The Book Standard, October 19, 2005, has an interesting article about Daniel Handler’s book tour by satellite at about 15 movie theaters around the country with a trivia contest and all. Now if only a bunch of public libraries could get in on an author satellite feed (cinemeeting) like this one.
Here is an excerpt:
This new satellite-broadcast solution was devised by HarperCollins and a company called National CineMedia, a venture of AMC Entertainment Inc., Cinemark USA, Inc. and Regal Entertainment Group, which operate close to 1,000 cinemas around the world. According to the company’s website, “one in every two households is within ten miles of one of these theatres.†For Handler’s event, 15 booksellers partnered with 15 movie theaters. Those who pre-ordered the book—which had a first print run of 2.5 million—from one of these stores, received a free ticket to the satellite event.
If it was a streaming web event, or even if the library partnered with the theaters to provide tickets– I know it is designed to sell books– the payoff would be enormous for the publisher in terms of marketing goodwill.
Currently reading: The Penultimate Peril by Lemony Snicket