the store so you don’t waste a trip. Of course, if you are a regular customer, you probably already know the buyer by name. When you do meet with booksellers, they’ll want to know if you’re doing any promotion (not the store’s job) and how the book is being distributed. Having a ready-made marketing plan to show will greatly increase your chances of convincing the store to carry your book. Distribution is another big hurdle, especially for self-published authors. Your book has to be easy to order, and easy to return. Is the book stocked by a wholesaler like Bookazine, Ingram and Baker & Taylor? Or are you distributing it yourself? If you are handling distribution yourself, how will you make it easy for the store to order it?

3. Terms

Many bookstores will offer consignment, and we urge you to consider this option. You have a much greater chance of having your book stocked if you agree to leave copies on consignment. Some stores have consignment forms, but it’s good to bring your own. Also, if your book is print on demand only, bookstores won’t order many because POD books often can’t be returned. A 60-40 split on the sale of the book is standard (you get 60%), but some stores may have a different policy. It is extremely unlikely, however, that any store will be able to stock your book, even on consignment, without earning at least 40%. Also, you will probably be asked to check back with the store about sales, usually in 3-6 months (NOT every week!). If the book sells, great. If not, be prepared to take it home.

4. Don’t shoot yourself in the foot

Here are some things that won’t impress independent bookstores

Handing out bookmarks, flyers or postcards that say “available on Amazon.com.” Do yourself a favor and change that wording to “available where books are sold.”

Listing only Amazon on your Web site as a purchase option. SIBA strongly encourages authors to choose an independent bookseller or two as your store of choice and become an affiliate of those stores. Not only will those bookstores love it, but other indie stores will praise your commitment. We even offer a membership trade.

Citing your Amazon sales rankings, or sales figures for competing big box stores.

Telling the store that you’ve sold the movie options for your book.

If you book an event/signing at the store:

Complaining about the turn out or lack of sales at an event. Keep in mind you can have a big influence over the staff's feelings about your book and what they recommend. Sell them on you and your book.

Scheduling an event at one store, and then another, at venues that are less than 5 miles apart.

During an event, announcing that everything you ever wrote is available on Amazon.com or for download on the kindle. These sales are closed to indies. Don’t rub it in.

Be nice. Indie booksellers can be your best advocate.

Working with SIBA

Since visiting all independent bookstores in the region is at the least impractical, SIBA offers a number of ways to connect with our members, and with consumers. We do not sell or distribute books, but we can help you to make our members aware of your new title. First and foremost, you should… …

JOIN SIBA as an Industry Member. Dues are $195 annually, and membership benefits include the ability to participate in many of the programs below, as well as reduced rates on advertising and registration fees.

INTRODUCE YOURSELF. As a member of SIBA, you can receive a complete contact list of all of SIBA’s member stores on demand—including contact names, email addresses, phone and mailing addresses. You can use this list as the foundation of your own marketing plans by creating mailing lists and address labels. Once you have the labels; what do you mail? Obviously, a copy of your book is one option, but it’s not the only or even the best one. Some publishers send a flyer or brochure that introduces the book and features (if available) reviews and comments. Bookstores also like to hear about other independent bookstores that may be carrying the book but are less impressed that chains or online outlets are stocking it. You could also offer to send a copy to interested parties. You can email stores information about your book. Email is easier and cheaper, but it is also less often opened and read, so be prepared to design your email campaigns to appeal to stores in such a way they will want to open and read what you have to say. Also recognize that booksellers get lots of mail. Anything you can do to make your mailing stand out is helpful. If you can follow up later with a call or an email, all the better.

BE A STAR: SIBA operates a speakers’ bureau for authors, the Southern Traveling Authors Registration Service (STARS) that is marketed to bookstores and their customers. As a STARS author, you can send announcements to SIBA stores you are interested in visit for events and readings. Stores and consumers can also make direct requests to you. But you need to be a member of SIBA to participate.

ADVERTISE: SIBA has a wide variety of very cost effective advertising options for authors that can target bookstores and their staff, as well as consumers. eBlasts, banner ads, sponsorships, catalog listings, galley giveaways…we work with authors to help them create the biggest impact possible for their book while remaining in their budget.

COME TO THE TRADE SHOW: The annual Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance Trade Show and Convention is the largest regional book show in the south, attracting hundreds of booksellers, exhibitors, and authors. A good number of our show exhibitors are small publishers or individual authors who find the show an ideal venue for showcasing their books to the independent bookstores and networking with industry peers. They bring copies of their books to pass out, promotional materials, and of course, order forms (books are not sold at the show). SIBA works with first-timers to make the show as useful and productive as possible. SIBA supports and collaborates with the American Booksellers Association(ABA) on projects, activities and services that benefit independent bookselling. Marketing opportunities for authors are also available through the ABA’s IndieBound program; information is available at www.bookweb.org. NOTE: There nine other regional bookseller associations, all offering services and links to independent bookstores.

SIBA Contact Information: Wanda Jewell, Executive Director 3806 Yale Ave., Columbia, SC 29205 803.994.9530 fax: 509-463-5923 [email protected]

#books #SIBA #authors #marketing books #WordSmittenMedia Indiebooksellers IndieAuthors

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ktliterary · 7 years

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THE WEIGHT OF ZERO wins an ILA Award!

