Monday, February 12, 2007

Spread the word!

Our family has found a new favorite restaurant! Someone heard from someone else. . .who learned from another friend. . .that a Korean restaurant had opened within three miles of our home.

As you may or may not know, my husband and I served as missionaries to S. Korea for a five-year term in the early '90s. We adopted our two daughters from the Land of the Morning Calm in the mid-80s. So, whenever we have a chance to experience a little bit of our beloved Korea, we jump on it.

The restaurant is situated in a storefront off the beaten path in an area of town we never go to without a reason for the trip. After we introduced ourselves to the proprietor (and polished our rusty Korean language skills) we learned the business had opened back in the fall. If only we had known, we could have been enjoying their delectable cuisine long before now. (We've made up for lost time, though. Since our discovery of Lee's Sushi and Korean Cuisine, we've patronized the restaurant at least half a dozen times in the past couple of weeks! Kimchee--yum!)

In the publishing business, we all know that marketing is crucial for a book to be a success. Whether by word-of-mouth or a print-media blitz, we need to let the public know before we can expect to see sales. We may have the greatest story ever written, but if it doesn't make it into the hands of readers, the effort and expense poured into the project may not translate into a successful publishing venture. Marketing requires a team approach by both author and publisher. Scheduling book signings are one way we can get the word out about our books and provide opportunities for readers to "put skin" on the typically invisible author.

We've recently received some questions from authors about how they should set up book signings. We thought it would be helpful for everyone if we had a standard way of handling this. So from now on, Barbour authors should contact their book's managing editor about setting up a signing and let them know where and when you would like to sign. Your editor will then send this info to the retail sales manager and she will make sure that the proper Barbour rep contacts the store to set everything up. This process should make things much easier for our authors because they'll only have to contact one person, their editor, to set up signings. Also, by having Barbour call the stores instead of our authors, we can make sure that the store receives all of the books and other materials they'll need.
Tashi-manapshida! (Until we meet again!)


Susan

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Susan,
Is this going to work in Canada?

Linda Ford

Mary Connealy said...

This sounds great. I hate being a pest above all. Well, I hate MICE above all, but being a pest (a mouse-like quality now that I think of it) is right up there.
So, exactly who is my managing editor? Is it the same as an acquiring editor...as in YOU?
I received another request for a book signing today and I'd love to have that all be clear before I start scurrying around in the dark, squeaking in fear...oh my gosh...I am a rodent.
This book signing looks like it will be in April, so will my Heartsong be available?
Aren't you glad you wrote this so I can ask a bunch of questions???
I had four book signings this weekend, I have another tomorrow night. Way outside my comfort zone, but maybe that's not a bad thing.

eileen said...

Well now isn't that smart?? I bet you GIRLS cooked up that idea!

Susan said...

Linda, this process should work in any area in which we have Barbour sales representatives working with local bookstores.

Mary, if the primary book you are signing is PETTICOAT RANCH, then your presiding editor is Becky. She can check with JoAnne as to whether or not your HP will be released in time to sign along with PR. I'm thrilled to see how you are "stretching" your comfort zone! (And in controlled environments, even MICE can be mighty cute. LOL We'll nickname you Minnie!) sd

Lynette Sowell said...

I finally gave in to the pull of kimchee--a Korean lady who went to our church made some for my dh because he made her a homemade apple pie. A fair trade. Not something I'd eat every day, but better than I thought it would taste. :) Then one night Pok Sun taught us ladies at church how to make kim-bop (sp). YUM-O, as Rachel Ray would say. :)

Thanks for the info on book signings. When I had one at a Wal-Mart in October, the whole setup was flawless. All I had to do was show up! :)

So all we have to do is name the store we're interested in, and Barbour will take it from there? :)

Susan said...

Yes, Lynette, as I understand the new process (according to the marketing director) as long as you tell us (your editor) when and where you want to schedule your signing, the sales department will take it from there.

Um, a healthy dose of kimchee might warm my insides while the blizzard rages out my window. I'm thinking I need to whip up a batch of twenjang-cheegay for supper to go with it. (That's bean-paste soup, for the Korean cuisine uninformed.)