I’ve said many times that book stores are not the only place to sell books. Modern book marketing includes a careful analysis of the target market and some creative thinking about where those readers hang out. So: gift stores, tourist attractions, farmers’ markets, club meetings and events relating to the subject of a book – festivals and gatherings of all kinds – now often include author readings, or a table of enticing new books on offer that relate to the place or event.
What’s more, publishers are not the only people who distribute and sell books. Authors, even well-established, famous authors, have to actively initiate promotional activities, supplementing a publisher’s sometimes meagre promotional budget.
But when readers take on the role of promoting and placing a book in the reaches of potential readers, well, that’s a gift most authors and publishers only dream of!
Copies of Muskoka’s Main Street recently made their way to the staff room of the Almaguin Highlands Secondary School, courtesy of my friend Pam’s daughter-in-law Rae-Ann. Rae is a teacher at the school, which sits between Sundridge and South River, just east of the Muskoka Road in Parry Sound District. As they are neighbours to Muskoka, Rae feels that some fo the staff will certainly take an interest in the book. She even asked me for some promotional material to set up as part of the display, and I happily sent her a map which shows the location of the Muskoka Road.
Previously, thanks to the efforts of the publisher, copies of Main Street had made it as far as Burk’s Falls. Like the road itself, the book has now pushed a little farther north. I’m very excited about that!
Thank you, Pam! Thank you, Rae!