1. What does the Combined Book Exhibit do?
Established in 1933, the Combined Book Exhibit is where
multiple publishers, authors, or organizations collectively present their
publications. This exhibit allows for the display and promotion of a variety of
books from different authors and publishers all in one place.
The Combined Book Exhibit serves several purposes:
- Visibility
and Exposure: It provides a platform for
publishers and authors to showcase their books to a wider audience,
including industry professionals from the library and trade areas,
potential readers, and other participants at the event. CBE attends 12-15
book fairs each year including, the American Library Association,
Frankfurt Book Fair, London Book Fair, Beijing Book fair and many others.
- Networking
and Collaboration: It
facilitates networking among authors, publishers, agents, and industry
insiders, providing opportunities for collaboration, discussions, and
potential partnerships.
- Sales
and Distribution: It can lead to potential
sales or generate interest from distributors, bookstores, or individuals
interested in purchasing the showcased books.
- Marketing
and Promotion: By being part of a combined
exhibit, books benefit from collective marketing efforts and gain exposure
alongside other titles, potentially attracting more attention than they
might individually.
- Showcasing
Diversity: Such exhibits often feature a
diverse range of genres, topics, and authors, offering attendees a broad
spectrum of reading material to explore.
2. Why should authors display their book at a book fair
overseas?
Efforts to market their title overseas can open up new
opportunities and audiences for authors. International distribution and
translation allow authors to tap into global markets, reaching diverse cultural
and language contexts. It enhances the credibility of having their work
translated into multiple languages or attracting the interest of international
publishing companies and adds significant credibility to an author's resume.
Authors can license foreign and translation rights, which not only generates additional
income but also extends the reach of their work in regions where they might not
have had access to at first. Achieving success on an international scale can
serve as a power leverage point when seeking representation by literary agents
or traditional publishing deals. Ultimately, expanding internationally is a
strategic move for authors looking to broaden their reach, gain recognition and
create more opportunities in the ever evolving world of publishing.
3. Which book fairs are the best attended or the most influential?
The most influential book fairs within the publishing
industry that we attend are the American Library Association Annual which is
the largest library conference in the US, dedicated to bringing new content,
learning, and improvement for library services for libraries and librarians all
over the country. CBE has been going to this fair for over 90+ years. The
Frankfurt Book Fair which is the largest and most attended book fair in the
world with roughly 115,000 people from 130 counties who just attended this year
2023. CBE has been attending this show for 40 years. This show is aimed at the
buying and selling of rights between professional organizations large and
small, content, technology and licensing trade. Lastly, the London Book Fair
which we have been attending for 30 years now. LBF has been a staple in the
publishing industry for over 50 years. The entire international publishing
community is present from major publishing houses to smaller independent
houses.
4. What is it like to travel to many of these fairs around
the globe?
My travels across Europe, the UK, and the Middle East have
taught me valuable skills. For instance, my passion for cultural immersion has
allowed me to connect with people from diverse backgrounds and develop a deeper
understanding of the world. It has also honed my adaptability and
problem-solving abilities. Moreover, I've found that my experiences have
contributed to improved communication and a global perspective in my
professional life. They've helped me approach cross-cultural collaborations
with sensitivity and an open mind, making me a better team player and creating
positive relationships with colleagues and clients.
5. Do you have any success stories of authors telling you good things
happened as a result of displaying their books?
It's clear that the success and results of the shows the
authors are involved in can be challenging to measure due to the unique nature
of the market we serve. The library market in the US and the process librarians
follow for data collection and subsequent purchasing certainly make it
difficult to directly track the impact of the shows. The same can be said for
international interest in translating authors' titles or purchasing rights, as
this often involves a complex and confidential process.
Our commitment to transparency with authors is of most
importance, as it helps manage expectations and ensures that they understand
the dynamics of these professional shows. While the immediate impact might not
always be visible, the value we provide in connecting authors and their work
with potential opportunities is undoubtedly significant. These challenges
are common in specialized industries like publishing and library services,
where the impact of networking and exposure at trade shows may take time to
materialize but can ultimately lead to valuable opportunities for authors and
publishers. Our role in facilitating these connections remains crucial, even if
the direct results aren't immediately evident.
6. Book Expo America used to draw tens of thousands of
people to its annual event, often held in New York City. It went away due to
the pandemic and for lack of participation. Do you think it can return?
BEA was at one point THE show to attend in the United States
from both a US and international standpoint. At this point in time, I do not
see a show similar to BEA returning anytime soon. From personal experience from
traveling all over the world I hear from many people asking, “do you ever think
there will be an international show back in the states” and the answer is
always I hope so. It seems there is a need and demand for a US show to return
to the United States. The issue is who is willing to bring back a show as
important and influential as BEA was.
