Contacting local businesses and libraries

[Brigid Barry]

I think this is the right place for this! This is actually two questions in one. For context, I have difficulty talking to people in areas that I'm not confident, and I suck at marketing in general.

My publisher expects me to do some of my own marketing.

1. I know a shop (not a bookstore) that carries books and I've known the owner for 20+ years. Is it presumptuous to talk to her about possibly carrying a handful of my books? She will occasionally have events at her store. Would it be bad if I asked about being involved in one of them? More generally, should I be contacting other local shops that carry books? I know Books A Million has a shelf for local authors so I will probably call them too.

2. I'm going to be calling local libraries in a few local towns about doing signings. I have a vague idea of what I should ask about turnout, but anything I need to ask about when I call?

 

[Catriona Grace]

Sympathy and empathy from me. I feel presumptuous just mentioning I've written a book, much less approaching people with marketing requests.

Contact any entity that might carry your book, starting with the person you've known for twenty years. When I took an ARC to the local independent bookstore, the owner came out of the back to tell me she'd already ordered books and would I be interested in her shop hosting a book launch. That startled me some. Booksellers love books, and if they also have a specialty section of local authors, well, then... They may ask if your book is on Ingram Sparks or something similar so they can order books and not depend on the writer to supply inventory.

I took advanced reader copies to libraries in the area and asked if the acquisitions librarian was free. Later I approached the person who deals with scheduling about getting on their event calendar. Much as you might hate it, face to face is better than phone calls. What I've found about libraries, at least in this area: they prefer author presentations followed by signings, and not just signings alone. If you can go in with, "This is my book, I'm interested in doing X-related presentation for your patrons, can we work together?" chances of a yes increase over, "Can I come sell and sign my books at the library?

That's what I know about that.

 

[Unimportant]

I think this is the right place for this! This is actually two questions in one. For context, I have difficulty talking to people in areas that I'm not confident, and I suck at marketing in general.

My publisher expects me to do some of my own marketing.

1. I know a shop (not a bookstore) that carries books and I've known the owner for 20+ years. Is it presumptuous to talk to her about possibly carrying a handful of my books? She will occasionally have events at her store. Would it be bad if I asked about being involved in one of them? More generally, should I be contacting other local shops that carry books? I know Books A Million has a shelf for local authors so I will probably call them too.

IMO: Yes! And ask her if you can do a book signing event. You'll bring the books, you'll do the advertising, you'll do the signing (obvs), they'll ring up the books at the counter, and they'll get some of the profit.

2. I'm going to be calling local libraries in a few local towns about doing signings. I have a vague idea of what I should ask about turnout, but anything I need to ask about when I call?

Dunno about that one, but I guess it'd be the same thing as above: who does the advertising, who buys/brings the book copies, who does the selling/money changing (most people don't carry cash any more), who provides the table/chair/space, etc, how long can it last, what happens with unsold copies, etc.

 

[frimble3]

Sympathy and empathy from me. I feel presumptuous just mentioning I've written a book, much less approaching people with marketing requests.

What I've found about libraries, at least in this area: they prefer author presentations followed by signings, and not just signings alone. If you can go in with, "This is my book, I'm interested in doing X-related presentation for your patrons, can we work together?" chances of a yes increase over, "Can I come sell and sign my books at the library?

That's what I know about that.

Thing is, with libraries, you know your audience is interested in books.
For a presentation you could talk about other books like yours (not recent competitors, perhaps, but stuff on the library shelves) and how yours differs/is similar.
Or, about the writing process, and how you wrote yours. What inspired your story, how you chose/designed the characters, settings. Research.
And, the publishing process itself. For a lot of people, books just sort of 'appear'. Tell them how your writing became a book.
It gives added-value to the library, rather than just being a place to peddle your books.

 

[Unimportant]

Sympathy and empathy from me. I feel presumptuous just mentioning I've written a book, much less approaching people with marketing requests.

Contact any entity that might carry your book, starting with the person you've known for twenty years. When I took an ARC to the local independent bookstore, the owner came out of the back to tell me she'd already ordered books and would I be interested in her shop hosting a book launch. That startled me some. Booksellers love books, and if they also have a specialty section of local authors, well, then... They may ask if your book is on Ingram Sparks or something similar so they can order books and not depend on the writer to supply inventory.

I took advanced reader copies to libraries in the area and asked if the acquisitions librarian was free. Later I approached the person who deals with scheduling about getting on their event calendar. Much as you might hate it, face to face is better than phone calls. What I've found about libraries, at least in this area: they prefer author presentations followed by signings, and not just signings alone. If you can go in with, "This is my book, I'm interested in doing X-related presentation for your patrons, can we work together?" chances of a yes increase over, "Can I come sell and sign my books at the library?

That's what I know about that.

Ooh, that's brilliant, CG! Yes, a presentation is a great idea! And it can probably be on anything -- the setting/era of the novel, esp if you can tie it to the local area; the path to publication (the world seems to be chokka with wanna be authors); how to raise chickens (okay, that might be a bit of a stretch)....

