Book Signings?

KDude said:

Public readings are the only things which scare me more. I'd rather go to the dentist.

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Hehe. Yikes. That's certainly saying something.

I must admit, I can't say the thought thrills me either.

KDude said:

Does your publisher normally arrange these?

I have to admit, it scares the hell out of me, but I suppose the author has to do them. What if no bugger turns up? Anyone had any really bad ones?

Public readings are the only things which scare me more. I'd rather go to the dentist.

Publishers don't require authors to do readings, do they?

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The truth is, most of the booksignings I've had have been bad ones. <G> My very best one was my very first one, and I sold about 24 books at that one.

I did one this last weekend that was supposed to be more of an event than a booksigning. I printed up 200 invitations and took them to the bookstore for them to hand out to their romance customers in advance. I came up with games, gathered supplies, etc. A fellow author (we were promoting our "twin" books - books with the same exact titles from 2 different publishers) drove almost 2 hours to join me.

I think 5 or 6 people showed up, and 2 of those were my mom and her best friend. <G>

Booksignings are not the glorious thing people imagine before they sell. They're often boring. I do NOT enjoy doing them, and I think, in the future, I'm going to only do them if the bookstore suddenly decides they want to do something. I will stick with drop-by stock signings instead because in truth, that works better. It's like people are afraid to approach the books with you sitting there. (Yes, yes, I know how to sell myself. I know how to make eye contact with them and give them a freebie bookmark or piece of candy. Doesn't matter. <G>)

This is also why I like doing booksignings with another author - gives you someone to talk to when people are avoiding you like the bird flu.

Anyway, that's MHO about booksignings. I'd rather stay home and write. Or read. Or watch tv. Or have a tooth filled. (Not at home, though. <G>) Or maybe even hit myself in the head with a hammer. LOL!

Now, when you're a BIG NAME, then a booksigning might be more fun. When people actually line up at the store to have you sign your books - that might be a bit more of a kick. <G>

And no, at this point in my career, my publisher doesn't arrange these - I arrange them myself.

Susan G.

Usually on your first book the signings are up to you. They may help set up a few locations, maybe, but you pay, you travel, and you will do most of the setting up. If your book does well, and the publisher believes your second book will do as well, then they will be more involved, and probably pay for the travel.

Book signings are necessary evil. It's like going to a job interview or stand in line for a ride or doing laundry or...

Yes, your publisher would be arranging for them. But you should do your part, too, by contacting the book stores and making sure you present yourself well, etc. But don't expect a long line wrapped around the block (unless you're JK Rowling -- does she even do signings? I'd think she would create civil discourse if she shows up at a book store) Most of the time, the royalty you earn on the sales at signings won't even afford you a cup of coffee (not Starbucks, anyway). You're there to "promote" your book and get yourself out there and show you face and make people aware that you and your book exist.

I'm actually very comfortable with public appearances and am looking forward to my first signing (even if nobody shows up). I've gone to trade shows before and I know sales is really not the main thing (hardly anyone bought anything at the trade shows). I think if you look at it as an opportunity to tell people about your work (which you LOVE because it's your baby) you may not feel so apprehensive. It's not about coming out looking like a movie star. It's about awareness.

You're a salesperson, and you are there to sell your product. Get the word out. Even if you don't sell many books at the signing, that's not the point. Those people tell other people, and readers that may not know who you are, graced by your infectious personality, will recommend you later. It's a big cycle that goes round and round...

I don't enjoy book signings either--like Susan, most of my experiences have been pretty depressing--and with my last book I gave myself permission not to torture myself, and didn't arrange a single one. I felt a little guilty, but honestly, it was a huge relief.

If you're with a smaller publisher, I think signings are more crucial, because they're often a way to persuade the store to stock your book. If you're with a larger house, however, you'll probably get pretty good distribution no matter what sort of self-promotion you do. I don't think that signings have much of an impact on sales anyway, unless you do them really intensively. Suppose you have a really great signing and sell 50 books--that's a drop in the bucket when your publisher expects overall sales in the five-digit range.

What signings can do, I think, is to make you known to booksellers, who hopefully then will handsell your current book and order lots of your next one. But again, unless you do a lot of signings--like dozens--I think this probably has minimal effect.

