« Random 12 | Main | Strip Search and Kept »

Distributors

I am so relieved.

I have FINALLY finished my marketing plan. My marketing plan, though in my head since last year, has only just now been written down in a format that would be suitable for potential distributors.

A distributor (in theory) sells my books on my behalf to bookstores. Having a distributor isn't mandatory for self-published authors, but it helps a whole lot if you don't have the time or ability to make contact with a lot of bookstores yourself.

Having a distributor also helps when people go to bookstores and ask for your book, but they don't have it on the shelves. If a bookstore knows that Lazarus is available through a major distributor such as Baker and Taylor or Ingram, then it's very simple to order copies. I am starting off by querying specialty distributors, though. Three specialize in African American titles and bookstores, and the fourth specializes in gay books and bookstores. I am confident that at least one, if not all four of those bad boys will pick up Lazarus. My marketing plan is HOT like fire! lol

Since I have limited resources, it makes sense for me to try to secure a distributor. It has been CRAZY trying to get in contact with one particular man at a local gay bookstore -- imagine trying to establish contact with ALL the contacts at ALL the bookstores! CRAZY!

I know this won't solve all my problems, but it will help put my mind at ease.

The drawback to securing a distributor is that you are basically selling your books to them at a significant discount. They need the discount so that when they sell the books to bookstores, they can get a profit.

Did you know that most bookstores operate on a very slim profit margin?

At any rate, it would be nice to pick up a national distributor, too, and one of my author friends (hey girl!) has put me on to some tips and tricks to make that process a little easier. I haven't finished looking into it, but it looks promising.

My next project, now that I have replenished my shipping supplies, is to FINALLY send out review copies of Lazarus to the opinion molders on my list that I could get contact info for. Luckily, I was able to give my book directly to a lot of other authors at Pride, so I saved postage right there.

My readers have always come first, so other aspects of the grand plan have suffered. Ideally, there would have been some gap between my "print date" (fresh of the printer date) and my "publication date" (the arbitrary date I decide the books go on sale). In that gap, I would have been able to do things like send out galleys and whatnot so that most of my incoming reviews would coincide with my publication date. But I had to change the game -- I relied on pre-orders to finance over 50 percent of the cost of printing alone, so I didn't have the luxury of printing the books then waiting for orders.

In essence, I did a LOT at one time. I took pre-orders while letting pre-opinion molders review the manuscript, and later, e-book. I used those reviews to bolster my campaign. I wouldn't have DARED asked for a top-level "opinion molder" like E. Lynn Harris to review a word document via email, LOL. For one, I don't know him like that, nor would I expect someone that busy to be empathetic to my cause.

But, on the other hand, I was SO BLESSED to know people like Robert Denson from Sunpiper Press. He's not yet intenrationally known, but he runs a tight ship over there at Sunpiper. His mission is to help expose new authors, even those he's not representing at Sunpiper. I like him because he's ethical -- he didn't request a damn thing from me in exchange for the review. He's a real professional.

As the months go on, I hope to be reviewed in some national publications, which would be great. Today and tomorrow, I will continue stuffing envelopes, but instead of marketing plans, they will be stuffed with review sheets.

I am excited! Not excited to be giving away books (lol) but definitely excited to be sending books to folks who could potentially give me more good reviews.

Also, I know I'm talented and all (he he he) but sometimes it's a little surreal that so many of my reviews thus far have been positive. And to me, they are from the people who count -- the readers! I mean, if Dan Rather came out and said "Lazarus sucks!" yeah, it would hurt like hell, but is he REALLY in my target audience? Right. He's not.

Now if E. Lynn Harris and James Earl Hardy said my work sucked....yeah...that would hurt...lolol

Coming up one of these days....the great question will be answered:

"If I was approached by a major publishing house to be published, would I take their offer?"

Posted by Rashid on June 11, 2005 5:12 PM

Comments

Commented by fratman1906 on June 11, 2005 7:00 PM

Commented by No 4real4real on June 13, 2005 4:09 PM

Post a comment

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)