tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post1482903131209916185..comments2024-03-29T05:53:38.691-04:00Comments on Writers Who Kill: Signings for Fun and Maybe Even ProfitJim Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-25137433436737174212011-01-29T15:50:56.530-05:002011-01-29T15:50:56.530-05:00All great tips, Warren! I would add that I always ...All great tips, Warren! I would add that I always take cookies or something for the staff so they know how much I appreciate what they're doing.<br /><br />And I like that you added the part about showing some enthusiasm at your signing. People won't gravitate toward a lump sitting behind a table and snoozing.Marjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04683888030155879214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-21315359010729655412011-01-28T21:39:14.427-05:002011-01-28T21:39:14.427-05:00Pauline,
Ouch! The worst I've seen was in an ...Pauline,<br /><br />Ouch! The worst I've seen was in an airport. Nobody had time to stop at the tables. Passengers were frantic and the authors all looked like they were somewhere else.Warren Bullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789270258599769915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-8763755041103365432011-01-28T17:43:15.588-05:002011-01-28T17:43:15.588-05:00Good advice, Warren. Food and let others know you&...Good advice, Warren. Food and let others know you're having a good time. I once attended a signing at a small library that was really grim and I wished I hadn't put in an appearance. There was a co-author who couldn't be bothered to answer questions and a threatening heckler. Chairs were set up in front of the authors' desk as though we were all back in school.Pauline Alldredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00847008019331163905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-558826555607612472011-01-28T12:54:57.609-05:002011-01-28T12:54:57.609-05:00Great advice. Keeping it festive, and giving somet...Great advice. Keeping it festive, and giving something other than a pitch for sales is a wonderful way to make friends of your readers. The people who buy your book and like it will remember you and make a point to turn out for your next event.Gwen Mayohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12873119642621584327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-2808733513930055562011-01-28T11:20:40.968-05:002011-01-28T11:20:40.968-05:00Thanks for the kind remarks. If you feel uneasy p...Thanks for the kind remarks. If you feel uneasy promoting yourself. You might borrow a strategy from Joel Goldman and ask your mother to promote for you. By talking up my first novel, my mom made me the best-selling author in Green Valley, AZ for one day. It was only best selling experience. I've also been on a panel of authors and watched people stagger up with arms full of books to well-known authors while I and other unknown sold one book at a time.Warren Bullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789270258599769915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-11294012024988798622011-01-28T10:21:47.781-05:002011-01-28T10:21:47.781-05:00Thanks for the great tips, Warren. Having a friend...Thanks for the great tips, Warren. Having a friendly gang there with you is a terrific idea.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-33747212932680325262011-01-28T10:13:51.856-05:002011-01-28T10:13:51.856-05:00I think you're right, Warren. People enjoy joi...I think you're right, Warren. People enjoy joining others who have fun. If you look like a sour puss, who would bother with you? And food always attracts people.<br /><br />Glad you had a good signing.<br />DeeDee Hendershot Gatrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11315751626223107417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-55237575611668422722011-01-28T09:58:29.120-05:002011-01-28T09:58:29.120-05:00I like to hold signings in small, cozy independent...I like to hold signings in small, cozy independent bookstores, maybe because I write cozies, maybe because the people--owner included--seem less rushed and more comfortable chatting.<br />I've repeated signings at Booked for Murder both signings (I only have 2 published) and though it changed hands between the 2, both owners were warm and welcoming and provided goodies. Good for me since I was hauling in the books.Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09172958965803279000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-81107052491119819332011-01-28T08:55:55.773-05:002011-01-28T08:55:55.773-05:00This is great advice, Warren, which I dearly hope ...This is great advice, Warren, which I dearly hope to follow some day. I've had the food idea myself--at the writing series I run, we always serve light snacks and homemade desserts and it is a real crowd pleaser--but I wonder how this can be done if you're signing far from home, and doing a long succession of events in a row?Jenny Milchmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04410805792044518458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-27299106455852150742011-01-28T08:52:12.235-05:002011-01-28T08:52:12.235-05:00I feel a lot of trepidation when I think of book s...I feel a lot of trepidation when I think of book signing. Coming from a very conservative area where humility is golden, being the center of attention and putting on a show, doesn't come easily to me. Promotion will be my dilemma. So glad your signing went well and was fun! Kudos to you.E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-45954032834498265572011-01-28T08:44:33.546-05:002011-01-28T08:44:33.546-05:00Warren,
I think you've touched on a secret th...Warren,<br /><br />I think you've touched on a secret that applies to many things in life. If you look like you are having fun, people gravitate toward you to find out what be happenin'.<br /><br />If you look like you are doing something under duress, people will treat you like you have the plague.<br /><br />I'm glad your signing went so well.<br /><br />~ JimJim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-40030423385769334342011-01-28T08:25:59.563-05:002011-01-28T08:25:59.563-05:00Warren, I wish I could have attended your signing!...Warren, I wish I could have attended your signing! Sounds like you did indeed make it an event.<br /><br />On the flip side, I recently went to a bookstore where a retired state trooper was signing his book, a history of the state police. At the table were a couple of troopers, in uniform, buying his book. I was semi-interested in buying the book, so I hung around for a little bit. Nobody went near that table--in fact, most patrons gave him a very wide berth. So you might want to think carefully about the type of "costume" you wear.Ramonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00627775403015684868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-61400694624649348022011-01-28T01:10:17.376-05:002011-01-28T01:10:17.376-05:00Warren, you gave your book signing event a festive...Warren, you gave your book signing event a festive touch and I enjoyed reading the details in your blog post. You've given me reason to look forward to the day I become published and can arrange such an event.<br /><br />Also, I've finally read your book title often enough (here and at the Guppy site)to remember to include it on my list of book purchases! I recently visited New York City for the first time and look forward to a bit of Manhattan intrigue.Gail M Baugniet - Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11543343067963247963noreply@blogger.com