August 2008 Southwest Signature
In this edition:
- President’s Message—The BEA Experience
- August 26: Field Trip to Changing Hands Bookstore
- PubWest event in Flagstaff this Friday
- Why Breaking Dawn breaking records matters to you
- Realities of Publishing: Preparing for Changes in the Industry
- ABPA members net ink with Glyph Award publicity
- Tell the world about your Arizona Book Award
- ABPA members communicate via email discussion list
- IndieBound
- ABPA Author Event–September 4 at B&N
- ABPA partners with Jobing.com
- Welcome to these new ABPA Members
- Member News
- Marketing your book to the library
- Conferences for Writers and Publishers
- Reach your audience by advertising in Southwest Signature
President’s Message—The BEA Experience
Book Expo took place in Los Angeles a few weeks ago, and it provided me a ton of thoughts and ideas. Here are a few:
First, a quick primer on BEA: it is the largest trade show for the book industry in North America. The big publishers spend lots of time and money at this event promoting next year’s big blockbuster books, garnering meetings with the big-wigs from the bookseller/buyer side of the industry. It’s a fantastic opportunity for us smaller publishers as well. You also can hold meetings with the buyers, learn about new trends, and investigate new printers and digital conversion companies. Children’s books, African American books, Latino books, fiction books, and non-fiction books all have a place at the show. I believe you need to visit the show at least once (early in your career) to truly understand what the industry looks like and figure out how you are going to fit into it successfully. After your first visit, you will probably decide to attend again, and again.
Attendance at BEA this year was more than 28,000. Attendance last year in New York, traditionally the most popular site for BEA, was more than 36,000. According to the organizers, there were 5,500 book buyers at this show. Total attendance of booksellers, librarians and other non-exhibitors, including the press, was 9,250. The show will be in New York next year, Washington DC in 2010, and Las Vegas in 2011. I saw booths representing Colorado publishers and New Mexico Publishers in Los Angeles, and I think we (ABPA) should plan to do the same when it returns to the West in 2011.
It’s fun to see the big entertainment stars show up for book signings! I saw: Barbara Walters, Henry Winkler (the Fonz), Dr. Ruth, Clinton Kelly (from “What Not to Wear” on TLC), and pirates everywhere!
It’s also fun to see the big names in books in person: Marcella Smith (Barnes & Noble), Karen Perea (also Barnes & Noble), Jeff Bezos (Amazon), John Ingram (of Ingram), Victoria Sutherland (ForeWord Magazine), Terry Nathan (IBPA, formerly PMA), and many, many others. Another fun thing to do is collect the freebies. Books, posters, books, backpacks, books, book bags, books, toys related to upcoming titles, books, autographs, books, office supplies with company logos on them, and more books.
If you know a kid looking for that post-Harry Potter book, remember that I told you about “The 39 Clues” here first. Coming out in September, it is a book, trading cards, online activities, and a contest for kids to win money. Scholastic is very excited about this new series. Electronic books are closer to becoming mainstream than they have ever been before. There are 125,000 titles available via Amazon’s Kindle, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that number rises to 1 million before the end of this year.
Don’t go electronic exclusively, but if you only have a paper version of your book(s) now, you need to start preparing for this new market—and start the process today. (Other Kindle statistics: while it’s only been available since November 2007, and there are reportedly only 10,000-15,000 devices in use, it already accounts for 6% of Amazon’s book sales; Simon & Schuster has 4,000 books currently available on the Kindle, and announced they will prepare another 5,000 by the end of this year.)
While the economy is slow, the business of publishing doesn’t seem to be following along. I suspect that book sales (dollars) will be down this year, but there will be more titles made available than last year. I also think lower-priced books will do a better job surviving the economy; consider this when pricing your own book(s).
One last thing to share, and this one wasn’t at the show. Amanda and I spent Sunday away from the LA convention center, rented bicycles and found ourselves at Venice Beach. Street vendors, tattoo shops, sidewalk performers, and lots of sunshine. Among all this, I came across my favorite bookseller in Los Angeles. This picture says it all:
Bill Fessler, President
Join us August 26, 2008 for our Field Trip to Changing Hands Bookstore
Field Trip to Changing Hands Bookstore
6428 S. McClintock Dr.
SW corner of Guadalupe Rd and McClintock Dr.
Tempe, AZ 85283
For the the exact location, visit Mapquest.com
Program (includes lunch) 11:30 a.m–1:00 p.m.
