New Videos, Poster Promote Why Indies Matter

This week, a new video featuring Ann Patchett and short clips of more than a dozen authors have been added to the Why Indies Matter [1] campaign’s special YouTube channel [2], and a new letter-size poster is in the Booksellers DIY [3], alongside web graphics and button designs.

The materials are all available to help booksellers engage customers in stores and online and help grow the campaign Why Indies Matter organically and exponentially.  Stores are encouraged to capture their own videos of authors and customers offering their thoughts on the importance of indies and to post them to the YouTube channel — and then spread the word in newsletters and e-mails and via Facebook and Twitter. The new 8½" x 11" poster [4] featuring the Why Indies Matter logo is ideal for stimulating customer conversations and can be used as a background for when stores shoot their own videos.

The new YouTube video of Patchett’s acceptance speech [5] for her 2012 Indies Choice Book Award for Most Engaging Author at the June 5 Celebration of Bookselling & Author Awards Luncheon serves as a rallying cry for all indies. Patchett received a standing ovation from booksellers, authors, and publishers for her recitation of Shakespeare’s St. Crispin’s Day Speech from Henry V, which she said was the very best example she could think of the little guy winning.

“The Javits Center becomes Agincourt. We become English. Amazon and the Department of Justice become French. I become Henry V,” Patchett told the audience.

Her recitation of the speech is set off in the video by still shots of indie booksellers from around the country.

The Why Indies Matter YouTube channel [6] also includes short clips of authors who offered comments on the importance of indies at last month’s BookExpo America. Each clip, which features three to four authors, is ideal for posting to store websites.

WhyIndiesMatter.com [1], including videos, videography tips, a release form, and more; a Why Indie Bookstores Matter Facebook page [7]; and the Why Indies Matter YouTube channel [6] are all part of the larger IndieBound campaign.