 

[Brigid Barry]

Maybe I should tie my book into my chickens class.

 

[Unimportant]

Maybe I should tie my book into my chickens class.

You and @Nether can co-author The Haunted Coop.

....

....

....

(five minutes later)

Nether's written his half!

 

[Nether]

1. I know a shop (not a bookstore) that carries books and I've known the owner for 20+ years. Is it presumptuous to talk to her about possibly carrying a handful of my books? She will occasionally have events at her store. Would it be bad if I asked about being involved in one of them?

Other than embarrassment, it probably won't hurt to ask. Embarrassment can be painful, though. It can cause redness, sweating, and dry-mouth.

2. I'm going to be calling local libraries in a few local towns about doing signings. I have a vague idea of what I should ask about turnout, but anything I need to ask about when I call?

A library feels like a weird place for a signing, but... idk. I'd probably start by subscribing to all of your local libraries' newsletters and check out their websites to see how authors typically promote themselves there. And then if you get the library to agree, remember to send a press release to your local papers, news stations, etc, beforehand and then for the ones who don't appear, send a press release afterward (with whatever photos may've been taken at the event).

I'll mention one of my local libraries wouldn't even let me put up a notice on their bulletin board asking for beta readers (which was back in 2021). However, I think they've had authors show up for readings.

You and Nether can co-author The Haunted Coop.

....

....

....

(five minutes later)

Nether's written his half!

It'd probably pair nicely with that evil outhouse book I keep thinking about writing.

 

[Unimportant]

It'd probably pair nicely with that evil outhouse book I keep thinking about writing.

Dunny Goes to Hell

 

[lizmonster]

I think this is the right place for this! This is actually two questions in one. For context, I have difficulty talking to people in areas that I'm not confident, and I suck at marketing in general.

My publisher expects me to do some of my own marketing.

1. I know a shop (not a bookstore) that carries books and I've known the owner for 20+ years. Is it presumptuous to talk to her about possibly carrying a handful of my books? She will occasionally have events at her store. Would it be bad if I asked about being involved in one of them? More generally, should I be contacting other local shops that carry books? I know Books A Million has a shelf for local authors so I will probably call them too.

This all sounds absolutely normal and professional to me. If you want to abstract it from your friendship, you could ask her what the shop’s process is for stocking books, or if there’s a formal request process for participating in events. And yeah, I’d for sure call any place that showcases local authors. Worst they can do is say no.

 

[Brigid Barry]

I probably should have added in the context bit that people up here are especially fond of anything made here. Libraries go bananas for local authors and they do events there more than anywhere else (seeing that the closest bookstore is at least 40 minutes in any direction). I'm also working with a small press that doesn't take returns so those bookstores won't be stocking my books anyway.

Thanks for the notes on press releases. I'll add that to my list of questions for when I...show up in person in all these unfamiliar places where I don't know anyone to promote myself. *dies of all the anxiety*

(five minutes later)

Nether's written his half!

Why didn't you ask what was wrong?! True, the slow pace could be a keyboard issue but what if it was something more?!

 

[Brigid Barry]

You and @Nether can co-author The Haunted Coop.

Wait...this is the one where all the roosters are haunting me, isn't it?

 

[Catriona Grace]

The bad guy chickens who do the drive by haunting are in a coop de ville when they deliver the coop de grâce

 

[Brigid Barry]

Got a firm yes from my local library. First thing she asked was if I have a press release, so I need to find out if that's something my publisher will be doing. The library director knows the local book clubs so she offered to do some recon for me on what type of even people are happiest with. I hope it's not a reading. lol.

 

[kmac1]

I hope it's not a reading. lol.

That is a popular event type
Good luck with setting up all the release stuff! Sounds like a load of work over the next six-ish months.
Are you planning on attending any conferences/conventions to showcase your work?

 

[lizmonster]

I hope it's not a reading. lol.

You could do a reading! I did one back in the day. I chose a chunk and timed how long it took me to read - my goal was to stay under 5 minutes. I was pretty close, I think. I think audiences for these things would rather ask questions than listen to too much reading, but the library organizer should be able to tell you what's worked in the past.

 

[Brigid Barry]

Are you planning on attending any conferences/conventions to showcase your work?

I live in Maine and I assume the closest event like this would be at least 8 hours away, if not farther. I don't have the time or money for that kind of traveling.

 

[gettingby]

I've seen some authors give live virtual readings like through zoom. This is something one of the bookstore in my city does. I imagine there's other bookstores or organizations that do similar things. I actually think it's pretty great since the writers and the audience can be from all over the world. And I think every time I have gone to these zoom readings/discussions I have bought and read their books.

 

[Unimportant]

Got a firm yes from my local library. First thing she asked was if I have a press release, so I need to find out if that's something my publisher will be doing. The library director knows the local book clubs so she offered to do some recon for me on what type of even people are happiest with. I hope it's not a reading. lol.

Awesome!

Get Fluffy to do the reading. "Nay," she neighed. "Whinny for the win!"