I have my galley copies. Many will be sent out by my publisher, but I am visiting the local bookstores. Is there a best way to approach them? All of a sudden I am feeling kind of shy!
Approaching Bookstores: Best Way?
- Thread starter Lisamer
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I've found my own local bookstores very approachable. If you're familiar with the stores, you probably already know if they have a local authors section. If you don't know, go in, take a look and see what's represented. Educate yourself as much as possible about what books similar to yours they already carry.
Make a list of the things you want to be sure to talk about. Discuss whether or not they do author events (readings/signings), how they publicize them, and go prepared with your own publicity ideas (do you have an e-mail list, a web site, a large extended family, non-profit groups who might be interested?). You might ask if they'd be interested in hosting a release party. If there is some kind of tie-in, see if you can make use of it (When my knitting book came out, we had a knit-in, a display of my sweater desigs, a question and answer session, book signing, coffee and cookies, and 20-30 people came on a snowy day to hang out for a couple of hours), plus more stopped in just to buy the book as a present for someone else.
Take some business cards, bookmarks or fliers to leave with them with the book title, cover, wholesale/ordering info, and your contact info. Find out what your publisher's publicity department can provide in the way of support (posters, fliers, postcards, a standup placard to advertise the event).
Find out who does their ordering and let them know you've got a book coming out. If you feel shy doing this in person, call first to find out who you should talk to, when he or she will be in the store, and when would be a good time (not too busy) to stop by.
When you get to the store, if the person you need to talk to is busy with a customer, wait patiently and unobtrusively. Ask politely whether he or she has a minute to talk to you.
Tell them all the things you planned to when you made your list. Thank them nicely when you're done.
Follow up with them closer to the release date to encourage them to place orders. If you've made plans for special events with them, get in touch with them at about 6 weeks out, 4 weeks out and 2 weeks out to make sure that 1) they remember and are publicizing your event and 2) copies are on order and are guaranteed to arrive before the event.
Basically, just be business-like. Small independent stores will be easy to deal with. Even the big box stores (like Books a Million and Barnes and Noble) will have an assistant manager assigned to author events.
Best of luck!
Make a list of the things you want to be sure to talk about. Discuss whether or not they do author events (readings/signings), how they publicize them, and go prepared with your own publicity ideas (do you have an e-mail list, a web site, a large extended family, non-profit groups who might be interested?). You might ask if they'd be interested in hosting a release party. If there is some kind of tie-in, see if you can make use of it (When my knitting book came out, we had a knit-in, a display of my sweater desigs, a question and answer session, book signing, coffee and cookies, and 20-30 people came on a snowy day to hang out for a couple of hours), plus more stopped in just to buy the book as a present for someone else.
Take some business cards, bookmarks or fliers to leave with them with the book title, cover, wholesale/ordering info, and your contact info. Find out what your publisher's publicity department can provide in the way of support (posters, fliers, postcards, a standup placard to advertise the event).
Find out who does their ordering and let them know you've got a book coming out. If you feel shy doing this in person, call first to find out who you should talk to, when he or she will be in the store, and when would be a good time (not too busy) to stop by.
When you get to the store, if the person you need to talk to is busy with a customer, wait patiently and unobtrusively. Ask politely whether he or she has a minute to talk to you.
Tell them all the things you planned to when you made your list. Thank them nicely when you're done.
Follow up with them closer to the release date to encourage them to place orders. If you've made plans for special events with them, get in touch with them at about 6 weeks out, 4 weeks out and 2 weeks out to make sure that 1) they remember and are publicizing your event and 2) copies are on order and are guaranteed to arrive before the event.
Basically, just be business-like. Small independent stores will be easy to deal with. Even the big box stores (like Books a Million and Barnes and Noble) will have an assistant manager assigned to author events.
Best of luck!
Thank you so much! Since I own a fitness studio in town, and my book is a winter sport fitness book, I plan to offer one free class with proof of purchase of my book. Hopefully, that will be an offer that people can't refuse! 
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