UGBT: The List
Ok, y’all. The votes are in, cities decided and dates somewhat settled upon. The User Generated Book Tour is so far eclipsing my wildest dreams with most cities hosting several events. Most of the plan is still pretty fluid so there’s time to let me know what kind of event you think would be best if your city has been selected.
Again: There is absolutely no demographic study or statistical research that went into deciding the cities. It was purely based on enthusiasm. Think of it like a school assembly "applause meter" where the principal holds his hands above people's heads and you clap and then he decides who got the most applause. This is the qualitative—not quantitative-- book tour. And together we’ll see how it goes! Again, props to my publishers at Gotham for funding a haphazard and unconventional tour despite a general industry disdain for tours of all kinds.
The schedule on the jump!
- Pre-tour: Los Angeles TONIGHT.
- Washington DC- July 16-17 (Details in the next post)
- Pre-tour Part II: Menlo Park- July 25- TechCrunch Part @ August Capital
- Des Moines- Aug 2
- Omaha- just before or after Des Moines
- Boulder- Aug 6-9ish
- Seattle- August 21-22
- Portland- just before or after Seattle
- Boston- Sept 16-ish
- Memphis- Sept 18
- Austin and Toronto TBD
I am making T-shirts, ala concert tour T-shirts, to give out on the road for anyone who helps organize local events or anyone who just asks a really good question! And, um, maybe if you buy multiple copies? I'm sort of making up the rules as I go along. All of the events will have books for sale but none will be a traditional reading.
Questions:
-Boston folks: I’d like to do some sort of college event for would-be entrepreneurs or maybe even-- gasp!-- business school peeps. Anyone got any contacts or ideas?
-Austin and Toronto: When should I come? Are there times in the next few months that make particular sense?
I have groaned a lot about being sick of traveling, but the idea and planning of this tour has completely re-energized me. I can’t even pretend to be weary.
If this tour is an insane, insane resounding success, I’m open to phase two, so don't be sad if your city wasn't picked!
Excellent! DC next week. An XL Tshirt should do ;-)
Went to a kids 'story time' this morning with my author/wife at a DC area Borders. 40 hilarious tykes doing sing-a-longs, and my wife wears a hat & pink boa when she reads her book, I Love You More Than Rainbows. I sang off key.
Posted by: Jeff Crites | July 08, 2008 at 02:23 PM
It probably wasn't a coincidence, but just in case, August 21-23 is Gnomedex here in Seattle, so there should be plenty of web 2.0-ers in town.
Posted by: Daryn | July 08, 2008 at 03:03 PM
No florida? darn... = /
We'll miss you Sarah !
Posted by: Adam Singer | July 09, 2008 at 07:59 AM
Excited for the Omaha stop!
Posted by: Dusty | July 23, 2008 at 07:58 AM
Sarah -
Let me know if you're still looking for help in Boston. I'd be thrilled to "hook you up" in Beantown with a terrific entrepreneurial crowd.
Posted by: Kim | August 12, 2008 at 11:10 AM