Not as much as one might think. I set up Junction Press' website
(junctionpress.com) about six months ago, under pressure from a
couple of poets who were convinced that it would generate huge sales
of their books. Turns out I was right that its benefit was chiefly
for their morales--I've sold via the site 15 copies of one book, all
to people who would have bought it anyway. And despite very favorable
comments on supposedly influential blogs.
Here's a hint, with a hint of sadness. Readings in non-poetry
environments tend to sell more books. A reading for a book club at a
senior center, for instance, will sell more books than a reading in a
series attended mostly by poets. Poets as a rule resist buying books,
maybe because they're a bit overwhelmed by the quantity, but also I
suspect because they expect to be given books. An example: I'm going
to a birthday party for a poet who's well-known in NY avant circles.
She was part of a conversation the other evening in which I mentioned
Armand Schwerner's Selected Shorter Poems, which I published in 1999.
This is essential Armand, the poems for the most part otherwise
unavailable. She knew Armand, loved his work, but owned not a single
book of his, it turned out. Guess what she's getting for her birthday?
A bit more about the reception of that book. It was of course offered
via the Poetics list at Buffalo, among whose 500 or so members Armand
is something of a legend. There, as on this list, I discount for
members (20% off). Result? Not one sale.
Mark
At 03:43 AM 10/11/2007, you wrote:
>the internet also factors in, these days. can be an excellent tool in
>advertising
>
>KS
>
>On 10/10/2007, M. Borges Accardi <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > I agree. The best way to get poetry books out there is to market
> them yourself.
> >
> > --Sometimes (if allowed), I have a table set up after readings
> for book sales.
> > If I read at a local bookstore, even a chain, I will call ahead
> and ask them to
> > stock the books in advance of the reading. If I am lucky, they
> set up a display
> > too.
> >
> > If the bookstore is an independent, I bring a bunch of books to sell with
> > a percentage going to the bookstore, maybe encouraging them to
> stock copies for
> > later sales.
> >
> > When I review poetry books in my local arts publication, I call
> > the local bookstores ahead of time and tell them when the review
> will be printed
> > (so they can stock extra books in anticipation).
> >
> > it's an uphill battle, but one worth fighting.
> >
> > Mill
> > ________________________________________________________________________
> > Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL
> Mail! - http://mail.aol.com
> >
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