tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post727094757436943108..comments2024-03-27T23:53:59.771-04:00Comments on SleuthSayers: Bouchercon 2: I whine, others talkLeigh Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-7156608796084500002015-11-05T17:44:21.135-05:002015-11-05T17:44:21.135-05:00One more word on this: I was the 'Book Wrangle...One more word on this: I was the 'Book Wrangler' for the Bloody Words mystery conference (in Toronto, last year). Yes, the publishers give us books free for the book bags. I went to the usual suspects (big 5 and mid size Canadian publishers) with an ask that stipulated "books published before 2013," so that our vendors who carry the latest releases would not be competing with free books. As well, we asked for the books of authors attending, only. We limited our books to five or six a bag. I think it's a lovely perk for attendees, but I feel very strongly that it should be limited to just a few books each.Melodie Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07870938103759179132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-75652851390689002872015-11-05T16:16:08.265-05:002015-11-05T16:16:08.265-05:00I also attended Bouchercon San Francisco and grabb...I also attended Bouchercon San Francisco and grabbed a copy of LB's A Drop Of The Hard Stuff - loved it!<br /><br />I seldom read the free books, but do occassionally find one that is subsequently raved over and am very happy that I carted it home and do not have to try to borrow a copy at the library or buy it. <br /><br />Zoo Station was the latest. I was not as impressed as others, and would not have wanted to purchase a copy as it is not a keeper for me.<br /><br />One of the selling points I use to get people to attend conferences for the first time is the bag of free books and the opportunity to hear some of their favorite (or soon to be favorite) authors on panels.KarenMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-17167551558343491332015-11-05T12:34:20.688-05:002015-11-05T12:34:20.688-05:00B.K., I have served on some accreditation committe...B.K., I have served on some accreditation committees, so I sympathize - and I enjoyed your story, especially the Nachshon reference!<br /><br />As for donating unwanted books to the library, you might want to be aware that most libraries will neither sell nor add to the collection books that are marked as Advanced Reader Copies (as many of the freebies are). Of course, many libraries have swap shelves, and they can put the books there.<br /><br />I have mentioned this before, but at the last day of the San Francisco Bcon I found on one of the freebie piles an ARC of Lawrence Block's new Matt Scudder novels and as I grabbed it up I wondered: who the hell didn't want it? (Turned out to be one of BLock's best, A DROP OF THE HARD STUFF).<br />Robert Loprestihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08844889305615182897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-15565912082403636452015-11-05T12:14:27.990-05:002015-11-05T12:14:27.990-05:00What a pleasant surprise to find something I said ...What a pleasant surprise to find something I said on your list of quotations! I'm used to having everyone completely disregard everything I say. (That's another cause of despair and desolation in academic life.)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17673578800047888317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-48117182137838420402015-11-05T09:34:14.932-05:002015-11-05T09:34:14.932-05:00I love the quotes. I am very conflicted about the ...I love the quotes. I am very conflicted about the free books at conferences. It's nice to get a free book but I find that I don't read those authors, so I give the books away, usually to my local library. I also don't want a lot of freebies at a conference because they're a pain to carry home and expensive to ship. I'll buy what I'm interested in from the booksellers and find the rest at the library.Susan Oleksiwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02693057997469296068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-18612304037790457082015-11-05T06:18:11.555-05:002015-11-05T06:18:11.555-05:00Great column, Rob--I love the quotes. (Bill Cride...Great column, Rob--I love the quotes. (Bill Crider <i>always</i> has words of wisdom.)<br /><br />As for the conflict between freebies and books-for-sale, I agree in principle and don't like the idea of free books at conferences like this, but I also agree with Mark in that I seldom read the freebies anyway. They certainly didn't keep me from buying the books of others at B'con. And Don and Jen Longmuir sold all five of my books that I left with them, so I can't complain too much.<br />But I'm glad to hear, Melodie, that it won't be an issue at the 2017 B'con. John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-80940687473451900872015-11-05T01:08:14.354-05:002015-11-05T01:08:14.354-05:00I've now been to Left Coast Crime twice and Bo...I've now been to Left Coast Crime twice and Bouchercon once. I think I have yet to read any of the freebies. Most of the time, I can tell by the cover I'm not interested in the book. The one or two books I would be interested in, I've already bought.