Finding the worth of a book tour

Used to be, in music, you toured to support the album. Today it's the other way around: the album supports the tour. Most artists make their money on tour T-shirts, fragrances...anything that's about the aura of being a musician.

Many publishers question the worth of a book tour. We heard about one author, of a non-fiction title, who was almost prohibited from touring, even though he was more than willing to front the time and costs.

Perhaps publishers are forgetting to calculate other benefits beyond book sales, writes Lissa Warren (author of one of few essential guides to book publicity, The Savvy Author's Guide to Book Publicity). www.huffingtonpost.com/lissa-warren/have-book-will-travel_b_65547.html

Publishers can boost their odds by choosing bookstores that have some familiarity with audience recruitment:
• Event or Community Coordinator
• Regular production of newsletter available in store, and online
• Reading series
• Book clubs services
• List of media contacts for Author to chase

And though there are bookstores, remarkable ones at that, who do this, Mr. Obie Joe would prefer if the bookstore were to not charge a "booking fee."

Rosie, reconsider

Mr. Obie Joe was mightily intrigued to hear Rosie O'Donnell's decision to remain quiet during the launch of her new book, a memoir of her childhood and her mother's death. She issued a statement for her preference to let the book speak for itself.

Her decision is not an anomaly among some authors, Salinger and Pynchon being the most extreme among them. However, with memoirs, the connection to the audience is a much more visceral one, and O'Donnell should see the worth of having audiences tell their story to her. Many of the themes in her book--losing a parent as a young child, coming out, having children -- resonate deeply with readers, and O'Donnell's readings/appearances could spark wonderful conversations between readers and herself.

On the flip side of author appearances, an anecdote-filled story about good and bad book tours appears in today's Baltimore Sun. www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/booksmags/bal-to.signings24sep24,0,2544800.story

The story about Jodi Picoult's run-in with a remarkable question is worth the click.