Okay, last year at the Harlem Book fair I didn’t fare so well. I came home with all but one the books I brought to sell and lost over $400.00.
So why am I doing the fair again this year? I realize the opportunity to attend the fair is bigger than me.
Many in the African-American community complain about the quality of the books offered at the fair, how there are so many titles focused mostly on the negative experiences of African-Americans and not much else. However, few of those who complaining are willing to offer something different to the reading audience.
My mission as an author and self-publisher is to provide readers with positive stories about the African-American experience. If I want to share those stories with my audience I realize I have to put last year’s failure behind me and persevere.
I feel giving readers a choice is worth more than the money for me. The fair is my opportunity to offer readers a choice of what I believe is quality literature. Whether they choose to buy my books or not, I have to make every effort to allow readers to have that choice. People in America often take their freedom of choice for granted; many don’t truly appreciate what it is they have.
In areas like art, literature and even commerce many in the African-American community don’t realize how a lack of diversity has limited their freedom of choice. Books open the world to readers, and when there aren’t many types of books offered to readers their opportunity to view the world becomes narrowed. Different stories give readers different perspectives, and expand people’s understanding of the world around them. Venues like the Harlem Book Fair need to have more than one type of Black experience offered to readers. I’m hoping to offer an expanded selection of titles along with a few surprises.
That is great. You have to keep motivated when you want to be sucessfull
ReplyDeleteHi Shawn, I agree with you 100%.
ReplyDeleteI will be at the fair reviving a series about a POSITIVE black man who is the first cyber police.
Mind you I did pretty well 22 years ago selling the books myself, but out of a 12 book series, I finished four and then "life" entered in.
I am a little nervous, but I love my folk and we have got to want to read something good about ourselves - even though I did make this guy just naughty enough to make him human - and realistic.
For a prelim, turn on your volume and visit www.louisiafuller.com.
See Ya, Louisia Fuller
Hi Shawn, I agree with you 100%.
ReplyDeleteI will be at the fair reviving a series about a POSITIVE black man who is the first cyber police.
Mind you I did pretty well 22 years ago selling the books myself, but out of a 12 book series, I finished four and then "life" entered in.
I am a little nervous, but I love my folk and we have got to want to read something good about ourselves - even though I did make this guy just naughty enough to make him human - and realistic.
For a prelim, turn on your volume and visit www.louisiafuller.com.
See Ya, Louisia Fuller
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ReplyDeleteHey Shawn,
ReplyDeleteAre you participating in the fair this July? I just published a black lesbian romance novel (She Wants Her, Tasha C. Miller) that is doing pretty well on Kindle but the hard copies havent been moving all that great. That tells me I need to hit the streets. But I am concerned about the reception I'd receive. I totally agree with your posts that we need to give the people a variety of things to read but at the same time its an expense for us. I'd be coming from Boston so I'd have travel and hotel expenses. What are your thoughts? You mentioned you lost $400 how many books did you take to sell? Thanks! Hope you're doing well. Tasha
Tasha,
ReplyDeletesorry for not getting back to you. I wasn't at the fair as a vendor this year, but as a spectator.
I've been having a hard time moving hard copies myself. Mostly Kindle sales for my titles. That's where I put most of my focus now.
The fair really isn't worth the travel and hotel expenses, you would be coming out at a loss. I was local and I lost $400 on the show, you'd lose even more.
I took 20 or 30 books to sell and only sold one. That's what soured me on the fair. It's a loser of a show for any self-publisher, the exposure you get doesn't lead to sales long-term. Focus on eBooks and KDP select if you can. That's where the money is.
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