BrokeBook Fever -- Spreading the word on our book: news, brainstorming, etc.

[tfferg]

To the marketing team:

For possible marketing in Australia, you could try approaching two very good gay and lesbian bookshops if you haven't already got them on the list.

In  Melbourne:

Hares & Hyenas,
63 Johnston St.
Fitzroy, 3065
Victoria
Australia

telephone: 61 3 94 95 65 89

http://hares-hyenas.com.au

In Sydney:

The Bookshop Darlinghurst
207 Oxford Street,
Darlinghurst
NSW 2010.
Australia

Telephone 61 2 9331 1103

http://www.thebookshop.com.au/home.php

[TwistsBitch]

Is there an estimate of when the book will be available via Amazon, incl Amazon.co.uk?  As I would rather publicise it more when it is easily available. 

Most libraries have a facility for suggested new purchases so that is another way of getting the book out there if you don't want to donate a copy.  In my experience, libraries are usually desperate for suggestions that aren't just the top ten paperbacks!

[KittyHawk]

tfferg, thanks for the Australian bookstores. I've just inquired as to whether bookstores abroad use the same distributor (Ingram) as our bookstores here in the states. As soon as we find that out, we may ask folks to contact booksellers near them with a copy of our flyer (or maybe a separate flyer just for bookstores?) and instructions on how to obtain the book from a wholesaler. More information will be forthcoming....

Twistsbitch, our publisher at WingSpan Press tells me that for POD books, Amazon and Amazon.co.uk don't pick a book up until it is a physical reality and we're still working on that. So I'm not about to give a certain date - I've been wrong trying to predict when things will happen SOOOOO many times - but it will just be a very few weeks now. Maybe Dave will receive the first copy when he has to decide whether to say "Roll Presses" or "Stop the presses" on April Fool's Day? Or maybe Easter. I'm not about to predict!!! That will jinx it for sure.

Meanwhile, I hope you do know that WingSpan has changed their policy for us and they WILL ship to you directly overseas! So if you order now, you will receive a book out of our first printing, which will likely get to you faster than an Amazon order could.

By the way, I can't tell you all how terrific WingSpan Press has been to work with. They have practically taught me a class in Publishing 101. Or maybe even Remedial Publishing 101!  They have modified several policies just for us. Big things like taking pre-orders, shipping over-seas, etc. We originally selected them because they're ranked in the top 3 of print-on-demand publishers and because they give authors lots of control and a good share of the profits. It's a very welcome and unanticipated bonus that they are so great to work with! Very patient, very nice, and always looking out for their authors.

- KittyHawk

[TwistsBitch]

Thanks KittyHawk.  Yep, I have ordered my copy & one for a friend.  Just cannot wait so let's hope for that release date soon!  & I was pleased to hear that some copies are going to Ang & co.  I hope we get to hear their reaction.  Not many actors & crew can say that they worked with a story that inspired books to be published by the fans.

[KittyHawk]

I hope so, too. There's no guarantee, but I hope they will respond when they get their copies of the book. If they bother to read even a little bit of it, I think they would be moved enough to let us know what they thought.

- KH

[Lyle (Mooska)]

Thousands of people visit Los Angeles during the week of the GLBT Pride Parade and festivities.  I was thinking of using that as a time to publicize the book, passing out flyers etc. -- many companies use that time to market things to people they think might be interested in their wares!

[Ellen (tellyouwhat)]

That's a great use of the flyer, Lyle, thanks for posting!  this takes place in June, right?  as I recall from last year a lot of similar events happen in June world wide.

[KittyHawk]

To the marketing team:

For possible marketing in Australia, you could try approaching two very good gay and lesbian bookshops if you haven't already got them on the list.

In  Melbourne:

Hares & Hyenas,
63 Johnston St.
Fitzroy, 3065
Victoria
Australia

telephone: 61 3 94 95 65 89

http://hares-hyenas.com.au

In Sydney:

The Bookshop Darlinghurst
207 Oxford Street,
Darlinghurst
NSW 2010.
Australia

Telephone 61 2 9331 1103

http://www.thebookshop.com.au/home.php

tfferg, I just got the info about how bookstores in Australia and other countries outside of North America can get their copies of our book. They use the same distributor. We'll be listed in the Ingram Advance Catalog. Your local book store managers, in every country, should be very familiar with Ingram.

Lyle, great idea to capitalize on the Pride parades.