- Victoria

We're also not at the point in our careers (I write with a co-author) where the publisher sets up a signing tour. We're fortunate that the nearest big town actually has a number of published authors, so very often the bookstores will arrange for group signings. The benefits of this are two-fold:


1. If there are several authors in multiple genres, you're more likely to draw a crowd of people. That will give you the opportunity to talk about your book to an already receptive audience who likes books (even if they've never heard of YOU.) For example, we write romance, but another MAJOR author in the region writes westerns. If the husband stops to talk to him, we grab the wives to chat!

2. You have someone to talk to when it's slow. I can't TELL you how boring a book signing is when you're sitting alone! But with a mixture of authors, you can tell war stories, or get tips on promotion or learn about new agents, houses, lines, etc. Plus, it's terrific networking.

If you have the opportunity, see if you can set up a group signing with your local bookstore. Very often, they know ALL the authors in the region, and the other authors might be just as interested to sit down with you!

Good luck!

Kdude,

Different publishers will do different things. Some will arrange signings for you, others will leave it up to the author. In my case, I arrange signings myself--I think it's just a lot easier, what with working a full-time job and having other commitments. The bookstores are very familiar with my publisher's books and they are all happy to have me come in usually on days of my own choosing. After I schedule them, I email the publisher to let them know of the events. The publisher then sends announcment signs and makes doubly sure the stores have plenty of stock.

Bookstore managers will also arrange signings, perhaps for a local author day or some other event. When this happens, they will usually contact the publisher who will then contact the author. You don't have to participate if you don't wish. But as stated in a previous post, multi-author signings are fun.

I never expect to sell a ton of books at a signing. I think the most I sold of one title was 15. My average is seven. Since I came out with book two last year, at my signings I sell an average of seven of one and six of the other. This year, I will have three different books on my table, so we'll see what the new averages are.

Even though my books are regional history titles, the subjects appeal to a lot of different people including tourists and railroad enthusiasts. The new title is entertainment history which will attract a new audience.

And yes I have had signings where nobody showed up. This was inside a mall where outside it was an absolutely gorgeous perfect fall day. Nobody was shopping. But that was OK; I just sat there and read. (Normally I stand in front of my table.)

I love doing signings. I love to meet people who have either read my previous books or watch people flipping through it the first time. I always hear the same stories about the subway or streetcars they used to ride, but that's fine with me. It gives me a common ground with the customer.

I also love speaking to groups. I have spoken to just a few people to groups of fifty or more. As long as I know my subject, I am perfectly comfortable giving a talk. Talks raise awareness about my subjects and teaches the audience some local history.

I don't believe publishers actually require book signings and public readings. In fact, many authors are reclusive and don't ever give signings. But authors are expected to participate in promotion--especially at a local level, while the publisher does all the really hard work. Certainly you don't have to, but what does it hurt? Readers love to meet the authors of their favorite books.

And if nothing else, it is a lot of fun to go to your favorite bookstore to sign their stock and soak up the praise from bookstore staff on why your books are so great and how they sell so well.

Maybe that's not what writing is all about, but it is a nice perk.

Allen

Isn't a great compromise to visit bookstores, meet the manager/owner, and offer to sign copies? A local author in my area, Duane Swierczynski, who wrote the recently released The Wheelman (edgy crime thriller with a pummeling of twisted humor) (plug! plug!) signed books at a downtown Philadelphia bookstore. They marked the copies "Autographed" and put them on a front table. I bet they sold much better there than on a back shelf.

Book signings

Publishers seem to be getting away from book signings for new writers. They just don't seem to work.

From the research I've seen, most people go to book signings to meet their favorite writer, or to meet an extremely famous writer, even if they don't particularly like them. So it isn't a Stephen King book that draws crowds, it's Stephen King, plus his autograph on a book.

Book signings where literally no one shows up are pretty common, and when no one shows up, a book signing may get your books in a store short term, but they hurt when those books don't sell..

Jamesaritchie said:

Publishers seem to be getting away from book signings for new writers. They just don't seem to work.

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This was the impression I was getting. I figure I'd try it once or twice anyway, expecting no one to care

I'm planning to visit conventions where like-minded readers go to hear their favorite authors (and mine), and walk around with a copy of my book along with some postcards or business cards to hand out, telling the curious where to get it. I figure that being friendly and chatting people up wouldn't hurt.

My local Waterstone's and Ottakar's are so full of books with the 'AUTOGRAPHED COPY!!!' sticker now that I just say, "Meh," and move on to one that isn't being rammed down my throat.

