Proposals to Bookstores

[Jelly_Belly]

So one of the other editors at TLE contacted some bookstores about selling the mag in their stores. Many seem interested, but want a proposal. We really don't want to come off as unprofessional, but we don't know what should be in such a proposal. We're going to do some research to figure this out (by talking with Mel Thorne and the BYU Bookstore and whatnot), but if any of you (*Jelly turns to Stacer) have any thoughts or knowledge on the subject, we could really use your help.

I know Stacer used to work at a bookstore (Barnes and Noble, was it?). But anyone who knows what would go in a good proposal, we could really use your advice.

[Skar]

You really want to get in contact with Diamante.  He works at a Waldens in Provo right now.  He's the one that arranged the pre-release signing with Brandon.

[Nessa]

Way back when we used to be able to get MediaPlay to take issues. You might consider contacting F.Y.E. too.

[stacer]

Yeah, I wouldn't be your best contact in this case, but I'd definitely ask Mel and Diamante. You definitely want to do it on a store-by-store basis. B&N does allow the manager to do some local-interest kind of stuff locally, rather than being controlled by the national buyer, as far as I know, but when you get your proposal together, you'll want to talk to each manager individually.

[Jelly_Belly]

We've already talked to people at different bookstores and they said to draft a proposal and present it, so we're just wondering what we should include.

Diamante, help! Do you have any ideas of what should be in the proposal?

[Spriggan]

It would probably be best to ask EUOL for his e-mail since I've never noticed him posting much outsite EUOL's forum.  

edit: I can see his e-mail in his profile, so check it, but I'm an admin I can see all e-mails so it could be hidden.  If it's hidden I'll PM you it.

[Eric James Stone]

It's not hidden -- that was how he had people contact him to reserve Mistborn copies.

[EUOL]

I've seen the thread--I just don't know if I can offer anything useful to the discussion.  I don't know how to get books into bookstores--Tor does that for me.  

[Fellfrosch]

What a braggart.

[Shrain]

Yeah. Do they cut off the crusts of your toast too??

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

They do. It's in the contract. And it makes him frickin' AWESOME.

[Shrain]

Oh, I get it, heheh. That's *code* isn't it!

[Jelly_Belly]

So I have another question. Covenant wants either an ISBN or UPC for us to sell through them.

Anyway, that reminded me of how previous staff members (some who may be here) tried to get an ISBN by changing the magazine to an anthology and I can't remember all the details of what they tried and why it didn't work out. That way, we don't have to go through that all over again--we'll know why it didn't work and what other avenues haven't been tried. Thanks.

[Nessa]

You'll want to talk to Ookla about that. He'd know. Here's a thread with a little info.

[stacer]

Why would you need to change it to an anthology? Shouldn't it already have whatever ISBN-ish sort of number a magazine would have?