- KH

[KittyHawk]

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED—

[/b]

for a job that will take maybe an hour.

We have a starting list of addresses of colleges and universities with film and media programs. We want to encourage their professors to purchase our book or to at least get it in their libraries or on student reading lists. If we could get 10 or 12 volunteers to help with the mailing, it wouldn't be a burden on any one person.

Suppose we emailed you a letter and a list of about 20 addresses. Within a couple of days after you receive that information, would you be willing to print out the letters, address the envelopes, buy the stamps and mail them? The postage would be your contribution to the book marketing program. If you're willing, please PM me.

I have one special request. If we could get one Brit volunteer in the lot, that would be helpful as there are several British addresses on our list. Ten countries are represented altogether, but Britain has the most besides Canada and the U.S.

Finally, we're still looking for additional names and addresses of higher education film studies programs to go on this list. Please PM those to me or to goaboydc within the next few days.

This book project may eventually rank up there with our historic Variety ad!  I hope you'll help make it happen!

Thanks, you all.

- KittyHawk

[nova]

Part of our original marketing plan has always been to mobilize our members in your local communities.  We have created a black and white flyer which you can print on plain or colored paper to use as handouts, or to leave at:

-- libraries
-- coffee houses
-- book fairs
-- community centers. 

Thanks to Bobby19in1963 for helping with the layout and creation of this flyer.

I love the flyer!  I printed some out on colored paper and they really do look great!

[Ellen (tellyouwhat)]

^^^^^

Thanks nova!    for printing out the flyers.  I printed a test on white paper, which looks fine, but I will get some colored paper for greater eye-catching appeal.

[tfferg]

I wonder if it is worth contacting the Bangkok Post, one of the two English-language daily newspapers here.

Bangkok Post Directory


The Post Publishing Public Company Limited
Bangkok Post Building 136 Na Ranong Road Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110 Thailand
Tel: (662) 240-3700 Fax: (662) 671-3174
EDITORIAL SECTIONS
EDITOR: Kowit Sanandang ext 3429, direct line: (662)240-3660
DEPUTY EDITOR: Sonchai Nokeplub ext 3404
OUTLOOK EDITOR: Atiya Achakulwisut ext 3208
ASSISTANT EDITOR (OUTLOOK): Sanitsuda Ekachai ext 3210

Outlook is the daily human interest section.

WEEKLY SECTION EDITORS
REAL.TIME: Our Friday entertainment guide. Prapai Kraisornkovit ext 1506

The person who writes feature articles about movies/film critic is Kong Rithdee.

I seem to remember him publishing a positive review of BBM which showed in Thailand for several weeks.
The other paper is Nation, published by Nation Multimedia.

English language bookstore chains here are Asia Books and Bookazine. Bookazine stores have a small section of gay and gay-related books.

The biggest stores are Kinokuniya which has large English language sections. They carry BBM Story to Screenplay.

BS2 with quite big English-language sections have bookshops inside all the Central Department stores.

[KittyHawk]

Another great contact, tfferg!

I love how international we are!    Desertrat is getting our "coffeehouse flyer" translated into several European languages. Tfferg, perhaps you know someone who could do a similar thing for our Thai friends?

Also, we already have 4 of the 10 or 12 volunteers we need to mail a pre-written letter to university film/media programs, but are still looking for a Brit with an hour of free time and a few more folks here in North America. (And many thanks to those first four individuals willing to commit an hour of their time and a few stamps to help! You know who you are!)

We're also still looking worldwide for more names and addresses of college and university professors in the areas of film/media studies or gender/sexual/social/cultural studies. (How's that last one for a mish-mash of categories. We'll take any one or any combination!   )

The college and university connections could emerge as a very large part of our audience, you all. PM me if you can spare an hour and a few stamps to let those professors know about our book!

- KittyHawk

[jlm1]

Also, we already have 4 of the 10 or 12 volunteers we need to mail a pre-written letter to university film/media programs, but are still looking for a Brit with an hour of free time and a few more folks here in North America. (And many thanks to those first four individuals willing to commit an hour of their time and a few stamps to help! You know who you are!)


- KittyHawk

You can count me in on the printing and mailing, KittyHawk!

Jonathan/jlm1

[KittyHawk]

Thanks a bunch, Jonathan. As if you hadn't already done enough for the book!!!

That makes 6 volunteers. Still need a Brit and 5 more.

- KH