Concierge Marketing and Book Publishing Services

12/13/2024

NOTICE: THE HOLIDAY BOOKFEST 12/14 WAS POSTPONED. I will post information on a new date when it has been secured.

10/28/2024

Kori Reed - look at you! Congratulations !

10/22/2024

SAVE THE DATE, AND CALL FOR VENDORS!

2024 Holiday Book Fest Omaha
Saturday, December 14, 9am-3pm
13306 Stevens Street in Millard

10/21/2024

This morning I had the privilege of honoring some of Nebraska's independent authors. In a world full of noise, these authors courageously quiet themselves long enough to share their stories. Stories that educate, entertain, and enlighten us. Governor Pillen signed a Proclamation for Nebraska Independent Publishers Day today, and 26 authors and their guests shared the moment with Ellie Godwin and me. Thank you to all who attended (and those with conflicts who could not attend.) It was a fun and exhilarating moment for our community that made a big statement of attention to all the incredible stories Nebraskans are sharing. I'll post more pictures when they arrive from the photographer.

10/12/2024

AUTHORS: THIS IS A POLL - HELP! SHARE!

DECEMBER BOOKCON OMAHA EVENT
I'd like to produce an event for authors to sell their books and book merch in Omaha, with a few restrictions set (no p**n, for example).
*Each author would be asked to share the event with their own fans and friends.
*The event would be in Millard at the IBEW Hall on December 15th from 10 to ? (when most of your other opportunities to sell for the holidays would be done and over.)
*Your fee would be $60ish per spot (some tables are larger and would accommodate two authors). You would be responsible for your own table coverings and display materials.
*You would do all sales yourself and be responsible for your own sales tax and transactions.

PLEASE COMMENT BELOW ASAP if you would be interested. THANK YOU! (You can also direct message me or text me)

10/11/2024

Come out to Lincoln for the Nebraska Celebration of Books (NCOB -- clever name for the corn state)

With just 2 more days until , we wanted to give another HUGE thank you and shout out to the sponsors supporting the Nebraska Celebration of Books! Without the generous support of these organizations and businesses, the N.COB literary festival would not be possible. 📚

Nebraska Center for the Book
Nebraska Library Commission
University of Nebraska Press
Lincoln City Libraries
Francie & Finch Bookshop
Humanities Nebraska
KZUM
RAYGUNshirts
Outskirts Press
Concierge Marketing and Book Publishing Services

09/25/2024

Come see us at Junkstock! It's one of the top 10 festivals in the US and it's right here in Nebraska! Our stand is in the stables with a huge collaborative bookstore. We have LOTS of new authors, amazing new stories, and many awesome books that have stood the test of time. There's a lot to do and see - live music, one of the top 10 food truck courts in the nation, apple cider donuts that will change your life (I've heard), antiques, crafts, and art. Books are art! I'm attaching the author booksigning schedule.

You won't see this type of collaboration anywhere else. Come on out!

09/23/2024

It's Fall Junkstock time!
Here's the schedule

07/30/2024

I looked back to my archives to see if I could find the date I first met Marilyn June Coffey. I remember the meeting itself, but not the exact date in 2009. My business was 5 years old, and I had recently moved into a real office rather than having meetings at Java n'Ice in Rockbrook. Her laughter perfumed the office with joy, and I was amazed at her energy at 72 years old. She was a dynamic force of nature--never static for a moment.

Her first book, "Marcella," was published in 1973 and was a NYT Bestseller (the real kind, not the purchased ones of today). Gloria Steinem reviewed it, and the novel was heralded across the US and the UK. It was the first American novel that dealt with issues not talked about in public—female autoeroticism, religion, teen su***de ideation, and sexual abuse.

I met her when she was ready to publish Mail-Order Kid: An Orphan Train Rider's Story. It's a heart-wrenching story of a toddler orphan who was sent to the Midwest with thousands of other children from overrun orphanages in New York and other eastern states in the 1910s. Rider Teresa May survived harrowing abuse at the hands of her adoptive German family and escaped with her life. She became a librarian in Hays, Kansas. Marilyn interviewed and researched for 10 years to write it. If you read the novel "Orphan Train," this is the non-fiction story of one of these children. Teresa May is memorialized by a statue at the Library in Concordia, Kansas, the city that houses the National Orphan Train Complex.

Over the years, we published more books with Marilyn, including the 40th-anniversary edition of "Marcella" and the other books Marilyn had previously published traditionally for which we regained her rights. Marilyn had a gift for writing, and she worked hard to perfect her craft. We had the honor of helping her launch 16 books, with her second-to-last one just going to press last week, and the final book awaiting a cover illustration.

Rest in Peace, Marilyn.

