| With publication of The Baleful Owl, about two weeks ago, my life will now begin to focus on marketing the book. I really dislike some parts of marketing and really like other parts. It’s hard work, it takes a LOT of time, it’s costly, and sometimes it’s disappointing. Those are the things I’m not fond of. But it’s fun to meet readers and talk about my stories. I enjoy the booksellers, librarians, curators, authors, and other professionals associated with the book business. I like to be in book places, whether they are giant bookstores, eclectic little nooks in a section of a business, mom and pop stores, museums, libraries, or schools. I now have several events booked and will be adding events from day to day. (These can be viewed on the “Events” tab on this website.) This weekend, July 31, I did not book any events because I couldn’t be sure the hosting venue could have the books on hand for signing; and because my grandson is doing his Eagle Project for Scouts. Alex will be leading a group of volunteers to replace the sprinkler system, refurbish, and paint the greenhouse at Tempe McClintock High School. If any of you would love to help Alex by working inside a greenhouse from 7 AM to 2 PM – in August, in Arizona – come on down, we would love to have you! There will be evaporative cooling, sunscreen, and cold water. Wear work clothes. On August 8, from 11 AM to 2 PM, I will be signing The Baleful Owl at Eastern Arizona Museum in Pima, with the proceeds going to the Museum. So for my Gila Valley readers pick up a good mystery featuring your part of the state, browse the museum, and help financially support the great work the EA Historical Society is doing there. You can also stop in at the Taylor Freeze across the street from the Museum, and sample the cuisine that Bren, Al, and Manny have during their weekly lunch meetings. The following weekend, August 15, I’ll be signing at the Latter Day Cottage on University and Lindsay in Mesa. I will post more on that in my next blog. The advent of electronic books is having a powerful effect on bookstores. Large chain bookstores like Walden and Borders have completely shut down; not all their problems were caused by e-books, but it was a major factor in their demise. It is having a strong negative impact on “mom and pop” indie bookstores as well. So many people are buying e-books that bookstores are struggling to keep their doors open. Some of them are surviving by changing from a bookstore to selling other products and services while maintaining a large book section. I decided not to put a QR code on my books because a bookseller told me that people come into his shop, browse his shelves and using their cell phones, scan the QR code and buy the book from Amazon. If you really enjoy being in a real bookstore, then make a point of buying from the store frequently. Some day paper books may only be in museums or archives, a very sad thought to me. I prefer to read real paper and ink books, but for reference material, I love the e-books. Somehow I hope the book industry figures out how to have both successfully available from independent booksellers as well as Amazon and Barnes & Noble and other large scale sellers. |
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AuthorMystery writer, Southwestern Historian, researcher, husband, father, grandpa, with an opinion on everything. Archives
October 2021
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