7. Why do independent authors need more exposure for their
books?
When I speak to independent writers, the one piece of advice
I always tell them is to always market their book. I say regardless of if you
decide to use us or a different company, you HAVE to get your title out there,
otherwise no one will know it exists. Marketing is crucial. I always
suggest alternative ideas of how they could push their title on their own at
very low costs on their part, whether that be printing out their own ADs or
bio’s to drop off at their local bookstore or library, hold their own autographing
session at a library or bookstore, social media, or blogging. There are over 1
million independent titles published each year in the US. The competition is
high but all it takes is that one right person to find a title and turn it into
something.
8. What other advertising opportunities do you offer to
authors?
Besides having a digital or physical display we also offer
Advertising in our print and digital catalog. This is where the author, or
publisher is able to take out a full-page AD (8 ½ x 11 inch). These catalogs
are picked up at the show by the attendees and are also downloadable from our
website. We also own Pubmatch (Pubmatch.com) which is a digital platform
for the buying and selling of copyright. It was established in 2008 and
is designed to connect publishers, authors, agents, and other publishing
professionals worldwide. PubMatch serves as a digital marketplace where users
can buy, sell, and manage book rights. It provides tools and resources for
publishers and authors to showcase their works digitally and to find
international partners, and negotiate rights deals for translation,
distribution, and other publishing rights.
Users can create
profiles, showcase their titles, and search for potential partners, making it
easier to navigate the complexities of licensing and selling rights in the
publishing industry. It's essentially a platform that aims to facilitate the
buying and selling of publishing rights on a global scale, offering a way for
publishers and authors to expand their reach and audience.
9. Do you see any trends in book publishing that authors
should be aware of?
With AI now being incorporated into the industry, it seems
that more and more publishers are looking to utilize this to their advantage in
the creation, editing, and marketing of books. Having just attended the
Frankfurt Book Fair, I was able to speak with several companies regarding AI
utilizing it to create audio books. They are beginning to use different
languages and accents when creating these audio books using the AI technology,
but once it has been created there is still a need for a human to proof it
before completion. There is still some work that needs to be done but this will
become a major part of the industry soon.
Another trend that seems to be happening is that authors who
are traditionally published are starting to switch lanes to independent
publishing and wanting to market, sell and showcase their work themselves due
to better royalties and having more say in the publishing process. The
independent market for sure has taken off the last couple of years due to the
pandemic as one of the factors, and I do not foresee this slowing down anytime
soon.
One other trend that is concerning is about the increasing
number of overseas companies that target newly independent authors with false
promises and substandard services. I created a "Marketing Scams and
False Promises" page and am collaborating with major book fairs to help
identify and combat these dishonest organizations. Raising awareness about this
issue is a crucial step in protecting authors from falling victim to such scams
and holding these companies accountable.
The legal actions taken by Amazon against companies falsely
claiming to be Amazon KDP is a significant development in addressing this
problem. Providing resources and information for authors to help them navigate
these challenges is essential in the publishing industry, where there is a
growing number of options and service providers. Mitigating the problem may
indeed be challenging, but everyone's work in raising awareness and offering
guidance is a positive step toward reducing the impact of these predatory
practices in the industry. Authors and professionals play a vital role in
protecting the integrity of the publishing world.
Chris Malinowski Bio
I am a third-generation family member and Director of
Business Development and Media at the Combined Book Exhibit. With a strong
foundation in organizational management, I graduated with a BA Degree in the
field and have dedicated my career to the publishing industry.
Having grown up within the company from a young age, I have
a deep understanding of the business. I started my professional journey with
the Combined Book Exhibit, and over the years, have climbed the ranks to their
current role as the Director of Business Development and Media. I play a
pivotal role in overseeing the company's marketing and social media strategy,
using my knowledge and expertise to engage with audiences and promote books.
Moreover, my responsibility is to conduct research and analysis of emerging
markets within the publishing industry, both domestically and internationally.
Need Book Marketing Help?
Brian
Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com He is available to help authors promote their
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experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him
be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!
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About Brian Feinblum
Brian Feinblum should
be followed on LinkedIn. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2023.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two
kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His
writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent. This award-winning blog has generated over 3.4
million pageviews. With 4,600+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named
one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018
as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by
www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades,
including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book
publicity firm, and two jobs at two independent presses, Brian has worked with
many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with
best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen,
Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard,
Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C.
Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He recently hosted a
panel on book publicity for Book Expo America, and has spoken at ASJA,
Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction
Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland)
Writers Association, APEX, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association.
His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal,
USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News
(Westchester) and The Washington Post. He has been featured in The
Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald. For more information, please consult:
www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum
