Finally getting around to reading my e-mail I found a lovely note from the people at the American Booksellers Association and their blog Omnibus. They were kind enough to mention my recent blogs about taking advantage of the wonderful offerings from our local independent bookstores.
The contest to which they refer is over and OMG!!! I forgot to post the winner! Congratulations to Jen from calling dr. bombay who should probably have received her $25 gift certificate from Quail Ridge Books by now and is hopefully spending it on HERSELF and not on holiday gifts from others. (Yes, in the never-ending battle to extend the holidays for as long as possible, Hanukkah will be kicking in just around the day you consume that last turkey sandwich.)
Anyway, they have invited me to become an affiliate which means that in addition to posting book reviews (a task in which I am hopelessly behind, having four books waiting to be blogged about), I will be able to link my readers to independent bookstore sites to purchase the books. And if you are kind enough to use my link for your purchase, I will get some kind of compensation (a percentage of the sale, I believe, haven't read the terms yet). Since Karen of verbatim, my icon of grammatical correctness as well as blog ethics, has recently sold out to become an affiliate for Amazon, I feel reassured that I have made the right ethical and moral choice.
Although I haven't read the details, I can assure you that I will not get rich from this relationship. Chances are that a year's worth of percentages on sales won't buy me a boob lift, let alone the tummy tuck that I want to go with it. However, as small as the compensation may be, I pledge that 25% of the proceeds will be donated to Books for Kids:
"Books for Kids (a non-profit organization) is devoted to making books available to kids at no cost and to promote the love of reading in the children of North Carolina. Of course, that takes money on the front end from people who share our mission. This organization seeks to raise funds to provide books for children working through a variety of qualified groups. The Salvation Army, YMCA, numerous churches, shelters, orphanages as well as various state agencies are examples of organizations Books for Kids might work with."
The Board Members of Books for Kids include: Elizabeth Edwards, Nancy Olson (owner of Quail Ridge Books), along with noted Southern authors Margaret Maron and Kaye Gibbons and a host of other local philanthropists.
So, when I formally announce my affiliation (black tie optional), I will not be as demure as sweet Karen ...I will shamelessly shill for independent bookstores and for my readers to buy through my website to support Books for Kids...and let's face it, the other 75% is going right back to Quail Ridge Books to buy more books to read and (eventually) review.
Di
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