Julie Lomoe: The Creative Crone

Novelist, Poet, Painter, and more...

  • Home
  • Novels
    • Eldercide
      • About the Book
      • Eldercide: Chapter 1
    • Mood Swing: The Bipolar Murders
      • About the Book
      • Mood Swing: Chapter 1
    • Hope Dawns Eternal
      • About the Book
      • Hope Dawns Eternal Prologue
      • Hope Dawns Eternal Chapter 1
    • Reviews
  • About
    • About Julie Lomoe
    • The Creative Crone
    • Julie’s Poetry
    • Julie’s Painting
  • Blog
  • Events
  • Connect
    • Get in Touch with Julie
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
  • Store

Bookstore panel: Audience outnumbers authors – by one!

May 23, 2009 By Julie Lomoe Leave a Comment

Thursday night I participated in a panel discussion at a beautiful independent bookstore, along with three other members of the Sisters in Crime of Upstate New York. Four authors, five people in the audience – not counting two authors’ spouses and the owner of the bookstore.

Most of us drove a considerable distance to get there – an hour and a half each way for me, even more for others. One of us sold one book, with 40% going to the bookstore, so she made about $10.00. But I don’t consider the evening a total loss: I got to visit with some author friends I hadn’t seen in awhile, the store took four of my books on consignment, and my husband and I had a pleasant al fresco pub meal afterwards (which set us back $40).

The women in the audience (and yes, they were all women over 50 – a typical demographic for these events) appeared engaged and interested in what we had to say. One complimented us by saying we all had such great personalities, it must be easy for us to write sparkling dialogue. But the interest didn’t translate into sales. Unfortunately, this scenario is by no means an isolated incident – it’s happened at other bookstores, and at libraries too.

Why do we do it? The smiles and compliments don’t pay for our gas money and the wear and tear on our cars. We say we’re building our reputations, getting our names out there, and the bookstore owners usually say, “You just never know.” And yet we do it again and again, just as we keep turning out books – like rats in a maze, squirrels in a cage, or maybe lemmings.

Maybe our next event, at the East Greenbush Library on June 6th, will be different. Or maybe people will be in more of a book buying mood in the fall, if they’re less worried about the economy. On the other hand, maybe I’d rather just stay home and blog.

Filed Under: Marketing Tactics

Comments

  1. Patricia Stoltey says

    May 24, 2009 at 1:02 am

    After doing book promo appearances from April through October in 2007 at lots of bookstores and libraries with a panel of Colorado authors, I have concluded that bopping around the state doing this stuff wastes time and gas and rarely sells many books…except when you do it in your own town or hometown. I’d rather spend my money sending chocolate to librarians.

    I still like conferences and conventions, however. Can’t wait for Bouchercon 2009 in Indianapolis.

    http://patriciastoltey.blogspot.com

    Reply
    • julielomoe says

      May 25, 2009 at 8:21 pm

      Glad to learn of your experience – it validates my own. I prefer conferences and conventions too. I enjoyed last year’s Bouchercon in Baltimore, but I’m passing on Indianapolis. I believe 2010 is in San Francisco, though, so I’ll definitely squirrel away money for that.

      Reply
  2. Elizabeth Spann Craig says

    May 24, 2009 at 2:38 am

    I’ve wondered the same thing, Julie! Sometimes there are not many people (but there are sales) and sometimes there aren’t sales OR people! Sometimes there are both, but I never know what the variables were to make it happen.

    Elizabeth
    Mystery Writing is Murder

    Reply
    • julielomoe says

      May 25, 2009 at 8:22 pm

      Glad to know I’m not alone in this. Thanks, Elizabeth.

      Reply
  3. Enid Wilson says

    May 24, 2009 at 3:00 am

    I read from lulu’s forum that most of the self-published authors who mananged to secure book promos at libraries and bookstores tended to sell around 15 to 20 books each time. I was surprised with Patricia and your experience. Hmm, definitely worth exploring the winning mix.

    In Quest of Theta Magic

    Reply
    • julielomoe says

      May 25, 2009 at 8:25 pm

      Wow, I wonder who these authors are and where they live. Even Sue Grafton didn’t sell that many at the Mystery Writers of America symposium in NYC last month – I know, because I was watching and I was aghast.

