Saturday, August 28, 2010

Book Pimping

by Suzanne



Okay, a little known secret...well maybe a widely known fact among the Bandits and my friends...I AM A BOOK PIMP. Yep. Can't seem to help it. If I read a great book, I want EVERYONE  I've ever seen holding a book, picking up my new "find" and reading it.  Here's sort of how the conversation goes:




Me, "I just read the most incredible book."
My mark, "Really? What?"
Me, leaning closer with just a hint of a smile, "Money, Honey by Susan Sey. OMG, couldn't put it down!"
Interested victim, "Really? I'd love one of those kind of books. What's it about?"

AHA! Got another one!

Here's another one:

Me, standing in the romance aisle at the local bookstore, reshelving books. Yep, I do this. Bandit's new releases at eye level or on the highly coveted "new release shelf". This particular time I'm muttering loud enough for the three ladies down the aisle to hear me, "I can't believe they have Jo Davis' firefighters on the bottom shelf. For crying out loud she's a local author!" Now, I do this while holding the highly sexy cover of Line Of Fire out for the ladies to get a good look at.

#1 lady moves closer. "That's a book about firefighters?"
Me, "Oh my goodness, yes. The sexiest team of hunky firefighters you'll ever read about."
#2 moves up and takes a book to read the back blurb. "I think firemen are so sexy."
#3, taking her copy. "And so brave."
#1, "Heroic."
Me, "Sexy."
All three nod, putting the books in their growing armfuls. Ah, my job here is finished, oh wait...I point out Lorraine Heath, Jane Graves, Tracy Garrett, Sandy Blair and Addison Fox's books, making sure they all know they're local authors, too!

See? I can't help it!

My coworkers aren't immnue. Last weekend, knowing how many of my coworkers read the YA series Twilight, I took Inara Scott's Delcroix Academy series: The Candidates bookmarks to work and handed them out.I explained it was a brand new paranormal series that was releasing Tuesday. I told them, "It's going to be the next big hit for teens and twenty year olds. I think you would like reading it too!" I'm betting when I return to work the next week I'll see one or two people holding that book. And since many of them have teenagers, I'm thinking they'll be reading her book, soon. I think these girls will be, too!


Another fun thing happened when I read Kate Carlisle's first Bibliophile Murder mystery book, Homicide In Hardcover at work. My friend Karen bought a copy because I was chuckling all the way through it. When the second book came out, If Books Could Kill, Karen and I were reading the book at the same time, almost simultaneously laughing at the same spots! (I laughed first coz I read faster than Karen.) Several coworkers said, "Are you two reading the same book?" We said, "yes" and Karen proceeded to tell them what we loved about Kate's books. At least three wrote Kate's name and the book titles down to read. YES!


Oh and if someone asks me for a good  historical author to read, my first recommendation? Julie Garwood. "What?" I say, slightly shocked voice, "You haven't read any of Ms. Garwood's works? Let me bring you my copy of Saving Grace." Why this book? It's a well worn hardback copy, (the copy I loan out, my other copy is pristine and on my keeper shelf) and I know if they love this book, they'll be buying the back list, ASAP!



So, how about you? Are you ever a book pimp? How do you go about hooking your book addicts? Any tricks I can borrow? Oh and if you were trying to pimp a book or author to me, which one would you recommend?

37 comments:

Fedora said...

Ooh, we love you, Suzanne! I'm an occasional book pimp, and I need to take lessons from you! I LOVED Money, Honey, and am currently pushing that and the latest books by Ava Gray/Ann Aguirre (her latest in the Jax series, Killbox, is coming out soon! MUST. GET!) Must have more time to read so I can push more titles! ;)

Helen said...

Well done Fedora have fun with him

Suz
I am exactly the same I do things like this every chance I get although I don't go into a lot of book shops because I buy mine on line I do get my HMB at my local Big W store and am always recomending books to other shoppers LOL and as you all know I am on the EC for ARRA and have cards in my purse that I happily hand out.

