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Mystery Bookstores

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Please note that these listings are from my Book Marketing Tip of the Week ezine, from 2004 through mid-2006, so the information may no longer be accurate. Of course, many of the stores will still be in business.

When you send your letter, sales sheet, catalog, or whatever to stores, you should also send them information on how to order the book. In the case of stores, that should be a wholesaler such as Ingram or Baker & Taylor, if your books are available through them.

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Mystery and Other Fiction Bookstores

A reader asked for more resources for fiction authors and publishers. Well, here are five bookstores that specialize in mysteries and suspense.

Book 'Em Mysteries, 1118 Mission Street, South Pasadena CA 91030; 626-799-9600; 800-4BOOKEM. Email: mystery@bookem.com. Web: http://www.bookem.com.

Murder By the Book, Martha Farrington, Owner, 2342 Bissonnet Street, Houston, TX 77005; 713-524-8597;888-4-AGATHA; Fax: 713-522-7945. Email: murderbk@swbell.net. Web: http://www.murderbooks.com. Established in 1980, it is one of the country's oldest and largest mystery bookstores. Stocks 25,000 new and used titles.

The Mysterious Bookshop, Otto Penzler, 129 West 56th Street, New York NY 10019; 212-765-0900; 800-352-2840; Fax: 212-265-5478. Email: info@mysteriousbookshop.com. Web: http://www.mysteriousbookshop.com.

The Mystery Bookstore, 1036-C Broxton Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90024; 310-209-0415; Fax: 310-209-0436; 800-821-9017. Email: orders@mystery-bookstore.com. Web: http://www.mystery-bookstore.com. Opened 2000. Mysteries and related genres.

Partners & Crime, 44 Greenwich Avenue, New York NY 10011; 212-243-0440; Fax: 212-243-4624. Email: partners@crimepays.com. Web: http://www.crimepays.com.

The Mystery Company, Jim Huang, Book Buyer, 1323 S Rangeline Road, Carmel IN 46032; 317-705-9711; Fax: 317-705-1402; Toll-Free: 800-643-6737. Email: staff@themysterycompany.com. Web: http://www.themysterycompany.com. Mystery bookshop.

The Poisoned Pen, Barbara Peters, 4014 N Goldwater, Scottsdale AZ 85251; 480-947-2974; 888-560-9919; Fax: 480-945-1023. Email: barbara@poisonedpen.com. Web: http://www.poisonedpen.com. Two readers pointed out that I did not list one of the great mystery bookstores in America. Well, here it is. They are opening a second store in downtown Phoenix soon (215 E Grant Street).

Aliens & Alibis Books, Deb Andolino, Capitol Center #173, 201 Columbia Mall Boulevard, Columbia SC 29223; 803-462-0362; Fax: 803-462-0431; toll-free: 877-512-BOOK. Email: aab@sc.rr.com. Web: http://www.aliensandalibis.com. New bookstore offering the best in mystery, fantasy, and science fiction.

I Love a Mystery, Karen Spengler, Book Buyer, 6114 Johnson Drive, Mission KS 66205; 913-432-2583; Fax: 913-384-4289; 877-474-2583. Email: kas@iloveamystery.net. Web: http://www.iloveamystery.net. They feature 20,000 used and 3,000 new mystery books.

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Top 700 Independent Bookstores Data Files — This list started out as 500, then 600, then 700, and now almost 800 top general bookstores. It includes names of the buyers and event coordinators, address, phone, fax, email, website, and other information about each bookstore. You will be able to download six different formats (your choice of one or all) as well as an info sheet to let you know what is contained in the various data file formats (Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, comma-delimited ASCII, tab-delimited ASCII, dBase, and rich text format). Data file download, $40.00.

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CafePress.com: Book Marketing Gift Store

Well, I just opened a small gift shop at CafePress.com. You can access it at http://www.cafepress.com/bookmarket.

It currently has t-shirts and other apparel as well as a few book bags featuring the cover design for my new 6th edition. I'll be adding more products later.

Let me know if you'd like any apparel with my beautiful face adorning it :))

I'll be wearing my new 1001 Ways golf shirts at BEA. Watch for me there!

Note: It took me about ten minutes to set up my store at CafePress.com. You can set up your own store and start selling items right away. I put no mark-up on these products so I don't make any money on the items, but I think the store is a neat idea. Why not open one for yourself? Click here to get started.

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“John, thanks for providing us with your specialty retailer and catalog databases. We have sold more than 3,000 copies of one of our books to customers from these two lists...none of whom had ever ordered from us before. Well worth the $60 we paid for the two lists!” — Steve Deger, Sales and Marketing Manager, Fairview Press

Catalog Sales Data Files — Would you like to sell thousands of books with only one contact? This database features 1,350 catalogs, Internet bookstore sites, chain store outlets, wholesalers, distributors, and other special sales outlets. Includes catalog names, buyers, addresses, phone and fax numbers, email addresses, web site URLs, types of books carried, and other important details. Only partially updated. Thus cheaper than it would be if fully updated. Enough info to make the sale. $30.00.

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