<br /><br />With the number of authors at these events, the number of freebies can't make that much difference. Heck, I buy authors who make an impression on me and that I am interested in reading. In other words, I buy books by authors I want to read. Just because I got a book for free doesn't mean I will read it or am interested in reading it.<br /><br />And I don't feel guilty about that since I didn't go out of my way to get it.Mark Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11567392254011373198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-40447234243617210362015-11-04T23:56:39.773-05:002015-11-04T23:56:39.773-05:00Thanks, Robert. Much appreciated. Thanks, Robert. Much appreciated. Catriona McPhersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17234089279665716446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-57949198450988271502015-11-04T21:06:01.344-05:002015-11-04T21:06:01.344-05:00Thanks for the info about Sisters in Crime. I wil...Thanks for the info about Sisters in Crime. I will fix it. I talked to a bookseller there who complained about the giving away of free books in general but I do not recall the drive being mentioned. <br /><br />Melissa, showing off your superior medical knowledge again.Robert Loprestihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08844889305615182897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-26543930443357632012015-11-04T19:05:30.070-05:002015-11-04T19:05:30.070-05:00I should have said this too - I made a beeline for...I should have said this too - I made a beeline for Don and Jen Longmuir (who'd come furthest) on the Wednesday before Bcon to ask them how they felt about the thumb drive. Don's take was that he didn't think it would make any difference to his sales. Catriona McPhersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17234089279665716446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-51136434000986457702015-11-04T18:59:48.432-05:002015-11-04T18:59:48.432-05:00Backing up what Melodie said here.
I was preside...Backing up what Melodie said here. <br /><br />I was president of Sisters in Crime at the time (I handed over *at* Bouchercon) and the thumb drive giveaway was by Smashwords. The SinC board voted, after discussion, to pass the news of Smashwords' offer along to our members, to let each one decide for her/himself whether to join in. Catriona McPhersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17234089279665716446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-5134022005735212842015-11-04T18:00:49.602-05:002015-11-04T18:00:49.602-05:00Fabulous post. And Robert, at the Debut Authors Br...Fabulous post. And Robert, at the Debut Authors Breakfast, where we were given 60 seconds to pitch our books to the audience, there were free books on every table from the publisher. There were 2 readers at my table and they snagged all 5 between them. <br /><br />I also had my book on consignment. Managed to sell 3 out of 20 copies. Not exactly a home run. But I had people say to me, "would love to get your book but I have too many to take home already." Now, they might just have been saying that, but I doubt it. <br /><br />I had about 8 books in my free bag. I took all of them to the swap table as none of them really screamed "Read me." How jaded is that?<br /><br />Mel is right, it was Smashwords not SinC doing the giveaway. Most were probably self-published authors. I didn't keep my flash drive. I suspect a lot of people just tossed it. We do not value things that are free. Simple as that.<br /><br />Thanks for such an insightful post, and Rob Brunet's post made me laugh out loud. He's a fellow Torontonian, and yes, we Canadians often say "I'm sorry" when someone steps on our foot. But sometimes we say two other words that aren't quite as polite :-)<br />Judy Penz Sheluk, authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07631631805016814056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-995434181424211472015-11-04T17:44:14.869-05:002015-11-04T17:44:14.869-05:00"Always invite dead authors to dinner parties..."Always invite dead authors to dinner parties. They have no allergies or other dietary problems." -Lawrence Block<br /><br />But they'd smell so bad!Melissa Yihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01714047923814805076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-55690089403254546542015-11-04T17:39:56.371-05:002015-11-04T17:39:56.371-05:00Love the quotes, Rob. :)Love the quotes, Rob. :)Elizabeth Zelvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13944424094949207841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-86798139284285128322015-11-04T17:25:12.823-05:002015-11-04T17:25:12.823-05:00Great quotes as usual and good insight.
It is won...Great quotes as usual and good insight.<br /><br />It is wonderful to get a material reward for vesting in attendance fees, but Melodie is on the right track.Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-81241952777961705942015-11-04T15:07:10.305-05:002015-11-04T15:07:10.305-05:00Robert, at Crime Writers of Canada, we actually se...Robert, at Crime Writers of Canada, we actually sent an email stating our alarm at Bouchercon suggesting that authors work had no value (if 400 books are free, that is the assumption.)<br />We came to understand that this deal was reached with Smashwords, which is used by self-published primarily. So most of the books on there would have been from self-published, or small indie publishers. (Someone correct if I'm wrong, but this is what I was told two weeks before the con.)<br />What I can tell you is that Bouchercon 2017 will not be doing such a thing. I'm on the committee and we have discussed this. In my opinion, it gives the wrong optic. Authors' work should always be worth something. Melodie Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07870938103759179132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-34983310222107066182015-11-04T14:31:32.216-05:002015-11-04T14:31:32.216-05:00Herschel, I assumed the publishers donated the boo...Herschel, I assumed the publishers donated the books. If aomeone knows better, please let us know.<br />Robert Loprestihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08844889305615182897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-37166390038425001822015-11-04T13:45:45.150-05:002015-11-04T13:45:45.150-05:00Forgive my ignorance, but I am a little confused b...Forgive my ignorance, but I am a little confused by this. Does B'Con get the books that they give away from the publishers for free? What is the policy? How many freebies does the publisher give to the various organizations? I was under the impression that B'Con bought the books, (at a discount of course), that they put in the bags. Herschel Cozinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06097703750150309319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-15170498449405753812015-11-04T12:46:35.063-05:002015-11-04T12:46:35.063-05:00Good blog, even if fiction.
Unable to attend agai...Good blog, even if fiction. <br />Unable to attend again this year, but I have been wondering about that conflict between freebies for "exposure" and trying to entice booksellers to the convention. My faulty recollection says we restricted the number of freebies when we did Bouchercon here back in '96, much to appreciation from booksellers.carl brookinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16400731716746662544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-16034312143106191812015-11-04T12:17:39.341-05:002015-11-04T12:17:39.341-05:00I, too love your "exposure" quote - AMEN...I, too love your "exposure" quote - AMEN!!!! <br />And I am sooooo sick of 2nd person POV. Eve Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015761600962360110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-23874958076080854292015-11-04T12:09:12.718-05:002015-11-04T12:09:12.718-05:00Rob, I enjoyed all the quotes from Bouchercon, but...Rob, I enjoyed all the quotes from Bouchercon, but I also loved your "exposure" quote in the comments. I may have to borrow that one.R.T. Lawtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15523486296396710227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-42575025098501095152015-11-04T10:05:59.152-05:002015-11-04T10:05:59.152-05:00Bill, I was going to make sure you saw this, si ce...Bill, I was going to make sure you saw this, si ce you are quoted so often in it. I believe you said all those words of wisdom.<br /><br />Janice, in folk music people are always inviting you to perform free "for exposure.". The usual response is "people die of exposure."Robert Loprestihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08844889305615182897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-31319976660277936442015-11-04T09:34:04.433-05:002015-11-04T09:34:04.433-05:00A good point. As my husband always says you can...A good point. As my husband always says you can't both sell something and give it away.<br />One of my peeves is that artists of every persuasion, among the least well paid folks, are continually asked to donate work to worthy causesJanice lawnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-43291059476684054262015-11-04T08:12:06.446-05:002015-11-04T08:12:06.446-05:00I hadn't been to a Bouchercon for several year...I hadn't been to a Bouchercon for several years, but I was surprised at how few free books there were this time. In the past, the publishers have been even more generous. (Not counting that flash drive here, of course.) I hadn't thought about the free books discouraging purchases, but I guess that's possible. It doesn't work that way with me, but it might with others. In fact, my book bag is still where I put it after I got back from Raleigh, and it's unopened. I've bought several books since then, though.<br /><br />I may actually have said those things you attributed to me. At my age, it's hard to remember.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02350478005243505108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-6252717003951696352015-11-04T05:06:13.004-05:002015-11-04T05:06:13.004-05:00You make some good points about the giveaways, Rob...You make some good points about the giveaways, Rob. I see the point of doing it, to promote various authors. But I also see the other side where we lose money. If, as you say, they're considering this issue for the next B'con I hope they come up with a good compromise.<br /><br />And thanks for the quotes -- they're great!<br /><br />PaulPaul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.com