Comment

Comment by Gary Carden on June 3, 2009 at 2:51pm

Okay, reach them, but if possible, also give them a forum, a place where they can express themselves. Is it possible to give a dramatist a forum? Something similar to that tribute to Louise Bailey .... a sample of theater? a forum on storytelling?

Comment by Charleen Bertolini on June 3, 2009 at 2:19pm

Any suggestions how to reach these folks? BTW--Charles Price was to have been a speaker last year, but was overcommitted and had to withdraw. We want to reach everyone who loves to read, to write, to express themselves through their art form.

Comment by Gary Carden on June 3, 2009 at 12:51pm

Charleen,
I am certainly willing to promote the event next year. I would also like to note that some of our best writers do not belong to state-sponsored writers organizations and there needs to be some efforts to contact them. Being a playwright and a storyteller, I am also mindful of the fact that I am not always considered a part of the region's "writers." There are many more like me who are not novelists and/or poets, but they are definitely "artists."

Comment by Charleen Bertolini on June 3, 2009 at 12:32pm

Thanks Gary! Yes, we want to keep the "social" aspects of the book fair. Since writing is such a solitary past time, we thought it would be wonderful for our authors and our readers to connect. I know I bought one of your tapes, so I'm not sure when Malaprops will be sending checks for sales. I'll check it out for you!
Any ideas how to get the "word" out to writers and readers for next year?

Comment by Gary Carden on June 3, 2009 at 12:20pm

Charleen,
I thought that the Book Fair at BRCC was fantastic. It punched all of the right buttons. A lot of my satisfaction was purely social. I loved seeing other writers, many of whom I had not seen in ten years. The last great gatherings of writers were those held by the AWA a decade ago, usually at Radford College, but after AWA moved to Kentucky, we lost that wonderful "community" of writers from this region. I would hope that the next Book Fair made the "social gathering" aspect of the book fair a priority. I liked the scheduling, the layout of the tables, the lecture rooms (very spacious with excellent sound). The food was mediocre, but then it always is. I was disappointed to not see some of my favorite people (where was Dot Jackson, Charles Price and Ron Rash?). I did hear some grumbling about the way sales were conducted with everything going through Malaprops, but it well may be that we just need to get used to that. (It didn't affect me since i didn't sell any books anyway, or at least if I did, I never received a check!) I loved my accommodations and I had to rediscover Hendersonville which has turned into a very appealing town in recent years. I only ate one meal at the Waverley Inn, but it was wonderful
(breakfast), and our evening out at a local restaurant was memorable. Robert Morgan was an ideal "key speaker" and the tribute to Louise Bailey was not only impressive, but acquainted me with a wonderful writer who does what very few people do well - captures the folklife of the region with authenticity.
The little dramatization of Louise's writings with monologues was, for me, the highlight of the Book Fair, and the next best event was the 30 minutes that I spent talking to Louise in the "writers' lounge." I could go on, but that is enough.

Comment by Charleen Bertolini on June 3, 2009 at 11:30am

I've was associated with the inaugural Blue Ridge Book & Author Showcase in Hendersonville/Flat Rock this past year. I think we were successful and that it was a powerful resource for authors and readers, but I'd be interested in feedback from any of you that attended and particularly Gary Carden, who presented. What should we be doing? It will be held next year on June 5 and very shortly the group will be inviting authors to exhibit or speak. I appreciate all the insight you can provide

Comment by Christine Hale on June 3, 2009 at 11:11am

Hey, I promised to try and be a good citizen/contributing member of this group, so here's what's worked for me, lately, in promoting my novel Basil'sDream.
Had a great discussion with a book club in Charlotte (and sold 16 copies of the book); this gig came to me through asking for such to my personal email list--the club member who invited me is a sister of a writing friend of mine in L.A. Discussion showed me quite directly how the book "works," via its "very real" characters, even for readers of vastly different political views and social values than mine. So, although it's akin to handselling the book, and takes time, meeting real readers in book clubs seems an important way to support one's book in the world.
I know everybody knows that already, and everybody has a website, too, but just for the record, mine got me a feature in the Mid-Ocean News (in Bermuda, where the book is set). Having the title, the cover image, and flap copy on the website led to this enterprising writer discovering (via Google, most likely) a book set in his turf, which he'd otherwise never have known about.

I know everybody already hears all the time

Comment by Christine Hale on May 17, 2009 at 1:47pm

CHANGE OF VENUE for book launch party!

Due to the rotten weather, we're moving to a warm and bright location: 309 Old Farm School Road, Asheville, NC 28805.

Hope to see you there!

Chris

Comment by Christine Hale on May 15, 2009 at 9:39pm

Thank you, Rob. The novel and I have been fortunate to get some great blurbs (Joan Silber, Richard Russo and Margot Livesey in addition to Andrea Barrett), and recently a book blogger, The Rose City Reader, put up a good review. I've worked on this book for a long time.

Review copies are out (and I thought my publicist said she's sent one to you, but if she's not done so, please let me know and I'll be happy to get one to you) but--I know everyone reading this wall already knows this--pre-publication reviews have been difficult to get because of the low profile of a small press and the flood of books seeking reviews.

About appearances, I read in the past two weeks at Warren Wilson and in Seattle at Elliott Bay Books, but so far will have only book clubs until August or September when I'll read at Malaprops (as part of the Writers at Home series; I'll be teaching a course for the Great Smokies Writing program with my husband, the writer Kevin McIlvoy).

I appreciate very much your including Basil's Dream on the WNC book list. Come to the launch party if you can--you may recognize me; we sat at the same table when Junot Diaz read at Warren Wilson a year or so ago.

Anyone one out there who's interested in talking about promoting books on a shoe string, please weigh in when you have time. I'm just getting started but will share my experiences gladly.

Chris

Comment by Rob Neufeld on May 15, 2009 at 12:46pm

Your novel sounds very interesting, Christine--and a blurb from Andrea Barrett--that's great! Has your publisher sent out review copies? Have you got any other appearances coming up? My oversight on the WNC book list--I'll get that up right away, and add West Alabama U's Livingston Press to my list of publishers publishing WNC authors.

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