Industry & Advocacy News
April 10, 2013
Four months ago, we launched Booktalk Nation and began bringing author talks to living rooms through nationwide conference calls. That’s been going great, and we now have a network of 50 brick-and-mortar bookstores from 23 states and the District of Columbia serving as order fulfillment partners and affiliates for Booktalk Nation events.
Now we’re taking the plunge and trying out video for select author talks. We’re using Google Hangouts, which we pair with a live chat service to allow viewers to interact with the author and interviewer. This week’s author talks offer a great chance to see how this works.
On Tuesday night, Douglas Rushkoff discussed his book Present Shock: When Everything Happens Now with science and technology writer Clive Thompson. Their conversation was lively and wide ranging, well worth checking out. We’ve archived it here.
You won’t be able to see how the chat feature works without attending a live event. You’ll have a chance to do that this Thursday evening, when Joe Hill discusses his new novel, NOS4A2, with science fiction writer John Scalzi. Sign up for that event here.
Booktalk Nation has many more events on deck, including dial-in talks next week with Lisa Scottoline, author of Don’t Go, Marisa Silver, author of Mary Coin, and Matthew Specktor, author of American Dream Machine. Go to Booktalk Nation’s home page to sign up for any of those talks. The week after, on April 23rd, Mary Roach discusses Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal.
All purchases made through Booktalk Nation are personally inscribed by the book’s author and fulfilled by brick-and-mortar bookstores. Water Street Bookstore of Exeter, New Hampshire, is handling orders for books signed by Joe Hill. Greenlight Bookstore of Brooklyn, New York, is handling orders for Doug Rushkoff’s book.
About Booktalk Nation
Booktalk Nation’s nationwide phone-in and live online video events are intended to supplement book tours and other efforts promoting new books. Booktalk Nation provides an e-commerce platform in conjunction with its events, allowing readers to order books that authors will personally sign at host bookstores. Proceeds from these sales are divided between the host store and any affiliate brick-and-mortar bookstores that bring book buyers to the site.
For the next few months, Booktalk Nation will continue to host up to three events per week. We expect to increase the number of events as more bookstores become involved.
Bookstores: To sign up, or to learn more, follow this link.
Authors: To learn more, follow this link.
Publishers: To learn more, follow this link.
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