I'd love your opinion re: books + philanthropy

[OneGrassRoot]

I love to buy books for gifts. As with all purchases, I also like to feel comfortable with the company selling and/or making the product. If they are known to give a portion of proceeds to reputable nonprofits, that's even better.

When it comes to books, I don't recall seeing this sort of thing...cause-related marketing, that is.

I just finished ghostwriting a novel, partially set in New Orleans, and this thought came to mind once again. But it's my interest as a consumer that keeps bringing me back to this point.

What are your thoughts as a potential consumer about a book (or, better yet, publishing imprint) associated with reputable local and/or national/international nonprofits? Each sale would benefit a nonprofit (in the case of the book I mentioned, a Katrina relief organization) and corresponding educational information could be found on the book/publisher's website for more involvement.

If anyone is familiar with Participant Productions (producer of "Good Night and Good Luck," "Syriana" and other "message" movies), the idea would translate over into the publishing industry.

There are many ways this could develop to increase interaction and awareness, all based around the marketing of each book released by such an imprint (and depending upon the message of each book), but what is your initial reaction to such an approach? Positive, negative or neutral?

I would greatly appreciate your thoughts. I've had this idea in mind for the last 10 years and have recently begun to research the possibility as it pertains to the publishing and bookselling industries.

Many thanks in advance!

[Jim__]

1. I buy books for their content.

My fear is that due to consolidation in the publishing industry, books that contain original/revolutionary/non-conformist ideas will not be published by huge corporate publishing giants and that small, independent publishers are being pushed out by mega-corporations. The book-market will contain only conformist pap, and that the publishing industry will follow the TV industry into an intellectual wasteland.

If a publisher donates money to good causes, that's a plus; but it really doesn't enter into my decision as to whether or not to buy a book. If I am torn between 2 different books, I would favor the one that is from a small, independent publisher.

[OneGrassRoot]

2. I hear you...

Your concerns are mine and others' as well. Everything megacorporation and homogenized.

I read novels more for any overriding message they may impart, so if this message is partnered with raising awareness/funds for a compatible cause, that's my ideal scenario. I also prefer to support small, independent publishers and bookstores.

It's a tough, tough, tough market, affecting all ends of the spectrum, from the readers to the authors.

I'm trying to think of a way that FEELS right to make my way, and keeping the customer in mind is always my priority.

So, if you were torn between two books which interested you equally, both from small publishers, perhaps you'd lean toward the one which is part of a cause-related marketing effort?

I especially have this in mind when I'm buying gifts. I just hate to "buy something for the sake of buying something" - and especially for younger kids something tangible is required. I would love to establish a brand, with a publishing imprint, that is known for only offering products which benefit others all along the spectrum. I'm not aiming to be a purist, but doing the absolute best to be responsible along the way from conception to consumer.

Got off on a tangent there...sorry. Thanks for your thoughts!

[LWolf]

3. My thoughts:

I buy books for their content. I would prefer to buy books from independent sellers, or at least more "progressive" sellers.

Any part of profit that went to a good cause would attract me to a seller more than to a particular title. I would expect the profit that went to a cause to be the seller's profit, not the writer's.

Your question leads me to some questions of my own.

Do writers have more choices about how to publish their writing? Do they have to sign contracts with big publishing companies that then "own" their work, and take a significant portion of the profits, or are there other avenues?

If a book is published with a small publisher, and independent publisher, or self-published, is there a way to market that book as extensively as the big publishers do?

[OneGrassRoot]

4. I'm only here for a moment...

and your question takes some thought and time to respond appropriately.

So much has changed in the publishing and bookselling industries in the last few years that I'm trying to wrap my brain around things myself. Of course, there are varying opinions and vastly varying perspectives on the big picture.

I will come back tomorrow to type out some of my thoughts about these issues.

Thank you very much for your reply, and your questions.

:)

[OneGrassRoot]

5. Well, I still don't have a clear marketing plan drawn up...

so I don't have a nice clear answer to your thoughtful post.

The following are my opinions and observations:

With the advent of the Internet and self-publishing, there certainly are many more options for authors nowadays. However, the self-publishing industry is now so large that one must have a brilliant way to stand out from the crowd. Depending upon the genre, there are a myriad of ways to go. Marketing a self-published nonfiction book is much easier, as it's easier to do niche marketing based upon the topic. For that same reason, traditional publishing has trended much more strongly toward publishing nonfiction for the same reasoon (and, to my dismay, simply by jumping on the celebrity bandwagon as the primary source of who they're publishing). HOWEVER, my experience has primarily been in nonfiction until recently, and I believe nonfiction is facing real battles. As more and more people learn to get information online, there is less and less of a need to purchase these books. I used to buy lots of nonfiction of all types; now, I spend an hour or so online and can get the same information.

Most agree that only the traditional large publishing houses have the marketing muscle and money to rocket a book to the top, so that's still the Holy Grail for most. HOWEVER, even then, they publish so few (in relation to the manuscripts they purchase) that their marketing efforts are geared to essentially a handful; they'll eventually take a look at any promise shown by a not-so-heavily-marketed novel when they evaluate where to put their efforts when it comes to paperback release, so sometimes a diamond in the rough can get a second wind.

Niche marketing seems to be the key, even for novels...then broadening the marketing efforts through word of mouth. I'm a huge fan of grassroots efforts of all types, which is why I think in this direction and am trying to come up with a marketing plan - a rather generic yet focused plan which could apply to any books I'm involved with (editor, researcher, ghostwriter, etc.).

Another interesting point is that, regardless of whether an author/agent is approaching a small, mid or large publishing house, having a marketing plan already developed is often required before they'll really look at your manuscript.

So, after a writer has poured blood, sweat and tears (literally) into a novel, nowadays it's largely up to him/her to develop a marketing plan. Even if a world-class agent or publisher expresses an interest, the reality that it could be purchased yet never published is very real unless the author has a very proactive plan in place.

Granted, if one has time and patience (which, admittedly, I no longer feel I have at this age and this particular time in my life...I'm extremely tired), one could slowly develop an online campaign (myspace, a presence on messageboards to tout the book/author, etc., etc.).

Perhaps after I have more coffee this morning, the entire process won't seem so daunting and exhausting...lol.

:hi: