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Great Lakes, Great Reads is a fantastic program for increasing visibility and building sales for books and authors that might not otherwise get the attention they deserve in the region where they should do best. It is ideal for promoting authors who live in our region and books of Great Lakes regional interest. It is easy, effective, and inexpensive. And it is coordinated and actively supported by GLIBA, taking much of the work and worry away from you.
How Great Lakes, Great Reads Works
In March, July, and October, GLIBA will name as Great Lakes, Great Reads the most promising new books of regional interest selected by a panel of readers from the submitted entries. The categories are: Fiction, Nonfiction, YA or Independent Reader and Picture Book. We’ll make the selections based on recommendations of publishers, sales reps, and GLIBA booksellers’ reading of galleys and ARCs.
GLIBA will work with publishers to arrange author visits or blurbs, as feasible, signed copies, and other promotional possibilities that will help us sell the books. In addition, we’ll publicize the picks to the trade and to consumer media. We will provide general Great Lakes, Great Reads marketing materials, including shelf-talkers. We’ll provide downloadable book jackets, author photos and information such as author websites and blogs or event calendars. And we’ll work with publishers to provide ARCs and title-specific promotional materials, whenever possible.
By becoming the middle-man GLIBA makes Great Lakes, Great Reads a simple, inexpensive, and very effective program for promoting books and authors that are of particular relevance to our region.
Here are the submission deadlines for each cycle:
March List (books published December 1- March 31) submit by February 1
July List (books published April 1- July 31), submit by June 1
October List: (books published August 1- November 30), submit by September 1
FAQ FOR PUBLISHERS
What are the benefits to us?
•· Increased visibility and sales for the title and author. Our 200 member stores will be reading, merchandising, and recommending the titles.
•· A customized promotional program at minimal cost. We create a “resource page” on our website for each Great Lakes, Great Reads pick. There we’ll post jackets, blurbs, promotional offers, links, and promotional materials like downloadable bookmarks and shelftalkers, e-cards, web videos, etc. We’ll also work with you to develop author tours, if that’s feasible, and make signed copies available through our partner, Partners Book Distributing.
•· Increased publicity. We’ll post the Great Lakes Great Reads picks on our Bestseller List and website and publicize them to trade and consumer media.
•· Regional rates for those titles if you advertise them in our holiday catalog
•· Special attention to Great Lakes, Great Reads authors at the trade show and other membership gatherings.
How can I have our titles considered?
As soon as you are aware you have a title that might qualify, let us know. We’d like to get an email from you as each season’s list is finalized. We need a contact person, and we’d also like several manuscripts, galleys, or ARCs as well as title and author information.
Is there a cost?
Not at this time.
What do you want from us if one of our titles is selected?
We’d like you to provide ARCs to selected readers and to make an offer of some additional copies available through our Regional Access program, if possible. If you have title-specific promotional materials, we’d like you to mail them to our members. We’ll provide you with the contact information. You’ll provide us with appropriate ordering and co-op information and send us author and cover images. Whenever possible, you’ll make the author available to visit stores, sign stock, or do other events in our region.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO NOMINATE TITLES:
Deb Leonard
Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association
2113 Roosevelt
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
deb@gliba.org
734-340-6397 | Fax 734-879-1129 www.gliba.org
Ask us about other GLIBA programs that promote your books and author:
Regional Access, Heartland Fall Forum, and our holiday catalog
FAQ FOR BOOKSELLERS
What’s the bottom line for me?
Increased sales and visibility, and the possibility of an author visit or autographed stock, all at minimal out-of-pocket cost.
How do I participate?
If you’re a GLIBA member, you’re automatically qualified.
Do I have to participate?
No, but we think you’ll want to.
How many books will be named as picks?
Four books (or more if there is a tie), three times a year.
What do I have to do?
The same thing you would for any other book that you want to get behind. Stock the book. Read it. Merchandise it. Hold author, or authorless, events as possible. We really encourage you to write a blurb and report your sales on the picks.
How will I know what the picks are?
We will announce the picks via online newsletter. The GLIBA website will have a section that lists all current and past picks and provides lots of resources.
Can I nominate titles to be Great Lakes, Great Reads picks?
Absolutely! If, in your reading or in your meetings with sales reps, you run across a title you think would be good, send us an email. Don’t assume we’ve already heard about every good title out there.
What does the publisher do?
That will vary from title to title, but they’ll do things like provide ARCs, title-specific promotional materials, or special discount or co-op offers. We’ll work very hard to get publishers to have the author tour some stores in our region and make autographed stock available.
What does GLIBA do?
We work with the publishers to arrange special offers, signed stock, and author tours, when feasible, and to send you ARCs and title-specific materials. We’ll provide on-line resources for every title.
