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here's an interesting idea

Just get yourself to a real-life or virtual book store during Buy a Friend a Book Week (the first weeks of January, April, July, and October) and, well, buy a friend a book (or e-book)! But here's the fun part: you can't buy your friend a book because it's their birthday or they just graduated or got engaged or had a baby or anything else. You have to give them a book for no good reason. In fact, this present out of the blue from you should shock the pants off of whomever you decide to give it to. And it'll make them happy. And that's the point: promote reading, promote friendships. Just make sure to let them know about Buy a Friend a Book Week.

I have to admit that this isn't a new concept for me. I'm always forcing books on friends. In fact, I'm infamous for my antics when it comes to Dorothy Dunnett's Niccolo series. I'll do anything to get people hooked, and usually that means I start by buying them the first book in the series, or loaning them the unabridged audiobook on tape. (Yes, there is such a thing. I had to order it from England at great expense, but my missionary zeal knows no bounds when it comes to Niccolo).

There's also a short list of out of print books I adore. I regularly checked used bookstores, and I always buy copies of these books when I find them to give away. Some of the titles: The Moonflower Vine (Jetta Carlton); Bride of the Wilderness (Charles McCarry); Dance (Judy Cuevas). There are more.

The organizer suggests that authors might use this campaign to promote their own sales. For example, I could set things up so that anybody who buys one of my books to give to a friend during BAFAB week could send me their receipt. I'd then pick one out of a hat and send the person a signed book or a cupcake or something. As I've already got the audiobook drawing going on and that's turned out to be so complicated, I think I'll pass on this particular idea this time around.

But otherwise I am by nature sympathetic to the BAFAB campaign, and I encourage you to join in. Next week is the second BAFAB event. Jump on that bandwagon, don't be shy.

September 28, 2005 02:44 PM

Comments

Posted by: Debra Hamel at September 28, 2005 03:56 PM

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