I sympathize with indie bookstores caught in the crossfire of the price wars between Amazon, Target, Walmart, Sears and others, a situation in part reflecting the price competition from $9.99 e-books. So here’s a little experiment. I’ll give away free copies of The Solomon Scandals—for resale—to the first ten indie bookstore managers who simply promise to read the book and talk it up to customers if they like it. Perhaps they could use shelf-talkers. I’m also of course willing to do remote appearance by Skype—or show up in person, if practical—and otherwise help out. And, yes, if a chain manger is reading this and cares enough about Scandals, I’ll do the same.
To learn more about Scandals, you can check out an elaborate Web site about the novel and the history behind it, such as a powerful, respected Senator’s hidden investment in a CIA-occupied high-rise, as well as a deadly building collapse. The Washington City Paper recommended Scandals and made nice Chandler and Hammett comparisons, and the book has drawn some preliminary Hollywood interest. But the daily press—possibly because I have a small publisher, and possibly because Scandals mocks the media—has yet to publish a single review. This is a great opportunity for stores to experiment with a media bypass, then hone the technique for other titles.
Scandals’ most likely readers: People in the D.C. area, Jewish readers, progressive activists and others, suspense and thriller readers, those interested in historical fiction and people everywhere who are simply interested in the causes of corruption in Washington.
David, as an advocate for ebooks, you should sweeten your offer to indie bookstores by saying you will not only give them free resale copies of the pbook but a coupon to go with each pbook for a free ebook version, something that can’t be had at the chains.
I’m a little taken aback that you singled out Jews as likely readers. Since you have singled them out, you must have some empirical data to support why Jews but not, say, for example, Lutherans, would go ga-ga over your book. I for one would appreciate some elaboration on the basis for this type of claim (especially as I find it noxious).
Awesome idea, David! Booksellers can really influence the books people buy just by making recommendations. You’ll probably see an increase in overall sales of your novel because of your offer. I hope a lot of indie bookshops take you up on this, please keep us updated.
Brad and Rich…
B: No response so far, but I’ll tweet this and hope that others will do the same. Feel free to spread the word! Remember, TeleRead is mainly read by readers and sellers of E, as opposed to sellers of P.
R: I very much appreciate your well-meant feedback and interest in The Solomon Scandals. I can resell p-book versions, but E could be more complicated. Let me talk to my publisher about the coupon concept, which I actually like.
As for the audience of the book, it can be anyone from Jews to Episcopalians and Baptists: I’d love it if they all bought. But the perspective and issues are Jewish ones. Scandals is fiction but reflects what happened in real life when I wrote up Sen. Abe Ribicoff’s secret investment in a CIA-occupied building leased by the GSA, the very agency he helped oversee through his membership on the Government Operations Committee, of which he later became chair. It was story that needed to be done, but was not the most pleasant to report. Ribicoff in many ways was a hero of mine, and some wondered why I should be exposing a fellow Jew.
I pointed out that if I didn’t, I would just be vindicating the bigots who believed that Jews covered up for each other. Simply put, while the characters and exact situations are invented, the novel reflects some real-life issues—the same ones that would arise during the Bernie Madoff scandal. I was gratified to see Jewish journalists belie the old canards about Jewish press conspiracies and report on Madoff (although I do believe that, for reasons other than religion, the story didn’t come out as soon as it should have). In the end, I suppose, I could have been writing about any other ethnic group, but as a novelist, I preferred to focus on what I knew best.
Let me add, by the way, that Solomon, the fictionalized D.C. sleazeball, operates in cahoots with some old-line Wasps, the real people in charge. Who knows? Maybe someone will now criticize me for picking on Episcopalians.
Thanks,
David