Robin Writes

Last week, when I talked about distribution, I briefly mentioned bookstores, festivals, markets, and just plain hauling around boxes of books. Let’s look at those things again, for a moment, and then move on the more creative selling.

Bookstores: you CAN arrange events and have your books stocked in indie stores, even if you have no mainline distribution. But it’s much easier if stores can simply order your books through their main system. And it’s virtually impossible to get into large chain stores without that distribution.

Festivals, markets, schlepping: anyone can do this, all it takes is time.

Now, let’s be creative—and I’m going to use RHP books as examples, since we cover a lot of genres:

Genre Events: Smut by the Sea, across the pond, is a good example of this. Author Charlotte Howard (Seven Dirty Words, Four Letter Words) is going this year, in fact, she’s a featured author. Almost any genre has an organization, or several or many groups, who put on events to bring together readers and writers.

You will, however, run into other authors who have a “buy mine, I’ll buy yours” agenda—keep your wallet in your pocket. Sure, you’ll have sales, but only do this if you DO intend to read the book. Your book should stand on its own, not be a condition of a sale. Writers’ conferences can fall into this category too, although sometimes they offer a store to sell participants’ books.

Science fiction? Look at Archon or ComicCon; the first is local (to me) and the second, in Cali, has spawned dozens of events around the US. Particularly books like author George Sirois’ novel, Excelsior, or Michael Chulsky’s The Descending Darkness, fall into this category and could benefit from the exposure.

Now, you might be thinking these aren’t so creative after all, but how many of you have registered for one of these events? Even better—sell yourself, so you can be featured or part of the program. You wrote a book, for heaven’s sake, surely you have something to talk about, right?

Let’s move on—where is your story set? Who is the main character? Is there an overall message?

The Reduced Series: Girl Scout camp, adult women, survivalism

P.A.W.S: Forest Park (STL), young teens, bullying

Dickinstein: 1800s, Emily Dickinson, science

Spirits of St. Louis: St. Louis area, ghosts, history

Water Under the Bridge: early 1900s, women and girls, religious bullying, women’s rights

Danny’s Grace: early stardom, child abuse, drugs

Caught Between Two Curses: baseball, Cubs, paranormal, mystery, teen girl

What can you come up with as a potential venue for these? Break down your title, your story, and let your imagination loose. The worst that can happen is that you’re told “no.” And it might be just the thing a particular venue needs/is interested in to help THEIR sales and exposure.

I’m not forgetting children’s books here: Tuffy and Debbie, for instance. Guest reader at a school, naturally handing out a card with a book-buying link; library story time; pediatrician offices—ask to leave a complimentary copy. Again, look at the setting, the characters, the story, the message.

Holiday books can pose a particular problem when it comes to marketing and sales year ‘round. However, keep in mind that holiday shopping often starts in the fall, sometimes late summer. Retail stores often begin receiving holiday merchandise in August. Yes, August! Even now, in March, it’s not really too early to start bringing Morgidoo and ELF to someone’s attention!

Non-fiction can work the same way, except it’s more obvious that you are an expert—every author is, of course, an expert on his or her book. INNspiring Breakfasts, with its tie-in to author Kriss Royer’s B&B, could also be featured on cooking shows, grocery stores, specialty shops, and more. What is YOUR book about? What kinds of people would be interested in YOUR book?

Make a list. Brainstorm. Write it down whenever and wherever you think of a venue. Find your hook. Find your audience—make another list of all the characteristics of your ONE READER. Then find that reader, and all the others like him or her. Or find their parents. Or their pets.

You have to look, but you have to know exactly what you’re looking for.

So I’m coming up with an idea, based on my fantastic Sunday afternoon, for a class for kids on survival and outdoor living. It’s a simple plan, teaching the basics over a two- or three-day period. Take a look and tell me what you think:

First, what are the essentials? Water, shelter, food. Second, what type of situation is this? Long-term, or lost? This makes a huge difference—in the first, you’re prepared, or should be, before it starts; in the second, you’re planning (or hoping) for a rescue within a short time.

Day One: Learning Skills

Let’s start with becoming lost in the woods, because at this time it’s the far more likely scenario. And let’s assume that the individual—although it could be a couple or a group of any size—has no communication devices, or at least no cell service.

Just like anything, you could do things the hard way or the easy way. The easy way is to be prepared ahead of time for that day hike and carry a few of the basics with you: matches or firestarter, knife or other weapon, water purification tablets, heat blanket, rain poncho, compass, whistle. Think that’s a lot? Nope, it’ll all fit in your pockets without being bulky or constraining, but if you think it’s too much, carry a small pack. Throw in some protein bars and an extra water bottle, and you’re set. And, if you carry a pack, you can add a few more things, like a small, collapsible container—heat-proof, of course—and a first aid kit.

Set for what? To get lost, of course!

Anytime you go into the woods, you have to assume you could be there for the long haul. Don’t pass up something potentially useful, like an old, empty bird’s nest for example, or a few wild strawberries. I’m not suggesting picking every plant you see, or dragging around a log for firewood, just in case, but be smart, and be nature-friendly.

Skills covered: observation, useful items, packing, planning, fire-building, tools

Day Two: Practice and What to Do When

Hiking is more than walking: it’s pacing yourself, limiting your impact on your surroundings, showing restraint, and much more. Keep an even, steady stride; step ON logs, not OVER them—Mr. Copperhead could be sunning himself on the far side of that log. Watch and listen. Sip your water. Conserve your resources: water, food, energy.

Take what you need, but not all that you want. Don’t uproot plants. Step carefully to avoid injury; test your path before you commit. Sound travels—which is good when you become lost, but not so great for others who want to enjoy the woods too.

Role-playing: what do if you get lost in the woods—first, second, third; splitting up—good or bad; when and where to settle down for the long haul.

Day Three: What To Do

Practice makes perfect! You know how the reality survivor shows work, right? Those people aren’t really alone, there’s a camera crew present. They aren’t allowed to interfere except in life-and-death situations. Now, with kids, you have to have a certain parameter which would also include injury, but Day Three is about getting lost. For real.

So, readers, what do you think? Feasible? Fun? Useful? Comment below!