As the need for authors to promote themselves grows, Powell's Books, one of the last great independents, has come up with a new approach: a series of short films featuring authors. The films will have movie-style premieres in bookstores and later will be on the Powell's website and in snippets on YouTube.
First up is Ian McEwan, in a film that will run 23 minutes and is "meant to be entertaining," according to Dave Weich, marketing director at Powell's. He adds, "The last thing we're shooting for is two talking heads sitting there talking about literature." (Side note: If what the talking heads are saying is interesting enough, I find it quite entertaining...) The film will have bits of an interview with McEwan but also commentary from peers, fans, and critics.
McEwan has declined to do a typical book tour in support of his new novel, "On Chesil Beach," so the film will be expected to take the place of those types of appearances. If this effort is successful, more authors may opt for a film rather than the exhausting and sometimes humilating (if nobody shows up) book-signing sessions.
The McEwan film will debut on June 1 during BookExpo America, in Manhattan, then play in more than 50 bookstores across the country from June 13 to June 17, and then go onto the website.