Finding alternative Venues for Your Book

In an earlier blog entry I explained that sometimes it’s best to have book events, such as readings and signings, at alternative venues other than bookstores and libraries.  In this entry, I’m going ot describe how to find these venues.

This sort of marketing works better for non-fiction, as many of the venues are going to be educational institutions.  But there will be some for genres of fiction as well.  Just understand that they will probably be venues that are strongly into a certain genre, so you’ll have to focus on that.

To figure out what venues will be appropriate for your book, the first thing you need to do is define what subjects your book covers.  For instance, in Two Gun Hart I cover:  Italian-American studies, American history, the Old West, gangsters, law enforcement Nebraska history, and Chicago history.  I also lightly cover these areas:  Italian history, Idaho, Washington, South Dakota, New York, and Iowa history, and film history.

In fiction, my book Relic Worlds covers:  Adventure stories, science fiction, space travel, archaeology, anthropology.  (I told you it’s harder with fiction.)

What you want to do now is figure out what places cover these subjects, then narrow in on specific locations.  For instance, with Two Gun Hart, I assume that Italian-American culture and history is studied at universities.  I figure out what schools have these sort of programs, then read a bit about them before writing them down.  I also look at Old West museums, groups interested in law enforcement history, etc.  I make a long list of all of these places, then begin calling to see if they’d be interested.  I send them a copy of the book; preferably an e-copy, but sometimes a paperback version.  Then I set a time to follow them up.

This will eventually narrow down into a  manageable list of places to visit, and I set times to go and give my signings and lectures.  You’ll need to space them out, or combine those that are close together, to make sure you can afford the trips.  As you make your budget, remember that you’re not concerned with making a profit at these locations, you’re trying first and foremost to spread the word.  What you make at the venues merely help with the costs of going to them.