Dear Authors, Booksellers, and Publishers:
It’s been wonderful to see all the activity on social media, blogs, and in the press. Our social media dashboard is lighting up with all of the tweets! Publishers have been really active in supporting their authors alongside the bookstores hosting them. Bookstores have put up Authors for Indies event pages and banners; there’s been very positive regional coverage; CBC Books is giving us another Twitter Takeover; we’ve had wonderful radio coverage, and of course the two big sponsorship goodies: an exclusive Neil Gaiman/Chris Riddell colouring book from HarperCollins Canada, and a honkin’ big half-page ad in the Globe and Mail from Penguin Random House.
What would make April 30 a true success? For it to be a great retail day for stores. Last year, AFI generated an 18.5% bump in sales -- can we top that on Saturday? We get a definite sense that participating bookstores and authors this year are better prepared to capitalize on the buzz – and to create an exciting buzz for themselves.
One of the radio interviewers asked about plans for growing the event. What’s needed is a long-term view and consistency. If we can manage to make this an annual event, Authors for Indies will work its way into the public consciousness and become a day that readers, authors, and booksellers look forward to every year.
But honestly, right now the team can’t think past Saturday!
Speaking of ‘the team’, none of this would've been possible without their dedicated efforts. Does everyone know that AFI team members are all volunteers? I say this because apparently some folks think AFI is an initiative funded by publishers or the Retail Council of Canada. Nope, no funding. Just us chickens doing as much as we can between day jobs, family, walking the dog, writing novels, etc. There are days when it feels like a full-time job and then some.
So why did we sign up for all this work? I think Rob Wiersema’s article in 49th Shelf’s blog says it really well:
"Canada’s independent booksellers aren’t just retailers; they’re cultural resources, the face of our rich literary heritage. For Canada’s indies, it’s less a job than it is a calling: the hours are long, the financial rewards limited, the stress sometimes overwhelming. And yet, every day of the year, they’re there, critical parts of their communities, literally spreading the word … Happy Authors for Indies Day, everyone. And please join me in raising a glass for our independent booksellers, every day."
All the best from the team to all participants for a wonderful, successful Authors for Indies Day. And remember to wear clean socks.