      Did you self-publish on Lulu? I gather that’s the lulu you refer to.

      Reply
  4. Karen Walker says

    May 24, 2009 at 9:51 am

    I’ve heard the same story from traditionally published authors as well. Actually, it’s a relief to her this. I wasn’t looking forward to spending even more money promoting the book on something that doesn’t work that well. I’d rather focus on the internet marketing and conferences.
    Thanks for sharing.

    Karen
    http://www.karenfollowingthewhispers.blogspot.com

    Reply
  5. Alexis Grant says

    May 24, 2009 at 1:56 pm

    Glad to hear you got something out of it, even if it wasn’t sales. As I write the promotion plan for my book proposal, I’m learning that book signings sell very few books, too! Disappointing, but good to know.

    Reply
  6. K. A. Laity says

    May 25, 2009 at 10:23 am

    I agree — I think blog tours probably sell more. Somehow the ease of clicking a button is even more successful than putting the book into someone’s hands personally. But libraries — that reminds me to send PR sheets out to the local library system.

    Conferences are good for networking if not for selling. I usually only go to conferences these days where I know a lot of people so I have expectations of social time — selling is just a lucky bonus if it happens.

    Reply
  7. julielomoe says

    May 25, 2009 at 8:31 pm

    Thanks to all of you for your comments – they tend to validate my own experience, and misery loves company.

    I’ll be trying a new tactic on June 6th – our Lake Association is sponsoring a neighborhood garage sale, and I’m going to sign up to be on the official map. I hope to divest myself of some of the hundreds of books that are taking up space in my home – and maybe sell some of my own as well. Then I’ll close up early and go over to the local library for yet one more panel. It’ll be interesting to see which is more successful.

    Reply
  8. Karen Brees says

    May 27, 2009 at 11:25 am

    We knew this wasn’t supposed to be a non-profit venture, but the truth is that by the time you add in wear and tear on the car, gas, lodging, and meals, you’re not making very much money – if any. Of course, you can always write it off! Still, making friends with the Indies can’t hurt. See you at B’Con next year.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • The Most Over-Hyped Time of the Year
  • Order prints of my paintings for last-minute holiday gifts!
  • Christmas Consumption–remember when we shopped till we dropped?
  • Mania at Regeneron: how my temp job at the dawn of the new millennium drove me crazy
  • Trump Is Dangerous–Albany Times Union finally publishes my op ed

Subscribe

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from The Creative Crone.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Facebook

Julie Lomoe, Author

Categories

  • ABC Soaps
  • Art of Aging
  • Art of Blogging
  • Art of Marketing
  • Art of Publishing
  • Art of Writing
  • Bipolar mood swings
  • Block Busting Workshop
  • Colorado Chronicles
  • Community of Authors
  • Creative Crone
  • Creativity
  • Current Affairs
  • Eldercide
  • Giclee prints of Julie's paintings
  • Guest bloggers
  • HOPE DAWNS ETERNAL
  • Julie's Poetry
  • Julie's Paintings
  • Julie's Poetry
  • Marketing Tactics
  • Memoir
  • Mental health and illness
  • Miscellaneous Musings
  • Music
  • Nature and gardening
  • Politics
  • Pop culture
  • Procrastination
  • Social Action
  • Subdural
  • Uncategorized
  • Vignettes from my life
  • Woodstock Festival 1969

About Julie Lomoe

Julie Lomoe brings a wealth of mental health and home health care experience to her mystery novels, Mood Swing: The Bipolar Murders and Eldercide.

Read more

Twitter

Tweets by julielomoe

Recent Blog Posts

  • The Most Over-Hyped Time of the Year
  • Order prints of my paintings for last-minute holiday gifts!
  • Christmas Consumption–remember when we shopped till we dropped?
  • Mania at Regeneron: how my temp job at the dawn of the new millennium drove me crazy
  • Trump Is Dangerous–Albany Times Union finally publishes my op ed

Copyright © 2021 · Julie Lomoe - All Rights Reserved · Site by Upstate Arts