I think I like to take unique approaches. That can be a pro or a con. I write books that combine cryptozoology and craft beer. Unique, right? Most people say what? Then ask how that is possible. Basically there are four friends who are cryptozoologists and they enjoy craft beer. They travel to investigate a creature and while there also explore the local breweries. It is realist fiction that includes real events, breweries, and local points of interest. I wrote two books, "The Chupacabra and the Bat Rastard" set in San Antonio and "Champ and a Bit of Sunshine" set in Burlington (https://funkytroll.wixsite.com/marktr...). I decided I needed to promote the books. I worked with a guy who operates a monthly cryptozoology subscription crate and I was able to include The Chupacabra in the August 2018 shipment. I received a Twitter direct message from Freetail Brewing (they brew the beer the Old Bat Rastard). They asked if their beer inspired my book or title. I said yes, then explained. They said great! You should come to the brewery and do a book signing. I thought why stop there? So now I am working on creating a nation-wide book signing event at local breweries from November 2018 to April 2019. (Still 5 spots I am trying to secure at this time of writing). This can go wonderfully well or blow up horribly. As I get to this point I realize there are many things I don't know...and I hope I can learn from this group: 1) Inventory: I thought 25 books of each paperback (and maybe 3 of each hardback). I expect to maybe sell 5 copies at each location, then I would reorder whatever I sold to always have 25 on hand...but in some cities I have almost that many interested in coming and over 100 invites. What if I run out? 1A) That lead me to think about pre-sales. Maybe offer 15%-20% discount if someone wanted to pre-pay now. That would not only be $ but would help better figure inventory. 2) Transactions - I won't have much cash on hand, and the bars won't sell the book. That means I need to be able to take payments. I signed up for the square and I could probably do something with paypal.... 2A) but do I need a separate bank account to keep book sales and my personal bills/charges separate 2B) Do I need to create an official business (LLC?) Tax ID? 3) Format of the shows - I was thinking a table, meet and greet, I could talk to people, sign books for about 2 hours, then mingle in the brewery hoping to inspire future sales. I did write a PowerPoint, but I don't think the breweries have the tech to play it. 4) What if the books really suck and it’s all smoke and mirrors? Then it turns into a huge flop? When it was a book online that someone might stumble on I could tell myself it was out there and someone could find it. But now that I put 150 copies in a box and am going to 17 cities, its more real and self-doubt increased. I hope some can assist...
I wrote two books, "The Chupacabra and the Bat Rastard" set in San Antonio and "Champ and a Bit of Sunshine" set in Burlington (https://funkytroll.wixsite.com/marktr...). I decided I needed to promote the books. I worked with a guy who operates a monthly cryptozoology subscription crate and I was able to include The Chupacabra in the August 2018 shipment. I received a Twitter direct message from Freetail Brewing (they brew the beer the Old Bat Rastard). They asked if their beer inspired my book or title. I said yes, then explained. They said great! You should come to the brewery and do a book signing. I thought why stop there? So now I am working on creating a nation-wide book signing event at local breweries from November 2018 to April 2019. (Still 5 spots I am trying to secure at this time of writing).
This can go wonderfully well or blow up horribly. As I get to this point I realize there are many things I don't know...and I hope I can learn from this group:
1) Inventory: I thought 25 books of each paperback (and maybe 3 of each hardback). I expect to maybe sell 5 copies at each location, then I would reorder whatever I sold to always have 25 on hand...but in some cities I have almost that many interested in coming and over 100 invites. What if I run out?
1A) That lead me to think about pre-sales. Maybe offer 15%-20% discount if someone wanted to pre-pay now. That would not only be $ but would help better figure inventory.
2) Transactions - I won't have much cash on hand, and the bars won't sell the book. That means I need to be able to take payments. I signed up for the square and I could probably do something with paypal....
2A) but do I need a separate bank account to keep book sales and my personal bills/charges separate
2B) Do I need to create an official business (LLC?) Tax ID?
3) Format of the shows - I was thinking a table, meet and greet, I could talk to people, sign books for about 2 hours, then mingle in the brewery hoping to inspire future sales. I did write a PowerPoint, but I don't think the breweries have the tech to play it.
4) What if the books really suck and it’s all smoke and mirrors? Then it turns into a huge flop? When it was a book online that someone might stumble on I could tell myself it was out there and someone could find it. But now that I put 150 copies in a box and am going to 17 cities, its more real and self-doubt increased.
I hope some can assist...