I am traveling this week, visiting family in Denver. And we went to visit the Tattered Cover independent bookstore.
I like to visit indie bookstores when I travel because it gives me a better idea of the industry as it plays out across the nation. And it’s fun to see all the different ways that people display books.
Here are a couple pics of different areas of this great indie bookstore. Click to see the photos full size.
Tattered Cover Indie Bookstore, Denver, CO.
Tattered Cover, Indie Bookstore, Denver, CO. Children's section.
One of the interesting things at Tattered Cover was the Espresso Book Machine. This is a print-on-demand printer that both prints and binds a book while you watch. I’ve heard of them for several years, of course, but never seen one. It’s large. Watching the pages flip through the printer is fascinating. Tattered Cover Press is the official designation of books printed here.
Espresso Book Machine: POD Printer
Tattered Cover Press print-on-demand Espresso Book Machine.
I also stopped by the Kobo ebook reader section and checked out all of their selection. (Read my recent post about why you should pay attention to Kobo. Hint: It has to do with indie bookstores.) Buy my books in Kobo format!
Of course–one of the best reasons to visit Colorado this time of year is the aspens!
The best reason to visit Denver this time of year: aspens turning golden.
Darcy at Mt. Bierstadt in the Rocky Mountains. We accidently tried this 14er (14,000 ft) hike and because we weren't prepared, we only made it to about 13,000 ft. Great day!
Bill Skees, the owner of Well Read Books in Hawthorne, NJ, is interested in hearing from authors and illustrators who would like to give programs and have book signings in his store:
http://www.thewellreadbookstore.com/?page=shop/index&CLSN_3857=13278634763857b104793e2c1ade9018
425 Lafayette Avenue
Hawthorne, NJ 07506
973.949.3440
[email protected]
Hawthorne is in Passaic County, on the edge of Ridgewood, Glen Rock, and Fair Lawn, NJ.
Talk tomorrow,
Kathy
PS: Too exhausted from the NYC Conference to share details today. I’ll update you later.
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Published Authors 
Tonto has finally discovered where the copies of his novel, The Hillbilly Vampire Chronicles, were shipped to.
Rather than sending away self-published authors empty-handed, the Boulder Bookstore now is charging the self-published a fee to connect with the local community and sell their books.
The fee structure ranges from $25 to stock five books (five copies at a time, replenished as needed by the author for no additional fee);and $75 to feature a book in the Recommended section, up to $255 for an in-store reading and book-signing (plus website and newsletter mention). Head buyer Arsen Kashkashian says “most people will come in at one of the higher fee amounts.” The store even has a two-page consignment brochure explaining the program and giving other tips to authors.
The advantages: Independent books stores can use their independency to do something that chain stores cannot do, make a little cash and reinforce a truly local connection between the community and the new authors in the area.
Kashkashian says, new authors have been generally grateful for the opportunity to sell and promote work that might otherwise be seen and appreciated only by their friends/spouses/moms: ‘I want the marketing, I want the exposure. I worked so hard on this project, and you guys are the only ones who could help me with it.’” That’s worth a lot, and it turns grateful, paying authors into the store’s own viral marketers when they bring in friends and spread the word. They pay you for the privilege of promoting your store!
Liesl Freudenstein, a buyer and consignment coordinator at the Bolder Bookstore says, “Even published authors are availing themselves of the store’s consignment service. She points to a Boulder-area author who’s signed to a local imprint…and yet, also sells her books on consignment at the store. “She’s out there hustling, “trying to make it happen — rather than relying on the publisher to make it happen.”
I point this out, because there are many independent booksellers around the country. Some are already doing creative things with authors to bring in new business, but even if the ones in your area aren’t, they could be approached with new exciting ideas – your ideas.
Kathy
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Hawthorne is only 20 minutes from me. I hope someday I’ll have a book to get signed! lol If I do, I’ll do it!
Donna