There are many ways to get book sales, but unfortunately, nobody knows what they are!
So goes the joke, but the truth has some elements of the joke there too, and if you’re a struggling writer, trying to sell copies of your book, it isn’t so funny. I’m currently about to begin a gig as Writer In Residence, at a cafe in a small town, not that far from where I live.
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Carolyn Cordon, Poet, Writer, Editor, Blogger, Writer In Residence 
I am thrilled to now be the Writer in Residence at Gallery 14 in Hamley Bridge, sharing my own words, and helping others create their own words too. I will be there on Mondays (not Public Holidays), from 10.30am, starting on 1 February. My role at Gallery 14 will be to chat with people about my words, whether published works or current works in progress. I also intend holding writing workshops too, if there is a demand for it; I just love sharing words!
In any quiet moments, I will be working on my own current works in progress – a Cosy Murder Mystery novel (‘Winds of Death At Talloola’ the first in a series), and a new poetry collection (‘Pond-erings’) which is poetry collection about my new pond, and thoughts that come to me about it.
As a writer and poet, with eight published books (so far), I know how good it feels to share my words with others. And in my roles as a creative writing workshop presenter, and Poetry Competition Coordinator, which I’ve been for over ten years, I love giving others the opportunity to do the same. When you have me involved, beautiful words can happen!
Contact me:
Phone: 0418 806 490
Email: kittycordo@gmail.com
Blog: www.carolyncordonwriter.wordpress.com/blog
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That is the flyer I’ve created, and will soon give copies of it to the cafe where I’ll be doing my stuff, on Monday mornings from 10.30 (except for Public Holidays). I hope it might bring interest to what I am doing there, to my books, to the cafe, in terms of more business, and to sales of my books, of course. I’ll have copies of most of my published books with me, and hope to go home with fewer books than I went there with!
I was there the other day, and actually sold a book I’d brought along to a member of parliament who came into the cafe, and that was a good omen, I think. I’m going to accept it as one, anyway. I don’t really believe in such things though, I’m quite New Agey Woo-resistant in many ways.
As a joke regarding that, I posted this Twitter post to see if anyone would comment on it, because I wondered about the question, and because the question is a legitimate topic to write poetry about for that poetry collection – “Ponderings” I mention in the Tweet:
“Currently thinking about my Vibrational Frequency, and wondering whether a poem about the way I feel, or don’t feel it increasing as I sit by my pond, may assist in something enormous, like book sales of the poetry collection I’m currently working on. New Age = $$$$ right? Haha!”
Will this little Tweet lead to sales, who knows, but I was once told something like – you can never advertise your event too much, or something like that. The person who told it to me has spent many years in Theatre, selling the shows he was putting together, and he really knows his stuff. (thanks Martin Christmas poet/photographer/wonderful creative person) I love your work!
So I don’t know anything about my vibrational frequency, whether it is too high, too low, or too in the middle. The poem I write may be too flippant, too serious, or too in the middle too, who knows. But I’ll have many Mondays at Gallery 14, in Hamley Bridge to work on this poem, and the many others needed to make a poetry collection. I’m looking at it being a short collection, a chap book, which is a handy little size for a poetry collection, cheap to produce, light to carry, and if sold at $5 each, I’d still make a profit, if I sold enough of them.
And if I don’t sell enough of them? Well I hope other book sales will help even things out … Because this book will be a skinny little book filled with interesting poems, it will be easy to carry copies of it around with me, wherever I go, selling copies of the book for the cost of a cup of coffee!
Because everywhere a writer goes, is a place where they may find a keen buyer of their books. If you carry your books with your, you can whip one out, talk about it, smile nicely, and find another sale! I’ve done this at poetry readings of other poets, at writing group events, via my mother’s Retirement village where she lives, and a variety of other places. having a book there ready to go to it’s new home is the best clue to getting book sales.
Of course, there is the world wide web out there, but to be honest, I prefer to meet the potential buyer, chat with them, and then sell then a signed copy, where I’m able to strengthen the connection by writing something relevant, and personal inside the book. Connections are king!
Every moment might be a book selling moment! I wonder if my vibrational frequencies have increased, as I’ve been writing this blog post? Who knows, I don’t even know what they are. Any information would be most welcome, just don’t expect me to give you any money for it! Cheers and thank you!
Carolyn Cordon - Creative 