Book 'em
There were 200 volunteers in blue tee shirts, and several other university employees. The hallways were crammed all day with the staff and volunteers. I saw a lot of blue shirts! What I didn’t see a lot of were off-the-street- book readers and buyers. Was that because it was a miserable rainy day in February? If they had come shopping, they would’ve had trouble seeing the merchandise in the narrow crowded hall ways. It didn’t look like pleasant shopping experience to me!
This was a charity event and 40 % of all sales went to Book ‘em. It was a good thing to do, a worthwhile cause, fun and interesting to be there. I’m glad I had the experience. Not particularly profitable. It interests me that their advance promotion was extraordinary, and yet... Unless they move the event from the hallway into a room, I won’t be returning.
It was also interesting to talk to Donna, the other author from Delaware. She’s doing everything I’m doing, with the same result. Notifying schools, getting no response. Traveling to appropriate events, investing time and money and hoping to sell enough books to not get discouraged. She believes in her book. She says she has a friend who’s just signed her second YA contract with Harper Collins. She’s doing exactly the same thing we are, on her own working hard. Didn’t I tell you that all authors have to sell their own books?
I bought and read Donna’s book and can recommend it to you. Schools should be calling her!