My Books Might Just Be In Your Library
My name is David Burnsworth. I write the Brack Pelton mystery series set in Charleston,
South Carolina. And chances are,
if I introduced myself to you outside of a book store but within thirty miles
of my home near Spartanburg,
I let you know my books were in the library.
Some have asked why I mention the library along with Amazon
or Barnes & Noble or the local indie bookstore. “How does that benefit you?” they ask. “You
don’t make any money that way.” And if I considered the person I was speaking
to strictly as a potential “sale,” I would have to agree. I’m not against
selling books. In fact, I’d like to sell a million of them. But I don’t think
it is in my best interest to think of people in terms of those who have bought
my book and those who potentially would buy my book.
Suggesting that my books are in the library does a few
things. First, it goes a long way in taking the “sale” aspect out of the
conversation. I am not so naïve as to think some of the people that I talk to
aren’t buying my approach and still think I’m trying to sell something. You
know what? I am trying to sell
something. But I’m also trying to multiply my readership which is very
important to me. I am a firm believer in the theory that as the number of
people reading and enjoying my series increases, so will my sales. Even if a
lot of them check my book out of the library. Readers talk to other readers.
And my books are not in every library. See where I’m going?
Second, it might actually give someone who normally doesn’t
visit the library a reason to go there. Near where I call home, the Spartanburg
County Library system is incredible for local authors. All of the staff members
at the downtown location and at my local Boiling Springs branch are very
friendly and helpful. And they have a ton of books in multiple formats and a
great system for reserving them. I’m not too proud to say I could not afford my
reading habit if I had to buy every book I read.
If you checked my book out of your local library, God Bless
You! You supported my work by letting the library know you were interested in
my book. I’d like to think they base part of their decision on ordering the
next book in a series by how often the previous book was checked out.
So please feel free to log on to your hometown library
system and reserve a copy of my latest book, BURNING HEAT. If they don’t have
it, websites like Worldcat have listings for inventories of many libraries. Or,
and this is what I would really recommend, you could visit your local branch
and take the time to talk to one of the librarians. Chances are they will be as
helpful as those at my Boiling Springs location. Libraries across the country
share with each other all the time. And you will be in awe of how many books
you have at your fingertips. Happy reading!
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