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Need to organise a book signing - gulp
My second book is almost ready for launch and I have to organise book signings. Has anyone done one? What should I expect? (At best, I'm expecting a lonely me, sitting at a table surrounded by books, with staff looking at me in pity. At worse I'm expecting the shop in question will look down at me saying, we only want real authors in our store. Pee off.)
Comments
Is it a weekday or a weekend? (that does seem make a difference in how many people are around)
Have you got your postcards/leaflets with your book details on so you can give them to anyone who looks but doesn't buy at the time?
I remember reading a tip suggesting you ask a couple of friends/family to keep popping in to talk to you in exchange for a copy of the book and a cream tea or something. Nothing's more interesting to punters than what someone else is looking at.
And remember, even if you don't sell masses of books, it's all good publicity. The more posters you can have around with your book title and your name on them, the better. People will register it and even if they don't stop... and next time they see it, they'll notice it that bit more.
Local press too, as suggested above - try to get a feature in there as close to signing day as possible (but make contact a week or two before). Phone worked better for me than email. Also think of trying local radio... you never know, they might be trying to fill a slot and may invite you on (they did me, twice).
I had one good book signing, one mediocre one and two disappointing ones - the worst being on a hot summer's day in Borders in Brum when not a single person bought a book. Of the two people who stopped to speak to me, one wanted to convert me to her faith and the other wanted to persuade me to buy her book! Very funny in retrospect. Keep a sense of humour, it's the only way...
Best of luck and have fun!
Thanks everyone for your support and help. I think the sweets is a good idea. I shall ask the store if I can take in something (best not chocolate, but only because I'll eat them!).
The signing will have to be a week day unfortunately unless I can get time off work. But I'll try and arrange a midmorn/day slot. Radio and newspaper feature also brings me out in a cold sweat, but these things have to be done.
I keep telling myself, that even if I were a traditional writer, I'd still have to be doing these things because they'd be arranged by the agent.
I had to wait for OH in Waterstone's not long ago and this man was doing a signing of his book. OMG! I sat down near and quarter of an hour later he was till pinioning a poor family who had stopped to look with a jaw achingly boring run-down of the quality of paper and his characters and the illustrator and... actually, he was so boring I couldn't even listen so I have no idea what he was talking about except a vague idea that it was de trop.
I would definitely have an exciting precis of your book to give people and an idea of how to answer any questions succinctly and interestingly!
Another important point is to practice your signature :-)
Liz is right about the boring details. I went to an author talk and she mentioned, amongst other things, the really nice way her book was bound. I'd lost all interest long before she got round to talking about the actual story.
louise, from a parent's point of view, I'd prefer wrapped sweets (hate my kids delving in where other fingers have been) and also agree, keep the chat about your book to the exciting bits, not about the quality of "yawn" paper used and bookbinding methods.
Good luck louise. :)
[quote=Verica]I didn't put it on Amazon and was very annoyed when I saw that a signed copy I had given to Maureen Lipman, after being asked to do so by a film star friend of one of our acquaintances, was on Amazon for £30!!! [/quote]
Do you mean, Maureen Lipman put it on Amazon? What a rude thing to do unless the profit from it was intended for charity do you think?
Totally agree with Lily's comment too,Verica.
Actually I took the boys into Waterstones the Saturday before the half term and there were some interesting projects going on. My boys could have stayed there all day, building lego men, etc.
Yes, S Tony, so many people have said that it would make a good film, even suggesting suitable actors, but I felt I was not capable of writing the script and, as suggested by the commissioning editor of a large publishing company, I sent the Manuscript to Spielberg's Agents. When I didn't hear from them for a long time, I telephoned them in America, to be told that all unsolicited manuscripts are destroyed.
Recently, when a tutor came to give a workshop to our writers' group, I mentioned that it was suggested that the book would make a good TV or film production, he suggested that I may like to get in touch with Soho Writers and he would let me know if they would be interested, but I don't know how much it would cost.
He also said that he was seeing a company who was interested in doing something for the Paralympians, so maybe they would sponsor the publication of my book of advice to people from very many personalities in sport, politics, film and TV, to be published in aid of the British Disabled Ski Team/Paralympic Ski Team, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Meanwhile, I'm entering competitions and hope I'll be lucky in some - someone has to win (smiley). At the request of Forward Press I've also sent four poems, which have been accepted in the last few weeks and it would be lovely to have a book of poetry published. Also, I've had several poems published in an American e-publication, including a prayer.
This is the second time I've written the above, as the first time it disappeared and in red the comment appeared: You are not allowed to participate in discussions, as you are not signed in (or something similar). I hope the same doesn't happen again! I AM SIGNED IN!
Congratulations! How far are you from Reading? I'll come along and support you (work and distance permitting).
I never thought of trying a Supermarket to sign in. Might be worth asking!
I have got a few signings setup for the New Year in Waterstones. WHSmith don't want to know :(
My local library is interested in me giving a "talk". Not sure about that though - book signings will be bad enough. I will let everyone know how I get on.
KJ, that's a shame! The Newport one was very keen to have me there when Captain of the Wight came out, local author and all that. I thought your local branch would be the same.
End up looking like a melon.
Prepare a talk then stand up on your own by your dining table and see how it goes, then try it in front of a friend.
You proly only get tongue tied, etc, because you haven't prepared.
Self belief is what I need for Christmas I think. :)