Independent bookstore Mystery to Me Support Local Authors

Last week I shared with you my experience with a local independent bookstore that charges a $15.00 fee for consignment sales.  The other independent bookstore in Madison is Mystery to Me owned by Joanne Berg and is tucked into the Monroe Street neighborhood at 1863 Monroe Street. Joanne had a career at the University of Wisconsin and retired recently and opened a bookstore, her lifelong dream.  The previous store, Booked for Murder, was closing so Joanne bought it and moved it to the Monroe Street location.  As the name implies, the store specializes in mystery books.  In the eight months Joanne has owned and managed the store she has expanded the selection to include general fiction, children's books and local authors.

The bookshelf for local authors is in front of the store between the entrance and the checkout counter.  You can't miss it.  She also puts a bright orange sticker on the books, LOCAL AUTHOR.

I called her and she invited me to come in the same day, bring some books and discuss a potential author event.  I took five books.  Joanne had a form to fill out and the split was 60% for the author and 40% for the bookstore - NO FEE.  In addition, she will have my book reviewed and the review will be published in a bookstore newsletter and my book will be advertised on their webpage.  When the five books are sold, I get a check and we discuss how many more books she would like to have. Easy.

To support local authors Joanne has developed what she calls an Author Slam.  It's a three day event where authors get 15 minutes to pitch their book to the public.  The books can be any genre.  This year the slam will be February 20, 21 and 22.  Joanne has signed up 31 authors to make a presentation.  No other bookstore in southern Wisconsin sponsors an event like this.

The Author Slam is good for first timers because anyone should be able to survive 15 minutes on their feet in front of an audience.  It's good for the bookstore because it attracts traffic through the store for three consecutive days and those folks are readers. Most avid readers are not able to purchase only one book when they visit a bookstore so there are more sales which in turn supports future Author Slams.

My experience with Joanne Berg has restored my faith in independent bookstores and the collaboration between independent bookstores and independent authors/publishers.