Making the Most of Your In-person Events

by Heather Weidner

 Through the years, I have done tons of book signings, panels, and workshops. I often hear writers grumble if they don’t have amazing sales. These are a few common denominators that I’ve noticed about authors and successful events.

 The Presentation:

• Always bring a tablecloth and make sure it’s not wrinkled. Many times, the hosts don’t provide table coverings. (Google “stretchy tablecloths.” These are amazing, and you never have to iron them.)
• If you make signs or handouts, make them attractive and readable.
• Always give out something. Everyone I talk to gets a bookmark. You never know who will buy an audiobook or an ebook later.
• I stopped giving out candy when I had some melt in the summer. I have little trinkets for kids (and adults) that relate to my books. Lately, I’ve been giving away sparkly “Pearly Girl” bracelets, mermaid pens, and plastic marine animals for the Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries. Kids tell everyone where they got cool swag.
• Make your table attractive and inviting. Don’t clutter it with stuff. And don’t pile things so high, guests can’t get close to talk to you. Be careful with tall bookstands that block readers from seeing you.
• Don’t stack hundreds of books on your table. That gives people the idea that there are lots and no one is buying them. Put only a few out and create the illusion of “get ‘em before they’re gone.”
• Even if there is a bookseller providing books, make sure that you bring a box with you. I have been to several events where the book order was delayed, and I’ve also been to some where the books sold out. It’s good to be prepared.
• Take a look at your display from the front after you set up and make sure it looks the way you want it to. 

Your Look:

• Dress for the event. Some authors have props or a hat. They attract attention. If that’s not your style, then look professional and dress as comfortably as you can.
• Wear colors that stand out. You want to be seen in the pictures, and bright colors draw people’s attention.
• Stand up if you can. You look more approachable.
• Smile and greet people.
• Even if people are just walking by, ask what they like to read or what their favorite type of book is.
• Do not sit and scroll on your phone. You look bored and boring. People will walk right by.
• Look like you’re having fun. Talk with your tablemates. Take pictures with friends. Take pictures with people who buy books. Energy is contagious. People like to see what’s going on, and they don’t want to miss something. They tend to gravitate to tables that look interesting and fun.
• Have your quick tag line ready and be able to tell them about your books in a succinct way. No boring dissertations.
• It is hard to start conversations with strangers, and it feels weird to talk about yourself so much. If you’re introverted or shy, you need to psych yourself up. Smile, look people in the eye, and talk to them. Not everyone is going to buy a book. But you’ll be surprised at the people you’ll meet. I have recruited a lot of mystery lovers to our Sisters in Crime chapter from these conversations, I’ve found collaboration opportunities, and I’ve gained a bunch of newsletter subscribers.
• Caffeine and candy are good for quick energy boosts to keep you going.
• Be willing to answer questions. People want to know about you, your writing, and your path to publication. And sometimes, you’ll get some questions that you don’t want to answer, and that’s fine. If that happens, be a good politician and steer toward an answer that you do want to give.
• And don’t forget to invite them to sign up for your newsletter list.

Before and After the Event:

• Before the event, make sure you have all of the contacts and logistics information.
• Make sure you share the event on your website, newsletter, and social media sites. If you have followers in the area, they may stop in to see you.
• After the event, make sure to post pictures of all the fun you had. The group pictures are great for this. People love to see who was there. Tag everyone you can on social media.
• Make sure to thank the sponsor/coordinator. Their teams work hard to put on these events.

What would you add to my list?

Heather Weidner writes cozy crime fiction for readers who want justice with a sprinkle of fun and a southern accent.

Through the years, Heather Weidner has been a cop’s kid, technical writer, editor, college professor, software tester, and IT manager. She writes the Pearly Girls Mysteries, the Delanie Fitzgerald Mysteries, The Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries, and The Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries. 
Her short stories appear in a variety of anthologies, and she has non-fiction pieces in Promophobia and The Secret Ingredient: A Mystery Writers’ Cookbook.

Originally from Virginia Beach, Heather has been a mystery fan since Scooby-Doo and Nancy Drew. She lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a crazy Mini Aussie Shepherd. 

 

Rethinking Your 'Back of the Book' Blurb by Judy L Murray

Ever wonder how different authors tackle writing their back of the book blurbs? I consider the book blurb a critical component to my overall marketing effort, and I like nailing down my descriptions long before I begin writing the manuscript. They serve as a neat synopsis for me. Then I tweak the blurb right down to the final edit stage.

This time I handled my blurb for my fourth in the Chesapeake Bay Mystery Series differently. I couldn’t get the words out, so I set it aside until the manuscript was complete. I also did some research on how other authors handle blurbs. It led me to a book entitled Fiction Blurbs – The Step-by Step Guide by Phoebe J. Ravencraft and Bryan Cohen.

Let me say upfront that my bookshelves hold plenty of writing guides collected over the years. I’m sure you have them too. More often than not, I’m disappointed. They frequently ramble, focus on the author, or are far too basic.

Fiction Blurbs gets five stars from me. My copy of the book is riddled with highlighted phrases and caused me to reconsider my approach. It also served as a resource for evaluating my overall storyline. I think many book blurbs, even written for/by extremely well-known authors, could use a few of these pointers.

Here are brief recaps of some of Fiction Blurbs’ lessons:
• Book blurbs have one job – to get the reader involved.
• A book description is not a summary. I’ve fallen into this trap as have many authors.
• Evoke images.
• Ramp up the story’s tension with each sentence or phrase.
• Your main character is the focus of your blurb. Don’t use names of any other character to distract. Big mistake on my part.
• The plot doesn’t matter. It only provides the protagonist’s challenge. Readers care most about characters. Show them why they should root for your main character.
• Use active, powerful verbs.
• Show, don’t tell. The Golden Rule when we’re writing our manuscripts. Do we forget this when we write book blurbs?

Below is my blurb ‘headline’ for Villian in the Vineyard scheduled for spring release and the second paragraph using much of Fiction Blurb’s advice.

Chesapeake Bay’s favorite sleuth unearths a vineyard’s poisonous secrets
Her phone rings. Her heart sinks. A local business leader and friend is dead. Last to see him alive, Helen convinces police her friend’s death is no accident. It’s murder. Days later, she discovers an eccentric vineyard owner slashed with a bottle of his prized wine. Two distinctly different backgrounds. How can these two crimes be related? Or are they?

Best of luck with your descriptions! Who else has advice or books you might suggest?

Judy L Murray
Learn more at https://www.judymurraymysteries.com