A few years ago I wrote a book called "Do Something Different" that featured 100 case studies of people who found inexpensive and innovative ways to market their products or services (you can find it on Amazon). I'm still on the lookout for good examples of guerrilla marketing by creative people so I enjoyed the story of Teresa Peterson.
She was stationed near a security checkpoint at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, playing a grand piano and singing--and selling copies of her CD. Actually, it was her husband who stood by and sold the CDs. As related on Dan Poynter's blog, she had been hired to play it as entertainment in the past and then hit on the idea of free concerts in exchange for being allowed to sell her CDs.
She wasn't getting rich--one afternoon they grossed $180 from selling ten CDs. But she hoped that she might get noticed by somebody connected to the music business. And she was doing what she loved, so why not?
That's a great attitude. I'm not sure how writers could duplicate this--maybe hand out sample chapters or even free copies of their books?
Or if they are children's authors, maybe do a story time in the kids' section and have their books for sale there as well?
It would require the permission and cooperation of the airport authorities. Most of the time I'm as guilty as most other people of just assuming "they'd never allow that" or "they'd never be interested in that." People like Teresa Peterson are a reminder that we need to keep challenging our assumptions if we want things to happen.
(You can get "Do Something Different" as well as "Marketing for Entrepreneurs" from Amazon and other online and offline book sellers--why not order one or both from your local independent book store?)