I recently bought an e reader ( I had to have one so I could get your book Suz) and I read Marie Force's Fatal Affair and this is a really great book I have also not long finished Tessa Dare's Goddess Of The Hunt great story. I loved Susan's Money Honey Kate's books Julie Garwoods are keepers on my shelf I love Jo Davis's books as well.

I can see my must have list growing again after this post LOL I love it.
Keep up the good work Suz and I will keep doing it as well

Have Fun
Helen

Unknown said...

Enjoy GR Fedora...

Hi Suz.... if I see someone while I am looking for books in the store I will suggest some of the good one I have read..... Helen and I are off to lunch with other readers tomorrow so we will all be showing what books we are reading and have read since last month when we met.

Joan said...

LOL, I've seen Suz in action...it is an amazing force!!!

I LOVE your picture selections though....why nurse Ratchet????

Oh yeah, I recommend books all the time at work and out and about. Money, Honey was one of my more recent features as are the Bandita books.

But I also push my fave authors too...Kristan Higgins, Susan Grant, Pamela Clare, Lori Handiland, Robin Owens, and it goes on and on.....

I can't wait to be pubbed and have you pimp me!!!

hrdwrkdmom aka Dianna said...

Suz....I do all that! My name is Dianna and apparently "I am a book pimp" I often rearrange books in stores, I have been known to tell the clerks they need to get more or a particular book out on the shelves "face out" while you're about it. I have gotten packages from my fav authors and give them out at work, take them to my book exchange to put by the register. I am always reading at work and have suggested many, many books. I always have a book with me no matter where I go or what I am doing. Waiting rooms are a fantastic place to pimp books.

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Morning, Fedora!! Glad you caught the GR this morning! And ^ 5 to another book pimp!! :)

Ooooooooo, I've never heard of Ava Gray/AnnAguirre. Will look for these on my next trip to the book stores!

Thanks!!

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Morning, Helen!

I'm grinning here and quite flattered that you bought an e-reader just to read The Surrender Of Lacy Morgan when it comes out! I've changed my profile pic so y'all can see the gorgeous cover!

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Hey Barb! Lunch with readers sounds like a perfect time to pimp some books! By the way, I just finished the last of Lisa Kleypas' historical series, Love In The Afternoon. Fantastic!!

Suzanne Ferrell said...

I LOVE your picture selections though....why nurse Ratchet???

I thought it was very funny that the post paragraph was about laughing while reading at work as nurses and the picture was so dang sour-faced with a book in her lap. Made me chuckle!! hehehe

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Joanie:
I can't wait to be pubbed and have you pimp me!!!


I can't wait for you to be published so I can, either.

I have a confession to make. This year at National Jeanne Adams gave me a run for my money, not only was she pimping her own books, but she and I pimped out Susan Sey AND Addison Fox' books at the National signing. Then Jeanne got me a request from an agent to look at my work by talking about my new sale at a party...I wasn't even at!!!

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Whoo-hoo, Dianna!!! Welcome to the league of extrodinarie book pimps!!

I think reading addicts love hooking people on our form of crack.....books!!

hrdwrkdmom aka Dianna said...

Oh, forgot part of the question, one author that I have not seen a lot of but whom I dearly love is Kathryne Kennedy, I loved her Merlin's Relics series and she just gets better and better.

Nancy said...

Fedora, congrats on the rooster!

I'm also waiting for Killbox. I'm very impatient to see where Jax and March go from this awful place they were at the end of the last book. I like Ann's RS series and her Corinne Solomon books, too.

I don't ordinarily like present tense, but the Jax books use it so well that I didn't notice it, which meant it did not annoy me as it usually does.

Nancy said...

Suz, you book pimp, you! I would never give hints to the grand mistress of pushing books. *g* Seriously, I have nothing in my arsenal that you haven't tried.

I never seem to be browsing when other people are, so my opportunities for pimping are limited. On the rare occasions when I intersect with other book buyers, I look to see what kinds of books they have in their arms or who they're pulling off the shelf to check out--in persuasion theory, that's called audience analysis--and take it from there.

