Press Reports!

Most newspapers have a book editor, but often the smaller papers either don't do book reviews or limit reviews to local authors or regional stories. The larger papers get too many requests for reviews and therefore get very selective. This week I was notified by the Bismarck Tribune's editor. They will read an advanced copy of Bridge over the Valley because of the connection to North Dakota. If they like it, I would assume they would review it. Also, the Livingston Enterprise in Livingston, Montana has agreed to read and report on the book and me. Livingston is a town of about 11,000 or so. My dad was well known there and I graduated from high school from that area. It's like I'm a local boy! There also is a great little book store in Livingston so a press review will help them sell the book. They have agreed to stock it. The book also has a Montana railroad theme. Livingston has been an important railroad town. It still is. The larger Montana papers, so far, have not expressed any interest. Trains Magazine wants to preview the book. Just to get someone to read it is a major accomplishment! I'm happy. It's a start.

In my spare time, I've been contacting the independent book stores in downtown Seattle. They have numerous stores with interesting themes, book clubs, coffee bars and cafes. It would be great to spend a rainy afternoon at each store. I get lost cruising their websites looking at what their staff members are reading and recommending. I stopped writing down all the appealing titles. No two clubs are reading the same books and none were reading the obvious big sellers! The competition is fierce. I make contact with each store's book buyer and inform them of my upcoming book. I offer to mail or email a sell sheet when the book becomes available. "Is your book going to be available from Ingram?" "Yes," I answer. If not from Ingram-a deal breaker! Ingram is the popular wholesaler for many stores. It is going to take some time to get through the whole city store by store. Seattle has such a rich reading environment. Maybe it is the weather that causes so many people there to read. I want each store to have a sell sheet of my book. It's a Seattle story too! Some media buzz would sure help. How about the Seattle Times?

No further work assignments from the publisher this week. I hope they are busy laying out the pages.