- Joined
- Nov 4, 2008
- Messages
- 186
- Reaction score
- 17
- Location
- Enroute to Jalalabad
- Website
- www.amazon.com
An independent Florida book store chain (about eight stores) has said it will be happy to host a book presentation/signing for me for my latest release, HAVANA QUEEN. So far, so good. Here, however, is the clincher:
There is a fifty dollar ($50) non-refundable stocking fee and two hundred dollar ($200) event fee that must be paid upon delivery (of consignment books). Additional fees, for email blast invitation or catered reception (see below) are optional. These fees can be paid by credit card or check.
OPTIONAL: $500 charge. We will create/design and send out a stand-alone, e-mail invite (to its 18,000 database) to promote the event in the weeks prior to the event. If you select this option, please let your event coordinator know, as soon as possible, so the email blast can be added to the bookstore’s blast schedule. Payment must be received two weeks in advance of the scheduled date of the event.
Since the ebook revolution, I've stopped doing these book store appearances. I just wasn't getting sales or much publicity from them and considered them mostly a waste of time. But indie bookstore managers were always happy to host them and went out of their way to publicize the events and put on real nice programs -- for free! Some would even provide hors d'oeuvres and drinks. This is the first time a store has demanded payment and I'm balking at it. The thing is, my rep is lining up tv and radio interviews and speaking engagements. Nobody is demanding that I pay for these events.
Since I'm out of date concerning book store signings, I'm uncertain as to whether this is a growing practice, or not. Also, I suspect they demand payment from indie authors, but likely not from traditionally published writers (though I can't confirm this). What do others think of this? I'm inclined to tell them to jump off a long pier, but I tend to have a hair trigger temper sometimes.
There is a fifty dollar ($50) non-refundable stocking fee and two hundred dollar ($200) event fee that must be paid upon delivery (of consignment books). Additional fees, for email blast invitation or catered reception (see below) are optional. These fees can be paid by credit card or check.
OPTIONAL: $500 charge. We will create/design and send out a stand-alone, e-mail invite (to its 18,000 database) to promote the event in the weeks prior to the event. If you select this option, please let your event coordinator know, as soon as possible, so the email blast can be added to the bookstore’s blast schedule. Payment must be received two weeks in advance of the scheduled date of the event.
Since the ebook revolution, I've stopped doing these book store appearances. I just wasn't getting sales or much publicity from them and considered them mostly a waste of time. But indie bookstore managers were always happy to host them and went out of their way to publicize the events and put on real nice programs -- for free! Some would even provide hors d'oeuvres and drinks. This is the first time a store has demanded payment and I'm balking at it. The thing is, my rep is lining up tv and radio interviews and speaking engagements. Nobody is demanding that I pay for these events.
Since I'm out of date concerning book store signings, I'm uncertain as to whether this is a growing practice, or not. Also, I suspect they demand payment from indie authors, but likely not from traditionally published writers (though I can't confirm this). What do others think of this? I'm inclined to tell them to jump off a long pier, but I tend to have a hair trigger temper sometimes.