For Author Visits

Book Sales

Hosts are encouraged to offer Dyson's books for sale in conjunction with their event. Books can be obtained either from the author, directly from publishers, or through book stores. If the host just wants to have the books available as courtesty to the attendees and wants a discount off the price of a full-day visit, then ordering directly from the author is the best option. If the host wishes to use book sales as a fundraiser, then see the options below.

Author Brings Books to Sell. Author offers a $50 discount off full-day visit fees when book sales are offered through the author (i.e. the host doesn't receive any percentage of proceeds). The author pays the sales taxes, so the host receives an 8 percent discount over retail price.

Note that the author keeps about 10 copies of each title in stock. If more copies are needed or the event requires airline travel, please collect orders (to be paid on day of the event by check or cash only--no credit cards) 4 weeks in advance using the All Books Order Form and tell author the number of copies to order of each title. She will arrange to have the books shipped to the host location.

Book Sales as Fundraiser. Buying books at a discount and then selling them at retail price offers author visit hosts a way to recoup some of their expenses. The profit per book is fairly low, so using books for a fundraiser works best for large events. There are two ways to order the books: from the author, or directly from the publishers.

1. Consignment Sales. Ordering books from muliple publishers can be time consuming and complicated. Each publisher offers different discounts and return policies vary. Therefore, the easiest way to do a book fundraiser is to offer the author's books on consignment. Determine how many copies are likely to sell, and then order that many from the author. On the event day, the host collects the money and sales taxes from the buyers. The host receives 20 percent of the proceeds. After the event, the host must pay the sales taxes to the state where the event is held. Note that the author does not accept credit card payments, so the host must pay for books sold by cash or check. Please refer to the Dyson Consignment Form for planning consignment sales.

2. Order From Publishers. The host can receive books at up to 50 percent off if they order sufficient copies directly from the publishers in advance of the visit. (Not all of the author's titles are available this way.) Use the Book Order Contacts to place orders at least a month in advance of the visit. To increase sales at the event, hosts are encouraged to send home a All Books Order Form and 3-Book Flier to collect orders from the attendees/students about 6 weeks prior to the visit. This will reduce the number of copies that must be returned (at the host's expense) to the publishers.

3. Order From Book Stores. Schools and events may also order books at educational or bulk discounts of about 20 percent through local book stores. Note that because of a problem with Barnes and Noble's computer listing for Space Station Science, B&N will not accept returns of those books. (The books ARE returnable to the publisher, but we are unable to fix B&N's database.) Another option is to purchase books online via Amazon or PayPal/Credit Card: Order Books Online.

Individuals attending an event who wish to buy a book and bring it for signature may order books online or through book stores. Note that Space Center Houston usually has Home on the Moon and Space Station Science in stock. Other NASA center gift shops also usually carry these books. Space and Astronomy has (an expensive) library binding, so will not be found in book stores. However, it can be ordered through a book store or online. Individuals can also order books directly from the author by sending a check with the Mail Order Form to the address on the form.

Word document versions of the book order forms are 3 MB files, but can be filled in electronically and personalized for your event. Here they are: All Books Order Form doc,Mail Order Form doc.

Print out and share these HOME ON THE MOON and SPACE STATION SCIENCE fliers to generate publicity for your author visit event.