I wrote to a bookstore asking if they would negotiate their policy of charging money up front to stock a book and take 40% of the retail price.

I don’t even make 40% of the retail price.

So…

It’s a hard place to be. Stuck between loving your favorite bookstores, but also hating that to get my book into a store, I’d have to raise the book price and make no profit on each sale. Basically, for it to make any sense to get my book into my favorite stores, I’d have to charge more than I do for an autographed copy that I will also sign and mail anywhere in the connected 48 states.

So I was like…Why do I feel like my book needs to be in bookstores?

And the answer isn’t easy. I don’t want to be part of a system that makes it near impossible to make money as a writer. But I also don’t want to be part of a system that is sorta killing bookstores.

So I think the best answer for me, an independent author with no huge advance money from a big 5 publisher, is to promote my book in a way that isn’t the least bit petty. Ya know, take the high road and such. Hence the…

Everywhere BUT Bookstores Tour

I’ve got lotsa dates where I’ll be selling books in person in west Michigan. (Hopefully I’ll get the opportunity to travel with the book at some point. (I’ll let ya know.))

In the meantime, if you’re in Grand Rapids, Michigan, go to Pharmhouse Wellness. They sell my books in their lobby. Even if you only go curbside, they can still bring you one. I signed most (if not all) of them. No extra charge. That’s the deal right there, buddy.

I’ll also be a regular at the 106 Gallery on Thursdays from 6pm-8pm. Last time I was there the theme was Jazz Night. I wound up onstage playing drums for a few songs. Who knows what’ll happen next time!?!

Check here to see where I’ll be!

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Christopher Tallon is the author of the dark, adventurous, time-travel novel Switchers.

Step by step, day by day / A fresh start over, a different hand to play / The deeper we fall, the stronger we stay / And we’ll be better, the second time around

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