Congratulations to author Karen Fortunati!

The International Literacy Association (ILA) named THE WEIGHT OF ZERO to its ILA Children’s and Young Adults’ Book Awards list!

In the press release, ILA named Karen as one of the prestigious, “…newly published authors who show extraordinary promise.”

THE WEIGHT OF ZERO is Karen’s debut book – released last year in hard cover and coming this fall in paperback – it is a BEA Buzz Book, an ABA Indies Introduce Pick and a New York Public Library “Best Book for Teens.”

Read THE WEIGHT OF ZERO Discussion Guide here: Discussion Guide

THE WEIGHT OF ZERO For fans of 13 Reasons Why and Girl in Pieces, this is a novel that shows the path to hope and life for a girl with mental illness.

Seventeen-year-old Catherine Pulaski knows Zero is coming for her. Zero, the devastating depression born of Catherine’s bipolar disorder, almost triumphed once; that was her first suicide attempt.

And so, in an old ballet-shoe box, Catherine stockpiles medications, preparing to take her own life before Zero can inflict his living death on her again. Before she goes, though, she starts a short bucket list. This bucket list, combined with the support of her family, new friends, and a new course of treatment, begins to ease Catherine’s sense of isolation. The problem is, her plan is already in place, and has been for so long that she might not be able to see a future beyond it.

This is a story of loss and grief and hope, and how some of the many shapes of love—maternal, romantic, and platonic—affect a young woman’s struggle with mental illness and the stigma of treatment.

Check out Karen’s website at: www.karenfortunati.com

Say hi and congratulations on twitter @KarenFortunati

THE WEIGHT OF ZERO wins an ILA Award! was originally published on kt literary

#award winners #ILA #Karen Fortunati #THE WEIGHT OF ZERO #young adult

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catiesbooks · 3 years

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Join Jess Stauffer, Joy Dallanegra-Sanger, me and other fabulous booksellers as we introduce the top ten picks for the Indies Introduce Kids Summer/Fall 2021 List! June 9th at 12pm EST via zoom, at Edelweiss+ Bookfest.

#EdelweissBookfest #BookFestBound #as seen in #ABA Children's Indies Introduce #events #speaker

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catiesbooks · 3 years

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ABA Children’s Indies Introduce: June 2021

Here are the nominated titles the ABA Children’s Indies Introduce panel discussed that are being published this upcoming month, which ones made the final list, and ways to get them into your hands.

The (Un)Popular Vote by Jasper Sanchez June 1st 2021 Katherine Tegan Books (Harper Collins) YA Preorder the book here

Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin June 1st 2021 Sourcebooks YA Preorder the book here

Everywhere Blue by Joanne Rossmassler Fritz June 1st 2021 Holiday House (Penguin Random House) Middle Grade Preorder the book here

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé June 1st 2021 Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan) YA Preorder the book here

The Passing Playbook by Isaac Fitzsimmons June 1st 2021 Dial Books (Penguin Young Readers) YA Preorder the book here

Don’t Hate the Player by Alexis Nedd June 1st 2021 Bloomsbury YA YA Preorder the book here

The Witch King by H.E. Edgmon June 1st 2021 InkYard Press (HarperCollins) YA Preorder the book here

Ham Helsing #1: Vampire Hunter by Rich Moyer June 1st 2021 Crown Books for Young Readers (Random House) Middle Grade, Graphic Novel Preorder the book here

Coming Storm by Regina M. Hansen June 1st 2021 Ateneum Books for Young Readers (Simon & Schuster) YA Preorder the book here

The In Between by Marc Klein June 1st 2021 Poppy (Hachette) YA Preorder the book here The Sea is Salt and So Am I by Cassandra Hartt June 8th 2021 Roaring Book Press (Macmillan) YA Preorder the book here

Secret Starling by Judith Eagle June 8th 2021 Walker Books US (Candlewick Press) YA Preorder the book here

Almost Flying by Jake Maia Arlo June 8th 2021 Dial Books (Penguin Young Readers) Middle Grade Preorder the book here

Both Can Be True by Jules Machias June 8th 2021 Quill Tree Books (HarperCollins) Middle Grade Preorder the book here

Daughter of Sparta by Claire Andrews June 8th 2021 Jimmy Patterson (Hachette) YA Preorder the book here

Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury June 15th 2021 Margaret K Elderberry Books (Simon & Schuster) YA Preorder the book here

Learn More

This spring, I was one of eight panelists in the American Bookseller Association’s Children’s Indies Introduce panel for Summer and Fall of 2021.

The panel’s goal is to read and discuss early galleys and manuscripts of forthcoming middle grade and young adult books that publishers submit to be part of debut author promotions, and choose ten titles for the final list, and to present at ABA’s Children’s Institute. From January to April, we read and had biweekly zoom calls to share our thoughts.

View the full list of the ABA Children’s Indies Introduce Summer/Fall Panel titles here, or, check out the links below to see titles released by month.

#June 2021 #ABA Children's Indies Introduce #Indienext #American Booksellers Association #YA #Young Adult #Middle Grade

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