Tours
What happens when I do a book-tour is that the publicist will talk to all of the sales reps and ask them where they think I'd be particularly well received, and/or which stores they'd get major brownie-points from for producing me. [g] Then they set up the itinerary, and start booking media interviews in whatever cities they have planned. So if you want me to come to your city, the thing to do is talk to the manager of the biggest bookstore (or of several bookstores!) in the place and have them talk to the sales reps. Bear in mind that I only do tours when I have a new book out. [g] Other than that, I do come to do conferences, Highland Games, or other special events in various places, and if I'm going to be in a place anyway, the publicist will usually schedule some bookstore appearances, too, though.
Now, just to be clear about this:
1. I don't pick the places I go on book-tours. The publisher(s) do-which seems only fair, as they're paying for it.
2. Said publishers use various criteria for deciding exactly where to send an author on tour. These criteria include (but are not limited to):
a. cities where the author's books are known to sell best or are likely to sell best, geographically (an author who writes Christian inspirational books, for instance, is a lot more likely to be sent to Bible Belt cities than to Sodom and Gomorrah---er, San Francisco and New York, I mean. Whereas a writer who specializes in gay and lesbian lit…well, they're probably not going to Birmingham or Savannah).
b. Specific stores that
i. have a track-record of holding good events (that means "doing enough publicity to attract large hordes of book-buying people"), and
ii. report their sales to the New York Times. (This is how the NYT does its bestseller list-using a weighted formula on reported sales from a sample of selected bookstores. For awhile, publishers made a pretense of not knowing which stores reported to the Times list, but I think they've largely given that up.) Since a publisher's chief reason for sending an author on tour is to try to get the book on Da List (or boost it a trifle higher on said list), they won't-as a general rule-be inclined to send authors to stores who don't report to the NYT, though of course they have no objection to my racing into any handy store to sign books, as long as I'm in the neighborhood.
Doing a book-tour therefore does not mean-as some people seem to assume-that I just "tour" randomally all the time and will go absolutely anywhere (I do have to stay home and write sometimes). I do go a lot of places, though, and for this September, the rough lineup so far is as follows.
US Book Tour - Dates and Events
Just a note: Putting on a big signing event is not just a hassle for bookstores—it's expensive! They need to hire extra staff, often rent a larger venue, and always do a lot of local advertising. For that reason, some bookstores require a ticket to the event (though the ticket usually includes the price of the book), or will only allow you to have a book signed if you bought it from the store (though buying it from their online website is perfectly fine, too). I'd love to sign your books, but please do check with the bookstore ahead of time, just in case.
(You know, usually I'm happy to sign any book anybody wants to bring—always provided I wrote it [g]—but these initial-release events tend to be Big, Huge affairs, and nobody wants to stay up all night, including the bookstore staff. So you might want to ask also whether they're OK with you bringing some of your own books, if you plan to do that. Some stores would really rather only have the author sign the new book, in order to hasten the line along.)
New Zealand - November 1-8
Monday, November 2, 7:30 PM
Cambridge
Cocktail event in association with Wrights Bookshop Cambridge
Location: St Peter’s School, SH1 Cambridge
Entry $25, for more information phone Wrights Bookshop, 07 827 4360
Tuesday November 3, 5:30 PM
Dunedin
A Conversation with Diana Gabaldon
in association with Dunedin Public Libraries and Whitcoulls
Location: Sir Clifford Skeggs Gallery, Municipal Chambers, The Octagon
Entry free, RSVP essential, ph: 03 474 3690 or library@dcc.govt.nz
Wednesday November 4, 7:30 PM
Christchurch
An Evening with Diana Gabaldon
in association with Women on Air on Plains FM and Paper Plus Merivale
Location: Christchurch Girls’ High School
Entry $12, to buy tickets phone Ruth, 03 384 4721 or Morrin, 03 329 9789
Thursday November 5, 7:00 PM
Auckland
An Evening with Diana Gabaldon
in association with North Shore Libraries Foundation and
Paper Plus Takapuna
Location: Westlake Boys High School
Entry $15, tickets from Event Finder (click <a href=“http://www.eventfinder.co.nz/2009/nov/auckland-north/an-evening-with-diana-gabaldon” target=_blank>here/a>)
Friday November 6
Palmerston North & Wellington
12:00 PM, An Hour with Diana Gabaldon
in association with Palmerston North City Library and Whitcoulls
Location: Palmerston North City Library
Entry free, RSVP essential, ph: 06 351 4519 (leave a message) or promotions@pncc.govt.nz
7.00 PM, Books and Bubbles
hosted by Kerre Woodham in association with Paper Plus
Location: The Duxton Hotel, Wellington
Ticket price to be confirmed, contact Paper Plus Lower Hutt for more information 04 569 8406 or lowerhutt@paperplus.co.nz
Australia - November 7-21
I don't yet have a complete listing of places and events for Australia, but this is what we have so far:
Monday 9th November 2009, 10 am – 12 noon
Perth
Tompkins on Swan Function Centre
Corner Dunkley Ave and Canning Highway, Alfred Cove
(free parking is available)
Contact: Dymocks Garden City
Phone: 08 93647387
Email: gcorders@dymocks.com.au
Tuesday 10th November
Adelaide TBC
Wednesday 11th November
Melbourne TBC
Thursday 12th November
Melbourne TBC
Friday 13th November
Melbourne TBC
Sunday 15th November, 1.30pm for 2pm
Hobart
Hadley’s Hotel
34 Murray Street, Hobart
Contact: Dymocks Hobart
Phone: 03 6231 6656
Email: hobart@dymocks.com.au
Monday 16th November, 12.30pm – 3pm
Sydney
Dymocks Literary Lunch
Four Seasons Hotel
199 George Street, Sydney
Contact: Judy Benson
Phone: 02 9449 4366
Email: judybenson@bigpond.com
Tuesday 17th November, 1pm – 2pm
Sydney
Stanton Library (free event)
234 Miller St. North Sydney
Contact: Constant Reader Bookshop
Phone: 02 9438 1763
Email: bob@constantreader.com.au