Where can I get loot for a book conference?

May 6, 2009 8:17 AM

Can you help me find loot for my mystery fiction conference loot bags? I'm helping to organize this conference in Ottawa. It's standard practice to ask publishers for books and I'm told they usually come through. But I'm not having any luck.

Any suggestions or tips? I'm looking for mass market mystery paperbacks, hardcovers, about 250 copies (though less would be fine). I've personally e-mailed a long list of publishers but only one or two have responded. I'd like to have at least 3 books per loot bag, so far we've got 1 per.

posted by storybored to media & arts (6 comments total)

We're close to having 200 people registered and we're aiming for another 30 or 40 at least as the buzz builds in the next month. It's a great way for publishers to spread the word about their latest books.

I've also asked some of the leading mystery magazines for donations but no luck there either. I'm offering free publicity to their core audience, but they've been no takers, so I must be doing something wrong?
posted by storybored at 8:23 AM on May 6

You're not doing anything wrong--publishing houses are in a major crunch right now. I work at one of the top four, and we just have nothing to give out for free anymore. The number of galleys we can order was cut in half, which doesn't leave enough for our sales reps AND our publicity departments to send their normal quantities out for reads and blurbs. Of course, that leaves nothing left over for conferences like yours. It really sucks, but there's nothing we can do about it.
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 8:25 AM on May 6

I was organizing a conference about 20 years ago and a few journalists at the local newspaper donated many of their review copies for conference delegates' loot bags. Given the nature of the conference you've probably got connections over at the Citizen, or know someone who has. Might be worth an ask.
posted by angiep at 8:25 AM on May 6

You might want to contact Martin Shepard at The Permanent Press. PP doesn't publish strictly mystery novels, but they do have some mystery authors in their lineup. I'm on one of Marty's mailing lists and when he offered to send me [or anyone on the mailing list, really] a review copy of Chris Knopf's latest installment of his Hamptons Mystery series, I let him know that I wouldn't mind taking him up on his offer, except I hadn't read the previous books. A week or so later, a package arrived on my doorstep with all four books. That is to say, he's a pretty great guy, and he might be willing and able to help you out.

Also, maybe try Unbridled Books: Caitlin Hamilton Summie is probably the person to talk to there; she's also been great with galley requests.
posted by alynnk at 9:30 AM on May 6

Peanut, thanks for the insight into the industry, it's a bit of a consolation to know that it ain't all my fault.

alynnk, thanks for those leads, i will check them out and e-mail them.

Angiep, that's a great idea. I've gotten the book editor's e-mail and will ask posthaste!
posted by storybored at 10:21 AM on May 8

Followup: Angiep, this worked! The book editor at the Citizen is giving us some of his books.
Thanks for this idea.
posted by storybored at 12:58 PM on May 20