Updates on the Marketing Plan for Signs of Hope

I have started a new marketing plan for 2011. I am now “hitting,” all the bookstores, and gift shops in Oregon that I can, in person, to see if I can place, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World,” in them.

If you are a store owner, or know someone who is ine in the Northwest area, please make a comment and let me know the contact information.

I will offer a 40% discount just for the store, and even go on consignment. That means no money out of the store owners pocket unless the books sell.

I placed two books in the Oregon State Capital Building gift shop this last week, and I have 24 books placed at the Women’s Assistance league gift shop at the Daue House location in Salem.

I have books in all of the Rainbow West Christian bookstores, which are in Albany, Salem, Gresham, and Oregon City in Oregon, and two locations in Vancouver, Washington. One store is at the Vancouver mall.

There are books at the Eola Hills Winery in Rickreall, Oregon.

On the Oregon Coast, there are book in Newport at the Canyon Way book store, and in Waldport at the New Creations Beauty Salon.

You can order it online at www.barnesandnoble.com, www.amazon.com, www.christinabooks.com, and on this website at: www.dougbolton.com.

On my site, I will be changing the price, in the next week. I will let you know when it has been changed. The price will be lowered from $19.99 to $15.99. A four dollar savings.

The books ordered from my website will have a personal note and an autograph.

I will have some exciting news in a future post about a contest for self published books I am entering. (News at 11:00 Pm. 🙂 )

____________________________________________________

Also check back for updates on new signing  times and locations I will doing this year. One is already scheduled at Border’s Bookstore In Salem, Oregon on April 16th, from 2-4 P.M. The location of the store is on Lancaster.

You Could Change a Life by Caring

Things are really jumping right now. I have started a full promotion campaign, and I am overjoyed with the results.

Waldport, Oregon City, Gresham, Salem, and Albany, Oregon are all carrying the book. I also have books in two places in Vancouver, WA.  I am sending promotional books to Asheville, NC, and Saddleback, CA. Both places show great interest in carry my book.

The big possibility is a distributor called, Choice Books. They are a national outlet for Christian books. They have circular displays in all the grocery stores and gift shops through-out the nation.

I am sending them a copy, and suggesting they carry my book in all of their clients stores. If they agree it is a minimum 5,000 book order.

This all is happening in the first two weeks since the book was published. Pray that God will grant these opportunities. Not for me, but for all the people that will find hope through the book, Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.

You can order the book for your self right off of this site. Just go to the tab at the top that says “Bookstore,” and click on it. There is a 50% cut in the shipping cost from now until the end of the year. This helps you with Christmas shopping.

The book deals with anxiety, fear of failure, depression, addictions, self-doubt, and the many other usual suspects.

You can see the many people who have endorsed the book, by clicking on the tab that says, (you guessed it,) ” endorsements.

Now you may be thinking. I am feeling OK. I don’t need a book to help me with all those afflictions you mentioned. Try to think of those around you in your own world.

Is there someone you now who lost a loved one? Did some one just go through a divorce? Is someone battling a serious ailment? Do you have a family member or a friend who is struggling with an addiction? How about a family that has had a foreclosure on their home; a friend who just lost their job?

There are many other afflictions that I haven’t touched on, but you get the picture.

Think of what a wonderful gift it would be if you bought the book;  gave it to someone, and it changed their life? It could happen and you could be the messenger.

You may Give up on God, But He won’t Give up on You

I had a horrible day yesterday. Satan isn’t happy that I published, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.”

I decided to put my author hat away, and put on a salesman hat. It was time to contact all the local bookstores, and gift shops.

Out the door I went all excited to do God’s calling.

The first place I went to was a small independent Christian book store called, “Wings of the Soul.” I walked up to the store door and turned the knob. It was closed!  The store was suppose to open. It was not. I left feeling a little dejected, but  moved on to the next place on my list.

The next place was a local pharmacy that had a nice gift shop. I am even close friends with the owner. He was in favor of me putting the book in his store, but he has a shop manager that I needed to contact first.

I went into the shop, and asked one of the staff if I coud meet with the manager. The lady I talked to must of ate nails for breakfast. She blurted out, ” She’s not here.” I asked when she might be back.? “I don’t know!” This went on for a few minutes, and I finally  gave her one of my promotional packets, and asked her to give it to the manager. She again blurted out,” I don’t when she may be back! She comes and goes when she wants!”

That was a wonderful adventure, but I am not done yet. I  stopped by the city library to set-up a signing there in the future. It was closed!! They close the library on Mondays due to cut-backs.

I had one more stop. It was another independent Christian Bookstore near my home. I met with the owner, and he wouldn’t budge on what he wanted for a discount, and I left a broken man.  

I then got home and opened up my email. There was an email from the manager of my local Borders bookstore in Same, Oregon. We have a signing scheduled there on November 6th from 2-4 p.m.

(If any of you life in the Salem, Oregon area, the address of the Borders Bookstore is 2235 Lancaster Dr NE. Go to Mapquest to locate it.)

He said my publisher wouldn’t send him the books he ordered for the signing until he paid upfront. He let me now that he didn’t  have the funds in his local budget to pay for 100 books. He only has enough for 35 books.

I emailed him back and said I could provide the 100 books from my own personal inventory of books I had. I hope that works out well.

All in all, a day to be depressed, and wonder where God was. Well, I found out later where God was. I went to my weekly BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) meeting.

Please understand that what was covered in this one meeting wasn’t planned just for me, but when you read some of the quotes form the meeting you will see God was definitely speaking to me.

The topic? Adversity, Trials, and misfortune.

Quotes form the lecture:

“Fear results when you believe your adversity. Faith results when you believe God’s Word.”

“Romans 8:31 “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Romans 8:28 ” God causes all those things of adversity in our lives to work to good those who believe.”

” You may give up on God, but He doesn’t give up on you.”

“Be still and now that I am God.”

“God’s presence with me is my solution to fear.”

The final statement by the speaker was this:

“God will be your sanctuary as you will be a SIGN to the world when you fear Him.”

I heard the word “sign,” loud and clear. That word is in the title of my book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.”

God was telling me to get up, and dust myself off. Get back out there and try again. I am doing that today, so pray that I will be more successful because I have God on my side.

BTW… you can order the book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World,” off of my author site at www.dougbolton.com.  If you do you will get an autograph and personal note  with the book. When you get to the site, just click on “Bookstore.”

Never give up! Never ever give up!!