My personal definition of 'book signing' tends to be 'thing that gets in my way when I go to buy books'. Besides, most of my cherished books are the warped, twisted ones, bent out of shape by many readings and months of sitting in the bathroom. Getting them autographed would probably make most of them crumble into dust.

Books

scarletpeaches said:

My local Waterstone's and Ottakar's are so full of books with the 'AUTOGRAPHED COPY!!!' sticker now that I just say, "Meh," and move on to one that isn't being rammed down my throat.

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If they're first editions, grab one anyway for purely selfish financial reasons. I've subsidized most of my book buying over the years by buying, selling, and trading first editions, and autographed first editions pay a premium. Sometimes a big one. I've traded one signed first edition that I didn't even like for more than 100 novels that I did want.

I know a couple of my local bookshops have started doing that. They've even got "signed by the author" stickers they put on the front cover to tempt you to pick it up. Sounds like a great idea to me. You could do a lot more in the same time that way.

From the research I've seen, most people go to book signings to meet their favorite writer, or to meet an extremely famous writer, even if they don't particularly like them. So it isn't a Stephen King book that draws crowds, it's Stephen King, plus his autograph on a book.

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Sounds about right. The only signing I've ever turned up to was for Terry Pratchett, and I dare say I'm not the only one.

LightShadow said:

You're a salesperson, and you are there to sell your product. Get the word out. Even if you don't sell many books at the signing, that's not the point. Those people tell other people, and readers that may not know who you are, graced by your infectious personality, will recommend you later. It's a big cycle that goes round and round...

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... I think I'm going to need a stunt double.

Sharon Mock said:

... I think I'm going to need a stunt double.

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I've actually fantasized about this. Couldn't I hire someone to pose as me, the public author, who'd run around doing convention appearances and book signings and networking and all those scary career-forwarding things that writers are supposed to do nowadays? While the real me, the private author, would just write books.

Sigh. A girl can dream.

- Victoria

I wanted to have a super model pose as me for the jacket photo, but then I realized she'd have to do the book signings and learn to forge my signature. The whole idea fell apart at that point.

I'm doing them. I'll tell you why - b/c I'm a nobody. Really. Sounds weird, but you know, all the places I've contacted have been very helpful. I'm not in the chain's database yet, the book has to go through the approval process, but the local library was very keen to help me do a book launch. Good thing about that is, they have experience in doing it for other authors. They will help promote and make sure the media is alerted, etc... The local coffee shop/used bookstore also does these types of events on a fairly regular basis, always with media coverage. Also happy to do it.

I'm sending myself on a mini-tour once the book makes it through all the Borders/Waldenbooks/B&N red tape. We have a bunch of those stores in the area thats withing driving distance. And if nothing else, I get to spend hours in bookstores.
Can't beat that.

PS - I think this makes a difference when it's a children's book too... most adults are jaded; oh, it's not a bestseller, who cares? Children appreciate meeting any author, I've found. They don't care much who it is. To get something signed by an author, you should see their eyes light up.

I found the same was true when I did Children's Theater. Always I would spend hours after the show signing programs for kids. They so didn't care that it wasn't Broadway, or that I wasn't Julia/Jennifer/Drew/Cameron/whoever. They just saw me on stage, and that was good enough for them.

Christine N. said:

I'm doing them. I'll tell you why - b/c I'm a nobody. Really. Sounds weird, but you know, all the places I've contacted have been very helpful. I'm not in the chain's database yet, the book has to go through the approval process, but the local library was very keen to help me do a book launch. Good thing about that is, they have experience in doing it for other authors. They will help promote and make sure the media is alerted, etc... The local coffee shop/used bookstore also does these types of events on a fairly regular basis, always with media coverage. Also happy to do it.

I'm sending myself on a mini-tour once the book makes it through all the Borders/Waldenbooks/B&N red tape. We have a bunch of those stores in the area thats withing driving distance. And if nothing else, I get to spend hours in bookstores.
Can't beat that.

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I don't mind and usually enjoy local signings at libraries and nearby bookstores, largely because I always meet old friends and acquaintances, and it's hard to say no to in-state radio stations and newspapers. But that's as far as it goes. The less well-known you are, the less book signings seem to help.

And, really, I'd much rather stay home and write.