Larry Portzline, creator of the "Bookstore Tourism" concept, announced today that his self-published book of the same name has sold 1,000 units in eight months.
Harrisburg, PA (PRWEB) June 15, 2005 -- Larry Portzline, creator of the "Bookstore Tourism" concept, announced today that his self-published book of the same name has sold 1,000 units in eight months.
"Bookstore Tourism: The Book Addict's Guide to Planning & Promoting Bookstore Road Trips for Bibliophiles & Other Bookshop Junkies" ($10, Bookshop Junkie Press, ISBN: 0-9758934-0-8) was released on October 1, 2004.
Kirkus Discoveries called the book, "engaging reading" and "an invigorating guide to an appealing and promising concept." Pages Magazine said, "Larry Portzline leads the way with Bookstore Tourism." The Chicago Tribune said, "This little volume might be just the thing to get people not only reading again but visiting their local independents. Spread the word." USA Today called the concept "A charming alternative." The Boston Globe said, "Larry Portzline has taken a novel idea on the road." Publishers Weekly said "Bookstore Tourism might be the beginning of a new concept in bookselling." The Midwest Book Review called the book "as much fun as it is informational" and "one of the most inexpensive and useful book-oriented resources."
"Selling 1,000 copies in eight months and getting this kind of coverage from the media is rare for a self-published book," Portzline said. "I couldn't be happier about how well it's been received, and I'm hopeful that many more people will discover the exciting possibilities of Bookstore Tourism."
Portzline said that in light of the response, he will propose an expanded edition of the book to a traditional publisher in the very near future.
Portzline's overall goal is to support independent bookstores by promoting them as a tourist destination and creating a new travel niche for booklovers. Based on his own experiences leading group literary adventures to New York City and Washington, DC, Portzline's book tells people how to plan "bookstore road trips" with friends, reading groups, schools, libraries and other organizations, whether the group numbers 5 or 50.
The author recently published a companion volume to the first book: "The Bookstore Tourism Travel Journal for Book Addicts on the Go" ($10, Bookshop Junkie Press, ISBN: 0-9758934-1-6). The sequel taps into the excitement of visiting a new bookshop for the first time by allowing booklovers to record their literary adventures in detail. The journal has room for 50 bookstore entries with 20 questions each, ranging from basic items like the shop's name, address and specialties, to "Unusual Finds," "Who Was With Me," ratings for customer service and book selection, and even a spot for writing down the names of friends to whom they'd recommend the store.
Portzline maintains the Bookstore Tourism website at www.bookstoretourism.com, and a daily blog, bookstoretourism.blogspot.com.
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