An open letter to book and comic book retailers…

I continue to read and hear how terrible the sales figures are for comic book stores, Christian bookstores, and traditional bookstores. I continue to see news of such stores going out of business.

(For example, a couple of weeks ago, I was watching a live stream video from a comic book creator talking about the demise of comic books stores in a few years. That’s not an unbelievable idea.)

Is the distribution system the problem? Are retailers relying too much on big publishers for saving their stores? Are retailers overly cautious of purchasing books from smaller publishers and/or self-publishers?

Maybe it’s time for a bit of a change?

I think it's very important that creators and retailers work more closely with one another to keep the comic book retailers and bookstores from going out of business.

As a self-publisher selling his creator-owned graphic novel, I use various ways in which to sell THE SWORD OF EDEN. I’m going to use as many options available to me to reach my audience.

I sell directly to readers through eBay, Amazon, and through my online store. (That’s the most fun for me. I sign the books and add extra signed material that the readers will enjoy.)

I sell directly to stores. I don’t work with all bookstores the same way. In fact, I have two particular bookstores that carry THE SWORD OF EDEN graphic novel on consignment. There’s no financial risk for those two stores in carrying my book. I’m cool with that.

I have a distributor that sells my graphic novel to comic book stores (worldwide). And I have Christianbook[dot]com that sells directly to readers (worldwide).

If any bookstore or comic book retailer would like to work together with me, please let me know.

If any reader is interested in purchasing THE SWORD OF EDEN graphic novel, stop by my website:

http://www.theswordofeden.com

THE SWORD OF EDEN is a 220-page black and white trade paperback published by Messianic Comics. THE SWORD OF EDEN is a super-hero Christian graphic novel. Each copy has a cover price of $19.99. The target audience is preteens to, and including, adults. Kinda like the fans of the Marvel movies. Although, I am having moms and grandmothers tell me that their eight year-olds love the graphic novel.

Brief synopsis of content: THE SWORD OF EDEN introduces Rebecca Stern as she begins her career as a superhero. What will happen when our young heroine joins forces with Nemish-Man, Kid-Cockroach, and Professor Jack in retrieving the Sword of Eden (the legendary sword used by angels to keep Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden). In their adventures, our heroes battle demons, zombies, a bunch of ninja, and other supervillains. And how will these superheroes cope when they must combat mythological villains such as Count Orlok or the Green Knight? If that ain’t enough, will our heroes be capable of locating Noah’s Ark?

Many thanks.

Grace and Peace.

Solus Christus.

in Christ Jesus,
Al Nickerson
http://www.theswordofeden.com

Isaiah 53:4-5 (Complete Jewish Bible): 4 In fact, it was our diseases he bore, our pains from which he suffered; yet we regarded him as punished, stricken and afflicted by God. 5 But he was wounded because of our crimes, crushed because of our sins; the disciplining that makes us whole fell on him, and by his bruises we are healed.

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