Another way to use these promotions is by offering them at local bookstores. Work with the owner or manager by introducing yourself and asking if you could leave the bookmarks and postcards at the register. Some will absolutely let you, as they want to be able to give a free gift to their patrons. Others may require a formal submission, especially if they don’t carry your books. Local libraries are another great outlet for indie authors. Go ask your librarian. Many are thrilled to have bookmarks or a postcard with a free book promotion for their “free tables”. Regardless, there is no harming in asking.
In fact, this November is a perfect time to stop in your local bookstore and introduce yourself. From Saturday, November 10th, 2018 through Friday, November 16, 2018 an industry-wide event called Love Your Bookstore will be bringing awareness to lovers and consumers of books.
Love Your Bookstore celebrates, for the first time, brick-and-mortar bookstores across the United States of America. It will include both independent bookstores and chain stores, like Barnes and Noble, who will be actively promoting this celebration of books. The event is being run by industry professionals; including authors, readers, booksellers and publishers.
For the next two months following, Love Your Bookstore will be featured in industry trades, advertisements, and social media efforts to reach out to readers. The steering committee for this event includes: Becky Anderson —Owner, Anderson’s Bookshops, Carl Lennertz—Executive Director, Children’s Book Council, Dominique Raccah—Publisher, Sourcebooks, George W. Slowik, Jr.—President, Publishers Weekly. With physical bookstores fading from the pages, this event and our involvement as authors is crucial to keeping this very important part of our book community alive and prospering. I learned about this very special campaign through my involvement with New Jersey Romance Writers.
So, during that first week... Love Your Bookstore Promoters would like authors and friends to get the word out, to go into your local bookstore, take a selfie or some photos...and post, post, post. This is a chance for us, as authors, to celebrate those individuals and businesses that house our books, promote them and the continued passion to read. The best part is that all authors, of all genres can head out and participate. This not an event limited to one genre, it’s for all authors and their fans.
It reminds readers and consumers of books of the gift of reading and what a perfect way to kick off the holiday shopping season, by purchasing from local book shops. So, as an indie author, I know I will be heading out and snapping a few pictures in my local Barnes and Noble, not to mention some of the other local bookstores around me. This is a fantastic way to participate in the event, and perhaps start a new relationship with your local bookseller, by introducing yourself through this special bookstore celebration.