Early Registration (by August 20): $25 members $35 non-members
Late Registration: $35 members $45 non-members
Advance payment is required for registration; no refunds after August 20, 2008.
Understanding the Economics of Bookselling
Gayle Shanks, president of American Booksellers Association, will discuss how to work with book stores, what publishers can expect from this relationship, what book stores need from small presses and the money breakdown.
Prepayment is required for registration. Please Register or RSVP to the ABPA hotline (602) 274-6264 or email info@azbookpub.com.
Pub West Event in Flagstaff this Friday
Publishers Association of the West is hosting a free program Friday August 8, 2008, at Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library, and ABPA members are invited to attend. Seth Muller, an award-winning journalist and current editor of Northern Arizona’s Mountain Living Magazine, will speak about “Power of the Passage: The Collaboration of Book Publishers, Authors and the Media.” ABPA members Bill Fessler, Primer Publishers; and Helen Thompson and Todd Berger, Grand Canyon Association; will also present.
“Escape the Heat” Booklore
Collaboration in the Publishing World
Friday, August 8th, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library
Main Library Meeting Room
300 West Aspen Avenue
(928) 779-7670
The library is located between Aspen and Birch Avenues, west of Humphreys Street, across from City Hall and adjacent to Wheeler Park. This is a free event!
Happy Hour with a cash bar will follow at 4:00 p.m. at Beaver Street Brewery, 11 South Beaver Street, one block south of the train station. (928) 779-0079
Join us for a lively discussion on successful and profitable collaborations in our Arizona publishing community.
Why Breaking Dawn breaking records matters to you
By Gwen Henson, Executive Director
According to Publishers Weekly, Breaking Dawn, fourth and final book in Stephenie Meyer’s series about teenage vampires and werewolves, broke out of the gate with sales of 1.3 million copies, the largest single-day sales in the history of publisher Little, Brown & Co. The article reports that some fans are disappointed in the wrap-up of the story of Bella and Edward, as evidenced by comments on the message board of the Twilight series website.
I’m confident that Little, Brown & Co. is NOT disappointed with their sales, the book’s number ONE ranking on Amazon or the number of rabid fans posting to said message boards. Folks, they’ve got a hit on their hands, and if some readers don’t like the book, they are welcome to post to the message boards, too. Remember PT Barnum? “There’s no such thing as bad publicity.”
What lessons do we, as authors and publishers, take from a success of this caliber? Targeted to young adults, why is this book widely read by that audience–as well as by adults? If you had suggested that I would read four books about vampires (all 500 plus pages), I would have laughed the loudest. Sci-Fi isn’t my genre, and vampires are among my least favorite species. My twelve-year-old son loved Twilight (the first book) so much he begged me to read it, too, which I did while on vacation. After that, I begged him to lend me the second and third, and I escorted him to the launch party at Changing Hands Bookstore for the fourth book. (I finished it first, much to his chagrin.)
You need to know the answer to the question of this book’s success, because aren’t you a publisher who would love to emulate its success? What did Little, Brown & Co. do right? Is it the intriguing story Stephenie Meyer spins, or is it the way the first and subsequent books were marketed? The success of the first book is primarily credited to Social Media (My Space), the volume of which has grown exponentially with the subsequent editions. Simply put, a lot of people have been talking about this series online, and those people are your future audience.
As publishers, we must always remember to tell a good story—even in non-fiction books–because that is what captivates our readers. But we must also, in this quickly spinning world, evaluate and apply the new and sometimes-hard-to-understand marketing tactics that bring our products to the attention of readers/buyers.
ABPA’s goal with this year’s programming has been to help educate you about new ways to market: blogging, Web 2.0, social networking, and more. Our Programs Committee chair, Sam Henrie, Wheatmark, has recognized the importance of these subjects to the future success of publishing. On September 25, the program is “Marketing Books on Amazon,” and on October 28, it’s “Marketing via Social Networking.” Please plan to join us for both sessions, because you need to plug into the tools that will build your success in this new world of marketing.
Realities of Publishing: Preparing for Changes in the Industry
In today’s economy, publishers must work smarter to create a more successful company. Making smart choices about editing, design, production and printing puts you on the right path. But what about distribution, electronic publishing and foreign rights? Discover the latest on how publishers can create best-selling products and market them to earn a better bottom line at this year’s ABPA annual conference. Mark your calendar now for October 18, 2008, and join us at Jobing.com 4747 N. 22nd St. #100, Phoenix, Arizona. Watch your newsletter for details!
