Comments on: Rethinking the Familiar Book Tour 11/2011/rethinking-the-familiar-book-tour/ A Lawyer's Thoughts on Authors, Self-Publishing and Traditional Publishing Mon, 14 Jul 2014 03:57:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.1 By: Cindi 11/2011/rethinking-the-familiar-book-tour/#comment-15856 Sun, 04 Dec 2011 00:24:27 +0000 ?p=12148#comment-15856 I live in a city where the bookshop round the corner (literally!) from me does author appearances quite regularly, so a friend and I go quite often to support the authors- we’ve even bought a couple of books! The best ones for us have always been ones where the author is clearly trying to make a connection with the audience, not just pushing their product. One YA author we went to see played games with prizes- all revolving around his book (I wish I could remember his name!)

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By: DB 11/2011/rethinking-the-familiar-book-tour/#comment-15770 Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:37:14 +0000 ?p=12148#comment-15770 As I read your comment, I realize that I probably feel the way I do because I’ve actually never been to a really bad reading (other than student readings). I’ve been to dozens of them, by poets, fiction writers, essayists, and others, and most have been just fine. Many have been superb. Maybe I’ll change my tune if I happen upon one that’s not very good.

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By: Cora 11/2011/rethinking-the-familiar-book-tour/#comment-15755 Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:26:59 +0000 ?p=12148#comment-15755 I used to be involved with a local small press and we always took care to turn our readings into events. We always had drinks (sometimes, if the venue did not offer drinks, we dragged beer crates around ourselves) and music, sometimes we had stand-up comedy or short plays as well. And we always drew a regular crowd at our readings.

Of course, the reason we were able to do all this was because we were affiliated to a university and therefore had access to a pool of talented students who were willing to perform for free entry, free drinks and a free copy of the book or magazine as well as exposure and a chance to sell their CDs. None of us were paid either, by the way, the entire operation was volunteer run.

In the realm of big publishing, the most interesting reading/performance was given by German writer Frank Schätzing. Schätzing writes SF and technothrillers, but is marketed as a mainstream writer, so he gets asked about technical and scientific details of his novels all the time. So instead of a traditional reading, Schätzing does a whole multimedia presentation which includes information on the technical and scientific background, fake news clips from the future in which his books are set, brief film clips of his protagonists, played by very well known German actors, etc… Oh yes, and he does read a bit from his book, too. It’s a good show and Schätzing is a good speaker and presenter. Of course, he can only pull of something on that scale, because he is a huge bestseller and has an advertising background.

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By: Jaye Manus 11/2011/rethinking-the-familiar-book-tour/#comment-15705 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:33:11 +0000 ?p=12148#comment-15705 The sad fact is, DB, at the readings I’ve been to, the writers have not taken the time to learn how to perform their work. Reading aloud is a different skill set from writing (which is why most audio books are NOT read by the author, but by a professional). It’s painful listening to someone lapse into a monotone, mumbling and stumbling over words, eyes fixed on the page and never addressing the audience. They manage to make beautiful passages clunk and exciting bits sound dull as dirt.

Like I said in an earlier comment, if fiction writers intend to do readings, attend some poetry slams and learn how poets bring life to their written words.

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By: DB 11/2011/rethinking-the-familiar-book-tour/#comment-15673 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:50:41 +0000 ?p=12148#comment-15673 I don’t get this at all. I’m crazy about readings by good writers. Why should authors cater to the lowest common denominator, and try to please the few people in the audience who don’t really want to be there? And how in the world do those fidgety people who don’t like readings actually sit down and get through books; i.e. READ? Maybe next we should tell the authors that they should only write novellas from now on. Someone call Rick Russo; I’m sure he’ll get right on that.

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By: Lily White LeFevre 11/2011/rethinking-the-familiar-book-tour/#comment-15667 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:38:34 +0000 ?p=12148#comment-15667 I am not fond of readings unless it is authors I really like, and then only if it’s a sneak peek at their upcoming book because most of them (at least that I’ve seen) don’t read particularly well. I did go to one reading for the name, Chuck Paluzniak (sp??), and he was an entertaining reader and speaker, although my mind did wander for a bit. I think the key is to read less than 10 minutes and then do a big Q&A if you structure it on the old style. Dianne’s pirate party is much better.

I think the reason most writers struggle with readings has to do with many writers being shy and retiring. I can’t think of a worse way to try and showcase that kind of person’s work than by asking them to read in public. For some it might be better than speaking, but reading aloud takes a certain flair. If you’re a writer with a theater background instead of a wallflower background it probably helps…. I’m actually fascinated to see if there is a change from the shy writer to the showman writer in the coming years thanks to the new world of self-promotion and have-to-keep-their-attention-over-tv-on-the-iphone realities. I think it’s time we got back to the big personalities of the past who went all in for drunken shenanigans and scandals. :)

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By: Claude Nougat 11/2011/rethinking-the-familiar-book-tour/#comment-15666 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:02:55 +0000 ?p=12148#comment-15666 Dianne Greenlay has got it just right! In fact, over here in Europe, several bookstores have realized the standard presentation doesn’t work, that it has to be a party, with some good wine offered etc. My publisher used a series of really neat and fun trick when presenting my book (that was in Sicily in 2007): one, he got a couple of actors to read a dialogue out of my book; two, sentences from the book were printed on slips of paper and distributed in the audience at random,then the actors walked around to pick them up, a couple at a time, and try to make sense of them. Some of it turned out to be very unexpected and funny!

In other words, it worked because, yes, it was turned into a PARTY and that day, as people streamed out, I sold a lot of books.

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By: Dianne Greenlay 11/2011/rethinking-the-familiar-book-tour/#comment-15660 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 02:12:51 +0000 ?p=12148#comment-15660 Ha Ha! You bet – you’re ALL invited to the next one. My next book in the series is very nearly done. Since Book Two takes place on a tropical island (yup – shipwreck), I’m thinking a tropical island themed book launch party in Jan. or Feb. would be just the thing! (You DO kow I live on the Canadian prairies, right?? Last winter we hit -47F).

Just another thought on the traditional reading and signing (not exactly a book tour but still …)I managed to get Chapters to carry my book in exchange for them asking me to do a signing in their store. Again spent 3 hours, this time mostly sitting at my lonely table. Made 1 sale. Ouch. Hard on the ego.

Look out for the next book launch party invite on Twitter! (@diannegreenlay). Would love to meet all you wonderful bloggers over a mug of grog!

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By: Gerard de Marigny 11/2011/rethinking-the-familiar-book-tour/#comment-15659 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 01:15:00 +0000 ?p=12148#comment-15659 Dianne … that’s called hitting it out of the ball park, where I’m from! Very nicely done!

…and what Jaye said! c”,)

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By: Kort 11/2011/rethinking-the-familiar-book-tour/#comment-15658 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 01:03:08 +0000 ?p=12148#comment-15658 What Jaye said!

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