Bookstores Are Closing: Share Thoughts on Where to Hold Author Events

In my previous blog post, I discussed the closing of Barnes and Noble brick and mortar stores. As authors, most of us would agree that it is a sad time to see bookstores shut down, especially authors who have not yet had the experience of book events in physical bookstores. Where does this leave authors who want to have an in-person event to showcase their books?

Publishing has entered a new era and it’s time for authors and indie publishers to take a hard look at other options that are available for us for book events. We need to start by brainstorming. I’ve posted some ideas to get us kickstarted, please add your ideas in the “comments” section at the end of this blog and we’ll see what new ideas are born so we can move forward into the new age of publishing.

• Book Groups: Just about everyone knows someone in a book group. Offer to attend a meeting if the group chooses your book, or offer to attend to pitch your book so they will choose it!
• Coffee Houses: There must be a Starbucks on every corner in America. Where else better to have a, “Meet and Greet” with an author. A local event brings customers into buy coffee and Starbucks has those comfy chairs. Ask the manager or area manager about arranging an event.
• Work: Perhaps your office would consider an author holding an event during lunch or after hours? I know an author who works at a hospital and they ok’d an event in the hospital gift shop.
• Video Chat: Authors can hold events, including book groups via online video chat. Have relatives and friends a thousand miles away? No worries, set up a book or reading group chat and away you go.
• Utilize Who You Know: People are intrigued by authors. People want to know more about them and the writing process. Think about everyone you know and figure out a way to get the people you know involved in having an event that features a discussion with you, the author and your books.
• Social Media: This is a given. Blog chats, Twitter, Good Reads, Facebook, all the usual places for promotion of your book and online events are plentiful. Use hashtags for an online promotional opportunity so people can follow the discussion and add to it on Twitter. Set up a time and date and get your author friends to support your event in exchange for supporting their events.
• Libraries/Indie Bookstores: There are still libraries and indie bookstores around. Most libraries and indie bookstores are enchanted by local authors, set it up. Read my blog about how to get your book into libraries.
• Talk up eBooks and tablets: Some people may not want to admit it but they might not know how the process of reading a book on a tablet or cell phone works. Offer to explain it to them at a book group or event. I once arranged for an author to give a demonstration of the Kindle reader at a library. The room was packed and the author got to sell books afterward.

As authors and publishers, we have to start thinking outside the box. Just because bookstores are closing, does not mean there will no longer be author events. People love to read, always have, always will. It’s not the end of publishing, just the beginning of a new era. It’s up to us format the chapters of the new book.

What ideas do you have for book events in this new publishing era?