07/12/2024

PSA (Publisher's Service Announcement): I've been noticing a concerning trend lately. Publishers are using their KDP Amazon account to purchase personal and business items. If you've already submitted your sales tax form to KDP and are exempt from sales tax for buying inventory for your business, make sure to remove the tax exemption when purchasing items that are not for resale. This exemption is only for items bought at wholesale cost for reselling at retail prices (like the books YOU publish) , and should not be applied to items like shoes, grills, keyboards, or books that you buy for personal use.

In many states, you will owe "use" taxes on items for which you have not paid sales taxes. Anything you use in your business is subject to sales taxes if it is not exempt or for resale.

Inventory for the purpose of resale: Exempt from sales tax
Business and personal items that are not considered inventory: Not exempt from sales tax.

05/23/2024

I'm so excited! BookLife gave Abe Gurko's book an "Editor's Pick"!!!! Wooooooot! Congratulations Abe!

In his debut memoir, Won’t Be Silent, Abe Gurko invites you to join him in celebrating a life that he calls “finally worth living.” It’s an honest, rollicking ride filled with joyous and life-affirming as well as challenging, daunting, and heartbreak...

05/15/2024

Summary of hand-to-hand sales at Junkstock. This two-weekend-long event had huge numbers, great weather most of the time, and stocked-up vendors. While some attendees were obviously just lookie-loos, many came in to buy from a lot of very happy vendors. For my pop-up local bookstore, in the six retail days, we had 350 individual transactions and sold 581 books! With 2 authors doing signings at all times, it was a great opportunity for new authors to learn the ropes, and experienced authors to rake in the sales. Thanks everyone!

MOST POPULAR GENRES FOR SPRING 2024:
True Crime
Cookbooks
Romance
Historical fiction
History
Children's picture books
Children's activity books
Early readers/Chapter books

Books requested that I want to stock more of for the Fall 2024:
Fantasy (lots of requests in all levels of YA and adult)
Mystery (kids and adults)
Sci-Fi (adult)
Graphic novels for young readers
More romance (clean and beyond)
History
Kids books about Nebraska and Omaha or other local areas

Of note: There is a largely underserved group of 8 to 11-year-old kids who love to read at the Harry Potter level but can't find enough sophisticated books with age-appropriate topics to keep them happy. They told me that books they find on store shelves for their age are too simple, too short, and not interesting. Two parents told me that it's hard to determine age-appropriateness for these kids, and suggested a rating system like movies.

My bookstore at Junkstock is a local book collaborative. Please let me know if you want to be considered for the Fall. It's just like any other bookstore deal.

It's truly an honor to represent great books from local authors. Thanks to everyone who contributes, signs, attends, and shares!

05/09/2024

Like every Junkstock Concierge Local Book Collaborative, authors signed books for three days. It is always exciting to see readers react to meeting new authors. We're doing it again this coming weekend, and I'm thrilled to say we have another great slate of authors. Come out and see us—we're in the Sycamore Stables.

Get Mom a book for Mother's Day! It's Sunday!

AUTHORS! GENRES WANTED FOR NEXT WEEK (Per booth guests):
Mystery
Fantasy
Romance
Thriller
Graphic Novels (for kids)
Mystery for young readers
Adventure for young readers

Also several requests for "Change Your Paradigm" books.

All books will be sold on consignment. Authors are required to take time to tell me about their books (the elevator goes to the 2nd floor not the 30th, please) and how to recommend them. 90% of the books at Junkstock are HAND SOLD. If you would like to participate, DM me for instructions.
Please DO NOT show up to our booth with a pile-o-books without prior approval.

04/18/2024

I'm going out to the Ben Franklin Awards next Friday in Denver to celebrate Bart Mruz's nomination! Is anyone else from Omaha or Lincoln planning on making the trek?

04/17/2024

Gardening friends! If you are open April 24th evening - Go meet Barbara Salvatore and hear about gardening and taking care of Mother Earth. She's amazing! ❤

Approximately 10,000 years ago, agriculture began in the Americas. Indigenous tribes developed their own unique ways of planting, harvesting, and caring for the land. Colonization replaced many traditional agricultural methods with commercial farming. But now, we are seeing a resurgence of Native practices in an effort to balance the effects we have had on the land and ecosystems, and to heal the land and the people.

Join Ms. Barbara Salvatore and City Sprouts Wednesday, April 24 from 6-7:30 PM for "Indigenous Gardening & Land Care: Cooperation vs. Control". This workshop will discuss traditional gardening, agriculture, and land care practices, and how they can be incorporated into our everyday behaviors. Terms like ‘regenerative,’ ‘permaculture,’ ‘companion planting,’ are actually methods that have been practiced for thousands of years.

Register today to reserve your spot! Link below ⬇️
omahasprouts.org/events/indigenous-gardening-land-care-cooperation-vs-control-1

04/06/2024

Sheryl Ness and Vincenzo Giangiordano share their love story and their love of food. Great job you two❤️