On the Road with T Cooper

by Craig Morgan Teicher -- Publishers Weekly, 4/20/2007 3:00:00 AM

T Cooper is the author of Some of the Parts and editor, with Adam Mansbach, of A Fictional History of the United States (With Huge Chunks Missing), both from Akashic Books. Her second novel, Lipshitz 6, or Two Angry Blonds, came out in 2006 from Dutton. Now Cooper is continuing her relentless book tour to promote the recently released paperback edition from Plume. She stopped to share some of her DIY touring secrets with PW.

The paperback of Lipshitz 6 was just released, so this is the second round of touring you’ve done for this book, right?

I toured with it in Germany twice so it feels like four rounds. It came out in German in September. It really took off when it got picked up by a TV show hosted by a woman named Elke Heidenreich, who’s not really the German Oprah, but when she picks books they become bestsellers. I went for the second time this past January and did an amazing 10-city tour. In Germany it’s such a different system--people buy tickets to readings and are so psyched to go. They put literature on par with film, TV and music. Folks really want to talk and listen. It’s a little taste of rock star.

And you’ve been doing a lot of touring over here, too?

I’ve been doing reading series, but not straight up bookstore readings. Sometimes it’s more discussion or Q & A, and I’ll do a little bit of reading. The paperback lends itself to a different audience in terms of who can and wants to buy it, like students and people who go to readings in bars. The paperback lends itself more to that format. The hardcover came out in late February ’06, and I toured extensively after that. It’s been wonderful but nonstop. I also do a lot of university gigs; I just did Harvard and Yale; I did USC, and I went out to Google.

You read at Google?

They have something called "Authors at Google." They do a lot of employee enrichment. One of the things they do is buy books for their employees and then the employees come to the readings. I think there’s supposed to be a video up at Authors at Google website.

You seem to have a pretty unusual approach to book promotion.

I’ve been doing different things. I’m doing something really fun next week in Atlanta. Aimee Ray of the Indigo Girls is a friend of mine, and she’s always been a supporter of my work. When my first book came out with Akashic, we did a big show, so we’re doing that again with the new book. She’s going to do a musical performance, and I’m going to read and show a little film—I sometimes show imagery with my work. There’s also a transgender performance artist who’s going to perform. I definitely believe in switching it up with readings and not just doing bookstore after bookstore.

How did you figure out that these unusual kinds of events would work with your books?

I did a lot of DIY stuff with a performance troupe I was in; I know a lot of punk groups and came out of that world. It makes a lot of sense to me that any sort or creative endeavor needs that push. It’s nothing new: people take their stuff on the road all the time. I worked so hard on this book in particular; I just want to give it every chance it has out in the world. I do know so many friends and colleagues who say things like "my publisher booked me one event and they’re flying me to one city." I wasn’t in that situation—Dutton was awesome. But for my first book, I went to 35 cities and I booked half the tour on my own. It was a collaborative effort with Akashic. I just think authors know much better what kind of places and events to do. I’m not saying everyone has that instinct, but if you do, you’ve got to do it.

How have your events affected your book sales?

I’m from LA, so I did two events there plus an event at USC. After I was there my book went on the bestseller list. It was at # 5. It felt like that was a direct result that you can actually see.

So where are you now and where are you headed?

I’m in NY. I’m leaving for LA tomorrow. I’m going to do a signing at the LA Times Book Fair, then I’m going to Atlanta, then back here. I literally just got back from DC and Philly. Just the nonstop hustle. It’s totally an honor to get to bring your work out into the world like that, but I’m excited to take a break and write another damn book.