Booksignings: All You Need to Know

mtrenteseau

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Just about the only thing that's no longer accurate is the line about most malls having a B.Dalton or Waldenbooks. :(
 

Lavinia

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This is great information. Everything I have read recently has pointed to the fact that in-store signings just aren't a very effective way to sell books. So, I think that has indeed changed or gotten worse since this was originally posted. However, the exception is signings in your own geographical area. For my book for example, I will most likely do signings in the Pacific Northwest. Obviously, I don't know huge groups of people in these cities. This info will REALLY help me. Great suggestions!
 

stranger_friction

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the idea of doing a signing terrifies me. as a musician i've played shows for audiences of 2,000 people. being the singer and main composer i generally have to meet and greet the fans afterward. but, the idea of standing by a table in a bookstore is far scarier.
 

W.J. Cherf

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Simply, purely, awesome advice!

I wish to thank you for this seminal post. The many insights and shared experiences were marvelous.

One possible addition to it would be to insert a dedicated business card as a book mark.

Best with all of your future writing projects!
 

LadyLex

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Wow...this was such an informative post. I'm definitely going to bookmark it. Thanks.
 

ianuschristius

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These are very usefull informations. But currently I don't have that option due to the fact that I published my book through internet(on Amazon), so to give an autograph, first I should buy a lot of my books from CreateSpace(Amazon's selfpublisher) and then come to some local bookstore and offer them to buy autographed books.

But, for all those that publish through local publishers, these are great advices.

Greets from Croatia:)
 

janananna

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Thanks

Your post is great!!!! Thank you so much... You have freely given a lot of really great ideas here. I have so much to learn about publishing and marketing my upcoming book... so I am extra appreciative that you have shared so much here.

Sue
 

ThatKnight64

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A really informative post! I'm looking around trying to learn all I can about being an author (outside of the write the book phase) and this thread is very helpful! Thanks a lot for the great ideas and advice!
 

Preacher'sWife

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I need help. I have a signing on Sunday at my hometown festival (I'm coming back just for this). I'll be on the street in front of a bookstore at a nice table with a canopy. An author from Colorado who is doing a signing there the day before is staying overnight and wants to do it with me. The shop owner is all for it, saying it will bring in more people and has asked me if it's okay. My concern is that my book is a gritty, upper young adult, paranormal (romantic suspense) and the other author's book is a read-to-me children's alphabet book. Should these two really be sharing a table? Will folks buying his be offended by the naked chested teen phoenix on my cover? Am I worrying for no reason? One thing to consider--I'm the "hometown girl". I already have several dozen of the townies who have reserved books and are coming. The other author's illustrator, who will not be there that day, is from our state capital about 40 miles away, but the author staying has no connections. I'm supposed to let the shop owner know tomorrow if I'll share the table. Any advice?
 

Undercover

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Some of this book signing advice is outdated.

I'm trying to plan a book signing and live in a big city area and it's extremely hard to even set up a book signing. You have to be pretty big for it.

If I can round up around 20 people in my area that are willing to come (like for sure) then I can do it. I've told her to go to all my sites and evaluate the book more. I said I would promote the event that way and maybe have some giveaways? Can I do that?

I know my publisher will supply the books, that's not the problem. The problem is guaranteeing the crowd. This is a children's store, I believe. But they don't have many book signings for YA authors.

Should I keep searching? How else do I approach this? My publisher has a brick and mortar store, but that's in Arizona, and I don't think they would pay for air expenses. Although, if I could get there, that would be awesome. But like I said, not sure if that's possible.
 
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Hastings-Press

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I'm trying to plan a book signing and live in a big city area and it's extremely hard to even set up a book signing. You have to be pretty big for it.

In my experience unless you are famous it's pointless.

I once wasted £20 on train fares, a whole 12-hour day of time and a huge amount of effort sitting in a bookshop that specialised in exactly the genre of my book. I was extremely grateful to be invited by the shop, as it was in central London.

I was surrounded by posters that took me hours to create, and a pile of my books, and greeted every person that entered the shop with a big, warm smile and an invitation to have a look at my book (browsing copies were left around invitingly) without bordering on pushiness.

I didn't sell a single copy. I went home feeling terrible. Not only at the waste of time and money, and an aching jaw from smiling all day, but the raised then shattered expectations, and the humiliation of it. I've never done one since.

I think that spending the same amount of time and effort on online promotion of your book might prove more effective!

Good luck
 
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ericgore

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Wow, great advice! And the best part about it is, you've actually done the things you're saying to do, so I know it works. If I ever get the opportunity, I'm going to follow your advice to the letter! Thanks!
 

Bassel

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This seems great, thanks for sharing!
 

KBUpdikeJr

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in a place in space far from here, book binding laced with silk...

Desperate author in
muddy glasses
. . . tumbles toward the morning
caffeine in the coffee shop,
cigarette light inhaled.

50 copies of his lulu memoirs linger stagnant upon the magazine rak,
his mouth inhales the entirety of the
decoction, sitting by a near table

. . .

awaiting drive by signing opportunity.
 

nelehjr

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Awesome! One thing I always had a question about was "WHAT THE NUMEROUS HECKS DO I WEAR?!" For my first book I kind of just wore the same shirt which I got from my mentor who wore it to her book signings... While that's nice, it's kind of weird to have an album on my facebook page where I'm wearing the same exact outfit on different days. :Shrug: Now that I work in a library I know the meaning of business casual. (Just kidding. I know how to be fabulous and so extra it makes people uncomfortable *throws glitter*) My advice: Just dress nice enough so people know you're not homeless and fabulous enough people know you're an artist.
 

rihannsu

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Have any of you signed up to participate in a book fest? Our state allows for even self published authors to sign up as vendors in an "author's alley." They don't charge for the slot/ table, which makes it a great deal. I'd have to get my books from CreateSpace and there's the other costs involved in going out of town, but I'm really considering doing our book fest next summer.