Read Local San Diego's premiere event will be held November 14 at Horton Plaza from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm on the 3rd Level Sundeck. The day-long celebration of San Diego's literary talent will feature author presentations and music from local artists. Attendees can meet favorite and new local authors as they conduct readings, sign books, and mingle with others in the writing and reading community. The event will end with a gala reception toasting this new, non-profit, cultural organization.
Read Local San Diego (Read Local) is a nonprofit marketing coalition that aims to get authors out from behind the computer and face-to-face with readers. It was conceived as a way to create a richer reading experience for all and to nurture casual readers and non-readers into becoming excited readers.
"I realized there was a need to connect local authors with readers, much like the farmers market and ‘buy local' movements connect a community," said Karla Olson, founder of Read Local. "Authors seldom get to meet the public. It's a very isolated profession. This is a way for them to meet and grow readers within their community."
Olson gathered readers, writers, publicists, publishers, and anyone interested in her mission to create the all volunteer-run group. Committees are finding local authors to join Read Local and become part of its extensive directory, setting up events, locating sponsors, and promoting the organization to the community.
Read Local San Diego recently launched its website at http://sandiego.readlocal.org. It will include a comprehensive, searchable online directory of San Diego authors as well as a listing of year-round, county-wide events designed to connect readers and authors.
"Most readers are unaware of the depth and diversity of authors living within their communities," said Olson. "With Read Local San Diego, we've created a way to bring them in contact with these authors. By creating the opportunity for readers to meet authors within their community, we hope to foster a more dynamic relationship between the two groups."
Contrary to predictions from a few decades ago when people were convinced technology would lead to the disappearance of the book, there are tremendous and exciting opportunities in publishing today—affordable production options, accessible distribution channels, and targeted marketing strategies. The Internet has brought interest groups together, and authors can reach those niche groups more easily than ever before.
However, this means authors are not only writing their books from behind computer screens; they're also marketing them there. Readers love discovering a new book, but they love it even more when they feel a one-on-one connection to the author.
Read Local San Diego solves this dilemma by supporting the literary and commercial community that nurtures arts and culture in San Diego, by expanding the market for local publishers and authors, and by encouraging a process of discovery for readers of the wonderful authors in San Diego via the excitement of personal interaction with the creator of a book.
"Read Local wants to help nurture and introduce both committed and casual readers to the enriching experience of books, by meeting and getting to know local authors and their works," said Olson. "We believe Read Local will enrich the San Diego artistic community."
Authors interested in participating in this event should contact Read Local before Oct. 14, 2009. For more information, contact Karla Olson at karla@sandiego.readlocal.org, (760) 753-2279.
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