If I can get them interested in one author, I feel as if we've established a rapport and I'll ask what other categories they read.

I go for bandit books, of course, and books by authors who've guested on our blog and whose books I particularly like. I have friends who write SFF and mystery, so I push them, too, when I get the opportunity. Cathy Pickens' Avery Andrews mysteries are favorites of mine.

Nancy said...

BTW, Suz, that's a gorgeous cover. I can't wait for your book to come out!

pjpuppymom said...

Good nab, Fedora!

I've seen you in action, Suz. You are definitely a PRO when it comes to pimping books!

I love to share my love of books by telling people about what I've been reading. I pimp books pretty much everywhere I go. (I hand out bookmarks too) In fact, I sold someone on Jeanne's September release, Deadly Little Secrets this morning at my grand-niece's soccer practice. Somebody mentioned they were in the mood for a good book and I was off and running! *g*

Right now, my main book pimp is Tiffany Clare's debut historical, The Surrender of a Lady, which comes out September 28th. It's a stunningly delicious harem story that I think will have the romance community buzzing as much as Anna's Claiming the Courtesan did a few years ago.

Cassondra said...

Suz, I've never seen anybody who could pimp books the way you can.

You're amazing.

I do pimp books sometimes, but when I'm on the romance aisle at the bookstore, I always seem to be the only one there. :0/ I think it's the hours I go. Never in the daytime.

I have hand-sold some bandit books before, and some of Dianna Love's books, and I always hand sell Ain't She Sweetby SEP.

I sold a couple of copies of Money Honey early this month, but they ordered them online. We weren't in a bookstore at the time. Somebody saw me reading it and I bragged on it, so they whipped out their laptop and ordered it. Chaching!

Nancy said...

Cassondra wrote: when I'm on the romance aisle at the bookstore, I always seem to be the only one there.:0/ I think it's the hours I go. Never in the daytime.

Yes, Vampire Woman, but I go during the day and I'm the only one there. I'm usually there when most people are at work, though.

Nancy said...

PJ, I'm so jealous that you've not only read Jeanne's book but have had time to pimp it. I'm so looking forward to it.

Anna Campbell said...

Fedora, congrats on el chookio!

Suz, I LOVE that you're a book pimp. I have been on the receiving end of your generous promotional efforts and believe me I am ETERNALLY grateful. If there's any justice, you will go to the Tim Tam heaven where George Clooney tickles your toes and you just eat Tim Tams all day - the new same tasting, no calorie version!


I'm a book pimp too. I love being able to share a great story with a new audience. And I love it even more when those pimpees become pimps themselves. Book pimping - the gift that never stops giving!

Anna Campbell said...

Wow, Helen, you really are the BEST Bandit buddy ever! You bought an ereader to read Suz's book? You're the biz, honey!

PJ, I read Surrender of a Lady in manuscript and absolutely adored it. And wow, is it SEXY!!!!!!

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Dianna:I dearly love is Kathryne Kennedy, I loved her Merlin's Relics series and she just gets better and better

Okay, now that's another author I haven't read, and I adore anything to do with Merlin, King Arthur, etc.

Helen said...

Suz

I love the cover whoo hoo

Can't wait to read it

Have Fun
Helen

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Nancy: I look to see what kinds of books they have in their arms or who they're pulling off the shelf to check out

I do that too, Nancy, however, I then decide who I should recommend to the poor unsuspecting soul based on the books in their arms. (Jeanne and I did this at the National book signing, too)

Romantic Suspense fills their arms..."Have you tried Jeanne Adams Deadly Little Secrets?"

Regency Historicals? "How about checking out Anna Campbell's My Reckless Surrender or Christy Kelley's Scandal Of The Season? "

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Thanks, PJ! I do love moving people into new authors to read!


Right now, my main book pimp is Tiffany Clare's debut historical, The Surrender of a Lady, which comes out September 28th. It's a stunningly delicious harem story that I think will have the romance community buzzing as much as Anna's Claiming the Courtesan did a few years ago.


Oooo...will have to be sure that's on my list!!! Thanks!

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Cassondra:I sold a couple of copies of Money Honey early this month, but they ordered them online. We weren't in a bookstore at the time. Somebody saw me reading it and I bragged on it, so they whipped out their laptop and ordered it. Chaching! Oh how cool!!! Instant results to good pimping.

(Oh, by the way has anyone but me noticed that if you type results too fast it comes out resluts? Yep seen that more than once in my charting at work! hehehe)

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Cassondra and Nancy: Yes, Vampire Woman, but I go during the day and I'm the only one there. I'm usually there when most people are at work, though

It must be me, I'm there both times of the day and manage to find victims...er...readers to "share" with.

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Nancy and Helen and everyone, thank you so much for kudos for Lacy's cover!!!

There was trepidation when I first saw the e-mail from Ellora's Cave's art department, but when I opened the attachment, a gasp escaped me and I was like, OMG!!!!! whoohooo!!!

I think thy guys did an excellent job!

Suzanne Ferrell said...

You're most welcome, Anna!! Uhm, could that be Gerard Butler tickling my toes and anything else he desires?

Nancy said...

Suz wrote: I then decide who I should recommend

Yeah, me, too. But if I can get them to pull one of those books, I feel I have an opening to steer them to others. :-)

Anna Campbell said...

Suz, thanks for the pimping. You just can't help yourself, can you? And hey, GB can tickle you anywhere you want, hon! ;-)

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Anna, I really can't! hehehe. It seems the more I do it, the more brazen I become. BUT, I try not to be intrusive to the point of obnoxious! That is a very fine line to walk.

Louisa Cornell said...

Aha! Speaking of pimps! The GR is back in the arms of his favorite lady once more!

Book pimp? Moi? Oh, honey, I am the Huggy Bear of book pimps. (Now I have REALLY dated myself!)

The restaurant where my Mom works is the community hub in my home town. AND it is secretly called The Hen House because all of the little old ladies in town show up there at least once a day. They have a table in the corner where they leave books they've read for someone else to enjoy. I have added my own special touch - a lovely bowl FILLED with bookmarks from all of my favorite authors. These ladies have known me all my life so they KNOW I won't steer them wrong. And, of course, Mom is there to tell them which ones she's read personally - she is a pimp in training.

I am also the go to person at work when someone wants to know which books on the shelf at Wal-Mart are the best value for the money. And, yes, I DO "Help" the Anderson rep to place Bandita books and my favorite authors' books right there at eye level. Sold two copies of Tawny's latest just today!

My niece, another pimp in training, has told ALL of her friends about the fabulous new novel by Inara Scott. Two of her friends asked to borrow it and her reply was "Buy it yourself!" (Is she well-trained, or not?)

I think recommending books we love is very much like buying someone a Christmas present, the perfect present. You know how great this gift is, you loved it yourself, and the best part is you can give this gift to someone else and still get to keep it for yourself.

catslady said...

I have loved all of Julie Garwood's books so a great recommendation. Also I would say Jean Auel's Earth's Children series starting with Clan of the Cavebear - my absolute favorite.

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Hey Louisa! I love the fact that you can influence all kinds of readers with your work at WalMart!

Two of her friends asked to borrow it and her reply was "Buy it yourself!" (Is she well-trained, or not?) Yes she is! I wonder who she learned that from!!

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Inara, thanks, and I do love getting people connected with new authors and books! You will do well, my little padda-wan!

I did pimp Money, Honey at every opportunity in Orlando, but I'm sure in the future I'll learn to expand my repetoir to include all the Bandita books!

We have the advantage as critique partners for our friends and as Banditas, that we know we're handing good books to people...we know the quality of what we're pimping!

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Hey Catslady! Also I would say Jean Auel's Earth's Children series starting with Clan of the Cavebear - my absolute favorite.

My mom hooked me on this series years ago and on Julie Garwood. I guess book pimping runs in the family, huh?