ABPA members net ink with Glyph Award publicity
Robin Reynolds of Nice Creative and author of Life to the Max: Maxims for a Great Life by a Dog Named Max netted a center-fold spread about her book in The Tempe Republic on August 6. She’ll be speaking at Changing Hands Bookstore this Saturday (Aug. 9 at 11 a.m.). Also mentioned in the article: Robin’s book won the Arizona Book Award Glyph for Best Gift Book.
The Student from Zombie Island, published by Five Star Publications, was featured in the August 2008 edition of Arizona Parenting http://www.AZParenting.com. In “Kids Can Publish!” author Lynda Exley mentions that the book earned the Arizona Book Award Glyph for Best Cover Design—Children/Young Adult.
While winning a Glyph Award may not be enough alone to garner publicity, it may provide added credibility for your title when media are considering using your story.
Tell the world about your Arizona Book Award
Now that you’ve won an Arizona Book Award, you can tell the world by affixing a shiny gold Glyph Award seal to the front of each book stating “Glyph Award Winner for Publishing Excellence.” Order a roll of 500 stickers by sending $25 to ABPA, Attn: Glyph Seals, 6340 S. Rural Rd. #118-152, Tempe, AZ 85283, or call our cheerful executive director directly at 480 777-9250 if you want to pay via credit card.
ABPA members communicate via email discussion list
Lots of members ask me questions about publishing, which I am happy to answer. But wouldn’t it be cool to get expert responses from several people? That’s easy to do when you’re part of the ABPA email discussion list. If you haven’t joined yet, you’re missing the opportunity to save yourself a lot of time and expense by tapping into the resource that is our membership knowledge base. Email Gwen@AZBookPub.com asking to be subscribed.
IndieBound
ABA has revealed a new version of BookSense, and it was all the buzz at BEA this year. Learn more at IndieBound
ABPA Author Event with Dr. Frederick Ramsay on September 4
Dr. Frederick Ramsay is the featured author at the ABPA event at 7 p.m. on September 4 at Barnes & Noble, Shea and 90th St., in Scottsdale. Please join us to support the ABPA Marketing Committee’s promotional partnership with this Barnes & Noble bookstore. Invite your friends and plan to join us for an entertaining and enlightening evening.
Dr. Ramsay, author of Stranger Room and other Ike Schwartz mysteries, will present “Old Wine in New Skins (How to take a tired plot device and make it lively).”
About the Author
Ordained an Episcopal priest, Dr. Ramsey is now retired from full-time ministry and writes fiction. His first novel, Artscape, was published by Poisoned Pen Press in 2004. Impulse was cited by Publishers Weekly as one of the one hundred best books of 2006. Buffalo Mountain, in 2007, was followed by Stranger Room, launched in August. His title Judas: The Gospel of Betrayal won a Glyph from ABPA for Religion/Spirituality in 2007. An iconographer, an accomplished public speaker and a former television host, he currently lives in Surprise, Arizona with his wife and partner, Susan.
Read more about Stranger Room.
Future Author Events
October 2, AppleStar Publishing
November 6, Pat Bezunartea
ABPA partners with Jobing.com
With the goal of bringing awareness to and strengthening the book publishing industry, ABPA has partnered with the Valley’s online employment community, Jobing.com, by providing a specific place for job seekers and employers to connect.
ABPA has joined Jobing.com’s Career Community of job board partnership sites, where targeted jobs are listed throughout the Jobing Community and will appear on ABPA’s web site along with 70+ organizations, schools and association websites. This new partnership will provide additional resources to ABPA members from industry exposure to our local community, to a recruitment resource for your business.
ABPA members have the opportunity to post open positions for their companies at a discount listed on the ABPA website. Postings will include company profiles to brand your organization, blogs and the ability to engage talented candidates through your recruitment process. Employers can view and post opportunities on the job board by visiting ABPA website at http://azbookpub.com/.
See our president Bill Fessler starring in the ABPA video
ABPA New Members
Welcome to these new ABPA members!
Cindi Brown and Brent Fisher
Just One Voice
623-582-6265
cindi.brown@justonevoice.org
http://www.justonevoice.org
Doyle Boatwright
602-615-2776
doylebo@cox.net
Research Etc., Inc.
