impresario - definition of impresario by the Free Online Dictionary …
im·pre·sa·ri·o ( m pr -sär – , -sâr -). n. pl. im·pre·sa·ri·os. 1. One who sponsors or produces entertainment, especially the director of an opera company. 2.
In a guest column for Publishing Trendsetter, Susan Toy of Alberta Books Canada writes,
Throughout my employment in this business, the people who stood out were the authors. And why wouldn’t they? These were the people who were creating what I was selling, the books I enjoyed reading. I realized, though, that authors were not receiving the attention from publishers and booksellers that they deserved. Unless they won a major national prize or became a media darling, their books quickly fell off the radar at the end of a season. Authors were then left to fend for themselves, to find further attention, reviews, and speaking engagements in an attempt to keep their books from floundering on the dreaded backlist. I knew as a sales rep that publishers are quick to head into the next sales season, and put the past list behind them, especially if last season’s sales were not stellar. These authors require someone to help continue the buzz—their own personal champion (preferably not a blood relative) to lead the cheer about their books.
When I considered how I might help promote books further, outside of what publishers already offered, one author suggested she would pay me to perform those necessary aspects of the book business to allow her more time for writing. That was the birth of Alberta Books Canada.
The most wonderful thing about Susan is that she believes in authors more than authors believe in themselves. She never stops looking for – and finding – new readers. I’ve been blessed. My book has been successful in the press. Long before that happened, though, Susan championed it to librarians, other authors and every reader she could find. Even before it was published, I was hearing about it. The trail always led back to something Susan said to someone.
To read the rest of Susan’s column, click here.
