Shamelessly Help Sell Books!

Sherman Alexie is encouraging authors to volunteer to help sell books in a movement called Indies First. The Saturday after Thanksgiving, dubbed Small Business Saturday, Alexie wants authors to volunteer at local bookstores to shamelessly self-promote their own books, friends’ books, favorite books – and, ultimately, help out the indie bookseller. Booksellers looking to this new approach to hand-selling can sign up on the American Booksellers Association website and find a volunteer match. Alexie himself spent a day as “bookseller-for-a-day” for a Seattle bookstore re-opening in April. Knowing how well it worked, he wants to encourage more participation, and the ABA is willing to help organize these grassroots efforts.