Before I was doing press for Beat, I would have 30-40 books delivered by the end of San Diego Comic-Con. Now my average grade is 20-30, which is still pretty respectable. You may not be impressed yet, but let me add one word to it: free. These books are free.
One of the best-kept secrets at San Diego Comic-Con is how easy it is to get free books. Most are not final releases, they are Advanced Reader’s Copies (ARCs) and may still have bugs or changes, but if you are looking forward to an upcoming release you can find it here.
Let’s start with some quick notes/disclaimers.
First, you need a badge. These book giveaways are only available within the convention center.
Second, try to only do what you think you want. Quantities of each book are limited and competition is increasing. That book you show up to and realize isn’t for you, but taking it anyway might be someone’s dream item, so be considerate.
Third, don’t harass booth staff. Again, they have a limited number of books. They have no control over how many there are and they have no control over you being the 51st person to try something they only have 50 of.
Fourth, there have been incidents of injuries caused by book grabbing for two consecutive years. Don’t be that person. Follow the rules. If you didn’t line up, you’d know it. Check your rights.
Finally, reading and following this article does not guarantee you will get any books. That’s what I do, but things change over time.
Now for the fun stuff.
Start preparing now. If you’re looking forward to a book coming out in the next year or so, check who its publisher is and see if they’ll be at San Diego Comic-Con. Several publishers who will be attending the conference publish posts on their websites and/or social media announcing what, if any, giveaways they will be running in the two to three weeks following the conference. We are in that window.
Unfortunately, not all posts are where you expect them to be. Please visit sdccblog.com, the unofficial blog of San Diego Comic-Con, to browse their curated posts and find the following publisher posts: Penguin Random House Release Schedule. Write down what books you want, the stall number, time and date and plan it into your day.
But remember, things can (and often do) change. As soon as you get the chance, you can visit the showroom on the day and get the latest book release schedule in print or by scanning a QR code. There will be differences from the website/post; the latter is a guide only and updates will be accurate.
But you’re not done yet.
Each booth has a different book release process. Some require you to pick up your ticket at 9am no matter what time the giveaway is. Some will hand out tickets 30 minutes before the book giveaway and/or signing. Some companies form long lines in front of their stalls ten to twenty minutes in advance. If it’s not in their post, ask at the booth what the process is. PRH has it in their post linked above, which makes this easy.
That’s it. Do your research ahead of time, be prepared to make changes to your schedule, make sure you know the procedures, and then follow said procedures.
Remember: whatever book you get, you have to carry it with you for a while. Books are heavy, and the weight adds up quickly. Don’t let your readership put your spine at risk, or at least have a really good massage therapist lined up when you get home.
Good luck and see you soon!
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