– Best Bitches Moment: Our Bootleg Booksigning yesterday raised, in one hour, over $600 for First Book. We had more beer than I knew what to do with, and a crowd of people were streaming in the door to buy a book, have it signed by both Candy and me, and hang out in our room (did we mention the presence of beer? Nothing like it as a social lubricant).
– Best Digital Moment: Our Digital Rogue Seminar was standing room only. We had to ask for more chairs twice and over 90 people were in the room. In addition to Books on Board and Red Sage, who helped sponsor the costs of the seminar along with Sony USA, folks from Sourcebooks, Wild Rose, and LooseID attended and participated in the Q&A.
Kassia Kroszer’s presentation focused on contracts and digital rights, and Jane Litte, armed with a complete print out of the Google Books Settlement, decoded the settlement’s advisory panel, which she described as “scary.” I presented some numbers on costs in developing a book—and the costs between distributing print and digital copies. While it may look deceptively easy to start your own digital publisher, the business and technical processes are already in place with an established firm, and are therefore more advantageous for many.
And of course, there are few people more knowledgeable about digital publishing than Angie James, and her presentation was outstanding. She talked about the advance model and the no-advance model, and her presentation underscored the point that just because a publisher doesn’t pay an advance does not mean they are not thinking. It means they are thinking forward.
– Immediately after the Bootleg Bosoms Booksigning, I moderated a panel that was added to the RWA schedule last week on Digital Initiatives. Malle Vallik from Harlequin, Rachel Vincent, Rachel Chao from HarperCollins, and Julia Quinn discussed digital book promotions, author websites and publisher community websites, free ebook giveaways and Facebook as a community marketing opportunity. Despite being added at the last minute and being placed in a room that was tricky to find, we had a good crowd that asked sharp and interesting questions.
– Tomorrow is my other panel with Jane, Barb Ferrer, Ann Aguirre, and Carrie Lofty: The Billionaire Tycoon’s Secret Promotional Baby – Making the Most of Online Marketing.
Stay tuned for more updates and news, and whatever crazyness I’ve fit into 140 characters on Twitter.
If circumstances warrant another Rogue Digital Seminar next year, I’d like to contribute what would’ve been my RWA dues in sponsorship.
Thank you—and the other organizers & presenters—for putting it together. Kudos on the First Book fundraiser!
Thanks for the updates. Since I can’t be there, you’re my eyes and ears;-) Glad the Rogue Seminar was well-attended. Strength in numbers and all that.
My disappointment with the fire drill during our workshop was profound. Maybe we could do an online follow-up or something. Or just chalk it up to being my one sucky moment in an otherwise fantabulous conference. Good to see you again, Sarah.
What Carrie said.
I loved, loved, LOVED the rogue workshop, and was ecstatic to see so many people there—not to mention that I got to meet so many bloggers and authors 😀
And I confess to still getting attacks of the giggles at the fire alarm going off just as Jane was warming up during the online promotion workshop—it sucked that you guys got so rudely interrupted, but still, it was funny.
The coolest bit on that, for me, was how many people were waiting for the panelists to get back to the room and continue/finish the workshop afterwards.
Rock on, ladies!
Selling your book through bookstores, whether major chains or independents, should certainly be a major part of any self-publishers business plan. However, in order to get an edge in sales, alternative means of book selling must be employed.
Bootleg book selling is becoming an increasingly popular alternative method of boosting sales for self-publishers.