Where do Baby Boomers buy their books?

I am working on filling out the author questionnaire for my publisher. One of the questions is about special markets. They want to know what markets are appropriate for my book. I've defined my audience as military veterans/enthusiasts and baby boomers. I have several for the military side, but no ideas for the baby boomers.

What they want to know is where, other than bookstores and retail chains, would my audience shop?

For example, for the military side, I listed a few museums.

Ah heck, while we're at it, throw in the military stuff too. Can't have too many, right?

Thanks in advance,

Karen Fisher-Alaniz

Thank you for all the suggestions. I am a baby boomer too, though like a few here, I'm on the tail end. I barely made it...lol. I should have mentioned that the book will already be available in independent bookstores, chain retail stores, and on internet sites like Amazon.

They are asking for non-bookstore and non-usual places.

The publicity/marketing team will be working on this too of course, so hopefully they'll come up with more than I have. But you all have given me some great insight. It will be released as an ebook on the same day it comes out in print.

I hadn't thought of airports.

I've learned that as an author, one of the least beneficial places to sell books is at bookstores.

I just had a thought. Has anyone had any experience in military PX's? I wonder if they have books? I wonder if you could do signings there? Maybe. Hmmm...this is all a little overwhelming.

By the way, I do most of my book buying at our local indie bookstore. They are small but offer a discount if they don't have the book you want in stock and you order it. For online, I use Powells.com. It's the largest indie in the country and is in Oregon - I live in Washington State, 10 miles from the Oregon border. The nice thing about Powells is that they often have the book in many different forms of "used."

Thanks again for the ideas, and keep them coming! ~Karen

No, I hadn't. Good idea! Maybe even high schools? My son is in high school. Thanks!

Thank you, everyone. I just got a look at the cover of my book. Definitely geared toward female. Most of it is quite feminine but then at the bottom there is a photo of Dad during the war. I publisher said, as did someone here, most memoir sales are to women. On top of that, women buy 70% of books that are sold. So, yeah...my audience is women with a slant toward military as well. The thought is that women will read it and then give it to their man (husband, father etc).

So, now I"m wondering about military wives. The experience of PTSD and the healing journey my father went through might be helpful to spouses of veterans. But it is also about a father and daughter reclaiming their relationship.

I meet with my publisher in 10-days. I'll know a lot more then. I just want to be sure that I have something to offer too. Thanks again! ~Karen