January's Brain Pick: Chat with Indie Bookseller, Christina Rosso-Schneider
Hey friends!
In the Before Times, I used to get a bundle of folks together at Indy Hall (thank you Alex and Adam!), for free, in-person brain pick sessions with industry professionals. It was my way of trying to make publishing a bit more accessible, here in Philadelphia. I even did a few of these for my book tour for Don’t Read the Comments, meeting writing groups at cafes before events.
I really miss them. So, it’s time to bring them back.
If you weren’t around for when they were going on, here’s the basic concept. I have a quick, informal conversation with an industry professional on a specific topic, while introducing who they are and what they do, and then… we do a pick-my-brain session for an hour and half.
This is your chance to get those wildly specific questions about your projects answered. Query letter concerns? Industry questions? It’s all on the table, at least, as much as it can be.
This month’s first brain pick session, on January 28th at 8PM EST, is with my good pal (and former classmate) Christina Rosso-Schneider. You can register for the Zoom here.
You might know Christina from her amazing indie bookstore, A Novel Idea, located here in Philadelphia. She’s also a wildly brilliant poet and storyteller, with some astonishing books out in there. Please look up Creole Conjure and She is a Beast, both of which are out now.
Our opening topic?
Talking to Indie Booksellers.
I see it on Twitter all the time. Authors who are a little anxious about chatting with their local bookseller about their book. About hosting an event. About running a preorder campaign. It happens to ME all the time. You walk in, start sweating, whisper something over a copy of your book, and run right out.
In our opening, Christina and I will talk about how to go about working with your local indie bookseller… and why you shouldn’t be afraid.
Afterwards, we’ll open it up to questions. They can be about working with your local bookseller, of course. But it’s also a space to ask those querying, publishing, agenting, writing, etc. concerns. Christina is an amazing resource for not just working with bookstores, but for learning about publishing short fiction and creative essays!
This will be completely free, but I’ll have my tip jar available, with this month’s funds going towards Blue Stoop, a non-profit literary organization here in Philadelphia me and Christina both love.
See you at the end of the month!
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January Brain Pick with Christina Ross-Schneider
Friday, January 28th, 8PM (EST)