Judy Friddle Andrews and Kristen Hamilton
480-664-4345
researchetc@cox.net
http://www.researchetcinc.com
http://www.backtothebeginning.com
Boundless Living Books
Rebecca Berryman
480-585-0343
info@boundlesslivingbooks.com
http://www.boundlesslivingbooks.com
Member News
BelVista’s Preventing Type 2 Diabetes: Beyond Diet and Exercise by Dr. Gabriel Hilkovitz was named a Finalist in the 2008 Next Generation Indie Book Awards for the Health/Wellness category.
The Copyeditor’s Desk is a new business partnership founded by ABPA members Victoria Hay and Tina Minchella. The young enterprise, which performs copyediting, proofreading, and indexing for publishers and writers, has started a blog, also called The Copyeditor’s Desk http://www.thecopyeditorsdesk.com. The blog covers editing, grammar and style, careers in editorial work, and publishing industry work. Vicky and Tina are looking for writers, editors, and publishers to profile on the blog, and they welcome press releases and proposals for guest posts. Please visit the site and join in the conversation with your comments. Send press releases and proposals for profiles or guest posts to copyeditorsdesk(at)gmail.com, or, by snail-mail, to Vicky Hay, 1602 West Seldon Way, Phoenix, AZ 85021.
UofA earns MPIBA award
An ABPA member is a winner of the Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association’s 2008 Regional Book Awards, which honors outstanding books set in the region. In the category of Poetry, Adobe Odes by Pat Mora won for University of Arizona Press. The awards will be presented at a luncheon in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Friday, September 19, during the MPIBA trade show.
Arizona publisher featured on CNN
CNN did a story on Arizona author and publisher Kitty Wiemelt featuring her book Laid Off, Don’t Stress! See the video at Kitty on CNN Congratulations, Kitty!
Great Potential Press earns honors
How to Parent So Children Will Learn: Strategies for Raising Happy, Achieving Children (3rd Edition), by NY Times best-selling author Dr. Sylvia Rimm, received a distinguished iParenting Media Award. iParenting.com, a property of Disney Internet Group media, is a website that focuses on informing, inspiring, and uniting parents. Its awards program strives to recognize the best products in the parent community.
Marketing Your Book to the Library
Carla Casler sent this link to the Pima County Public Library, which provides info about selling to the library market. Learn what the library looks for and how to inform them of your book. In addition, you’ll find links to recommended library journals that librarians peruse for new titles. This valuable information is applicable to all libraries, so check it out!
Conferences for Writers and Publishers
Arizona Authors Association, August 14, “You Too Can Write a Novel,” Toby Fesler Heathcotte, Oro Valley Library, AAA
Arizona Authors Association, August 18, “How to Get Your Books into Bookstores,” Kris Neri, Foothills Glendale Library, Glendale, AAA
The Desert Sleuths Chapter of Sisters in Crime meets at 6:30 P.M., the third Wednesday of the month, at Café Carumba, located at 7303 E. Indian School Road, Scottsdale. To register SinC or call (602) 454-7815.
The Scottsdale Society of Women Writers continues to feature professional speakers at their dinner meeting at Cafe Carumba restaurant, 7303 E. Indian School Road, Scottsdale. They meet the last Wed night of every month. Networking begins at 5:30 with the meeting at 6:00 - 7:30. All women writers are welcome to visit and experience the energy and support. Please RSVP to Patricia Brooks at 480-250-5556 or patricia@plbrooks.com
Society of Southwest Authors, September 27-28, 2008, Wrangling with Writing, http://www.ssa-az.org/conference.htm
Advertise in the ABPA Newsletter and Website
Advertising rates are published for placing ads in both Southwest Signature and on the ABPA website. Associate members, this is a powerful way to reach publishers with advertising about your services for publishers and writers. Publishers, please invite your vendors to visit http://www.azbookpub.com and click on Advertising Opportunities. They’ll appreciate hearing about this opportunity.
About Southwest Signature
Southwest Signature is the monthly e-newsletter of the Arizona Book Publishing Association, a non-profit professional association. Entire contents copyright 2008 Arizona Book Publishing Association unless otherwise noted. Permission is granted to forward this e-newsletter but only in its entirety. For information, email info@azbookpub.com or call (602) 274-6264.
We welcome submissions and reserve editing rights. Email your Southwest Signature submissions to gwen@azbookpub.com.
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