Author Archives: BettyW

Ebooks and Supporting Local Indie Bookstores and Authors

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Independent bookstores face increasing financial pressure from the rising use of ebooks. Amazon offers many ebooks at a significant discount. This makes it tempting for frugal readers to buy there, especially if they own a Kindle (which device itself is sold at a loss to entice owners to buy their ebooks from Amazon). But there are other options which support indie bookstores and authors directly.

Currently (July 2012) IndieBound.org (a community-oriented movement begun by the independent bookseller members of the American Booksellers Association) member bookstores will sell you Google ebooks though their bookstores’ websites, which gives the store you choose some share of what you pay. You can read Google ebooks with the Indiebound reader app for Android and iOS, with Google’s Play app, with Adobe Digital Editions software on Nook, Kobe, etc, and can be side-loaded onto Kindle. Find links to independent bookstores selling Google ebooks here.

Unfortunately Google has decided to stop the bookstore reseller program in January 2013. But keep an eye on IndieBound.org for a replacement program.

Other options:

Powells Books (in Portland OR and on the web) sells Adobe Digital Edition ebooks, and DRM-free PDFs ((meaning they are not locked to your use only).

A number of publishers sell ebooks directly from their sites. since I read a lof of SF, one of which I know is Baen. They also have an awesome FREE library of some of their older titles and 1st titles in a series. MacMillian will also sell your their ebooks.

Check the author’s website, as more are choosing to self-publish and self-distribute. And if you buy directly from the author more of the money actually goes to him/her since they don’t need to split it with a distributor.

Interactive Workshop Tip

Aside

If you are presenting a workshop/class in which you expect the participants to interact with you and each other, at the first meeting you may want (or need, depending on the material to be covered) everyone to go around the room to introduce themselves and say why they are there.

Unless you are specific in limiting them to only saying their name, be aware that this exercise will most likely take MUCH longer that you think. You may feel that it’s unwelcoming to set a time (ideally with a device that audibly indicates time has expired to everyone), but in my experience people so seldom get to talk with others who listen they do not know how much time they are taking.

My worst experience of this was at the beginning of a weekend retreat with a spiritual leader who arrived at the venue jet-lagged and sick, with a co-leader also not in great shape. We started going around the room of about 25 women at 7:30pm. By the time it was 12:30am we were still 5 people from the end, and had dealt with several people who claimed to be in need of exorcism, and others who would not take a hint to wrap up – the leaders just did not have the energy to stop the flood of TMI!

Produce Your Own Music Show (part 1)

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Aside from weddings, people who do not work in an entertainment business rarely think about booking live musicians. But arranging to have a small house or gallery concert can be easier and more affordable than you may think, as well as more enjoyable.

All you need for space is a living room or dining room whose furniture can be arranged to have room for 1-3 people and their instruments at one end/side, and for your audience to sit in folding chairs/ on pillows, etc. Alternatively, you may find an art gallery, store, or other space that will rent its use to you for a reasonable fee – for instance, Outpost 186 in Cambridge is available for $75 an evening.

Next choose your performer(s). A solo acoustic singer/songwriter/performance artist will be easiest to fit into a residential space, but I’ve performed with 4-5 piece bands at house parties. The questions to ask a band who will perform in your residence include:

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