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Let's Take A Detour

Good morning!

Up until now, the toll booth has focused on craft issues, so I thought it would be fun to use my week to take a DETOUR and explore what happens after you sell your book.

I work for Jewish Lights Publishing on the Sales/Marketing Team.  Essentially, my job is to get our books in the hands of readers: consumers AND booksellers.  Every week, I spend my time trying to get books out of the warehouse.  I help make programs and readers' guides.  I work directly with program organizers, teachers, and retail salespeople.

So let's start our week with a few observations about the bookselling world!

1.  No matter where a person buys a book--be it a store or Amazon--they usually buy it AFTER they see it on a bookstore or library shelf.  

2.  Consumers WANT to read your book.  Your sales and marketing staff is made up of people who LOVE books--who take pride in getting YOUR book into stores.  Reaching adults who work directly with kids is also important and fun. We have a great community.  I have yet to meet a librarian, teacher, writer, or bookseller who does not LOVE books!  They just need to find out about YOURS!  They WANT to know what you wrote.  (really!)

3.  Your publisher does A LOT--not a little--to sell your book.  They put your book in a catalog.  They attend shows.  They send your book out for reviews.  They hire salespeople to visit large and small booksellers.  They invest in YOU!

Are you smiling yet?
Or are you still feeling shy?

Let me tell you a story:

I attended a writing conference.  The organizer introduced every published author by name--and included the title of each book.  With each introduction, I watched the author stand half-way up and give a half-hearted, modest wave.  

This does not make this salesgirl happy!

I know we are all shy (well, not all of us...), but we need to be PROUD.  When it was my turn to speak, I told everyone to stand up.  Smile.  Shake hands.  Because the first rule of selling your book:

BE AN ADVOCATE FOR YOUR BOOK.  (I'm not shouting, just being emphatic)

Don't stand half-way up! 

Introduce yourself as a writer.  Stand up tall.  Smile.  This doesn't mean you should brag.  There is a fine line (we'll talk about that later in the week), but remember...you have done an extraordinary thing--a miracle, really!  You have published a book.  Carry a business card with your bookjacket.  Tell people about your book.  Get a website!  Think about where the people who you want to read your book can find out about it--myspace?  livejournal? CLN? Jacketflap?

Shy? No time? 

Do one of those things.  Give people an easy way to find out about you and your book.  Thank the people who have bought your book.  Thank the people in the office who help sell your book.  (Sales staffs, in general, LOVE chocolate.)  

Don't get intimidated by the word, sales.  I don't think of myself as a sales person--I think of myself as a person who helps people find the resources they need.......that resource may be YOUR book.

So are we all feeling confident?  Excited?  Ready to do something to sell your book????

(That is my cliffhanger.)

This week:

Tomorrow:  specifics on what YOU can do to help your book
Wednesday: Interview with CYNTHIA LEITICH SMITH
Thursday:  Crossing the fine line--when to know you've gone too far  And impressions from San Diego (I'll be at a rabbinical convention selling books)
Friday: Answers to YOUR questions...post, please!  And if there are librarians, teachers, and booksellers out there, tell us: How do you find books?????

Have a great morning!
No speeding on the New England ice!