HIT: Author visits / selling books

[Ruth Dahlstrom <rdahl@ESC3.NET>]

Hi, LM_NETTERS:

As I promised, here is a hit composed of some of the responses I
received to my query about policies regarding visits by authors and
their selling books.

Unfortunately, I received no actual policies - just anecdotal accounts.
If anyone has an actual School Board Approved policy regarding visits by
authors, and your school district's policy on selling books, I would
still love to have a copy.  thanks.  ruthd
******************************************************

We always handled this as a "book fair" situation.  We made arrangements

for the books; sold them at a discount PREvisit; but at full-price
during the visit since any not sold we needed some $ to return books
even if we
had a book dealer helping with the sales.  We usually ended up making
some money for the school LMC but that was not the intent we intended to
come
out even or at least not in the RED.  It was more part of the hype for
the author.  We also made sure EACH child got an autographed bookmark.
We
asked the author to sign a master copy of the bookmark and reprinted
them for each student.  In some cases an illustrator might make a sketch
on
notebook paper that we copied as a "keepsake" of the day.  Always with
permission of course.

**********************************************
When an author visits the books are ordered beforehand and on the day of

the visit the author will sign them. The PTO takes care of the money
collection and the book distribution as they usually pay for the author
visit.
**********************************************
Last year I worked in a school district that was fortunate enough to be
able to afford visits from four author's on the same day.  The day is
called "Author's Day" and had been a tradition for several years.
The day was a coordinated effort from both the PTA and the Library Media

Center -- as the librarian I served as the hostess/scheduler/trouble
shooter for the day.  The PTA was responsible for the luncheon (which
was incredible) and also for the sale of the author's books.

The PTA conducted advanced sales of the author's books -- we offered
four or five of the author's newest books or books that the author was
going to feature during his or her presenation.  The list of books went
home in a PTA newsletter and the orders went to them.  The book order
form also had a separate section for a book inscription.  The books were

on display in the library so everyone could see them.

During the day, the authors were scheduled for at least one 45-minute
book signing session.  All of the books ordered were waiting for the
authors, the authors sat with a PTA liason and signed the books
(without students present), and after the books were signed the books
were delivered to the classrooms and given to the students.  There was
no ordering of books done during that day -- all of the money had been
exchanged ahead of time.

It was a great day, the students loved it, and it was made even more
special when at the end of the day the students went home with a book
signed by an author they had just met.

**********************************************
Dear Ruth,

As an author who visits schools, the ability to sell books often makes
or breaks my acceptance of a visit.  The fee I charge covers the time I
spend preparing and visiting, but no more than that.  Travel time -- and

separation from family -- is not compensated.

Also, signing a book gives me a chance to talk one-to-one with the
students.

My favorite way of handling this is a punch-and-cookies party for all
the students.  I mingle a bit, but most kids are too shy to approach a
"V.I.P." during that time.  Then I sit down at a signing table and meet
my
readers.  That's when I really find out what they like about my work.

Because I consider book signing so important to my visits, I bought a
large quantity of one of my books when the publisher took it prematurely
out
of print.  (The book was recognized as a "Selector's Choice" on the
annual
list of outstanding science trade books for children, but the publisher
dropped its entire kids book line.)  I sell it at a deep discount from
its
original price, and I'm only now beginning to recover my original
investment.  Now, when I sell it, the kids get an affordable, attractive

book with a good pedigree, and I get some cash flow -- a good deal all
around.

Your administrator probably thinks that authors are rich people trying
to get richer.  That is far from true.  I'm earning considerably less as
a
self-employed writer than I made as an academic researcher, but I've
never been happier in my work.  Without my school visit business, which
I'm
just beginning to build, I'd probably have to go back to having a "day
job."
=========================================================================

**********************************************
Hi Ruth
I have alway had to let my PTA "handle "book sales.  That is, all
correspondence, announcements etc. about book sales went out under their

letterhead.  HOWEVER, they really did nothing.  I made all the contacts,

supervised the sales, collected money, distributed books.
We had to do it that way because our board has a policy against schools
selling  stuff.

I also did it at cost.  This was not a money making thing...just the
opportunity for the kids to get an autographed book.

Hope this helps.


**********************************************
we had a continuing visiting author program.  We ordered the books,
usually at a 40% discount.  We added only enough to pay for postage and
passed the savings on to both students and teachers.  This allowed
students to purchase a book.  Teachers were
usually happy to have the discount and purchased books for gifts.

One of our most popular authors wrote books of gospel songs and
folktales.  they were unique, and I doubt that they have huge sales in
book stores.  His presentations brought that wonderful information to
the attention of teachers and students.  He said any child could save
enough to purchase a book.  His feeling was that kids can buy ice
cream, so they should be able to buy a book.  His contribution to the
AfroAmerican kids in our district was invaluable.

Because I am now on the other side of the fence I feel I can speak as an

author.  I have a background in the curriculum we are using in my
state.  My presentation reinforces what teachers are trying to teach.
My books and
how I write them are just the vehicle to explain that process to
students.

Why is it essential that the time we spend in schools be supported with
sale of books?  Each author has told me the same tale.  When a book is
published the title receives advertising in all major review journals.
Unless you
are a Beverly Cleary, Seuss, or R. L. Stein this is the end of the
publicity.
If the book wins a major award - really major, then there will be
continuing publicity.

Those of us who have good sound books which support the curriculum and
interests of children must promote the books or sales drop.  When sales
drop the books go out of print.  When books go out of print they are
rarely
rescued and brought back in print.

Visit a book store and see what titles they have available.  Newbery,
Caldecott, very popular fiction, series such as Nancy Drew and some few
1998 publications.

I always questioned the value of visiting authors.  Our children were
prepared, and used the time with the author to ask valid questions about

the writing process.  The visits also served as a mini-staff development
for
teachers and librarians.

I hope this helps you in gathering information about visiting authors.


**********************************************
I am a 1st-year librarian, and will be having an author visit my school
in
Feb. She  will be visiting the other 9 elementary schools in my school
district also, and we will sell her books which she will autograph. In
this
case, all of the books are paperback, so are quite reasonably priced.
However, this is not always the case. For previous author visits, there
have been
some hardcover and some paperback books. Our school (and the other
schools,
too, as far as I know)  does not have an official policy concerning
this. I
believe it is viewed as a positive way to encourage literacy. Speaking
as a parent
of children in this district, I have welcomed my children's enthusiasm
to
read and own a book(s) by an author they have seen in person. Is your
principal concerned about too many students' inability to purchase books
due to
financial concerns, and thus, feeling "pressure" to buy a book? Perhaps
the PTO/PTA can help with this. I think it is very beneficial to have
the
books on hand for the kids to buy. Book ownership is one very important
factor
that does encourage reading and a lifelong love of reading, as research
has
shown.
Gook luck with this dilemma!
**********************************************
My goodness, I cannot imagine inviting an author to speak and then not
letting him/her sell books.  And most people want to buy the books and
have them autographed after hearing the author!
**********************************************
We pre=order the  author's books and they are either presigned or signed

the day of the visit.  Presigning is better although it takes a little
co-ordination from me.  It is wonderful for students to have a signed
book, and staff also orders as gifts....principal too.


**********************************************
Ruth:
Visiting authors can often enchant an audience, but that doesn't mean
their books have any literary merit, nor does it guarantee the bindings
will
hold up. At a previous site, a "friend" of the (so-called) author set up
a
"free" assembly, and book orders ("autographed by the author") were
taken in advance at $10 each. The library received three of the author's

titles, which were then sent to the district librarian's staff for
processing.
The district librarian returned the books to me with a note lambasting
the
(lack of)literary quality of the books - which were all written in a
sing-song rhyme (read silently it was o.k., but read aloud it quickly
became apparent and increasing annoying to hear, from an adult
standpoint).

 However, the kids loved the books because of the illustrations and
subject matter - wizards, magic, and such - and lots of colorful,
cartoon-like
pictures. The bindings were awful and had to be repaired almost from the

start, but then, they weren't intended for library use.

I noticed right off the bat that the books were not published by a known

publisher. Instead, then were published by a private printer, apparently

at the author's expense. That in itself tells you something, doesn't it?
If
a "real" publisher won't publish it, maybe it isn't worth publishing. .
.
on the other hand, the kids did like the books, so it all depends on
your
goal/purpose of having an author. It's quite possible that an
outstanding author might fall flat in front of an audience.

I think that if you work from a selection of authors who have well-rated

books AND well-rated assemblies, you will have something your principal
is able to endorse/sponsor.


**********************************************


--
Ruth Dahlstrom                            Ph.: 512-573-0731x267
Library/Technology Specialist             FAX: 512-576-4804
Region III ESC                         Mailto:rdahl@esc3.net
1905 Leary Ln.          Media Library Booking: 512-576-0140
Victoria, TX   77901                     http://www.esc3.net/~rdahl/

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