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Book Signings the frustrations and the joys

With several books now available, I was honored when a local bookstore asked me in for a booksigning. Like any author, I ordered a few of each of my books in both print and ebook (CD's) and prepared to wow the crowds.

I got there an hour early - set up, got organized, made sure my pens worked and waited. Waited for friends, co-workers, family - who'd said they'd be there but didn't show up. By the time my signing was over, I'd become almost resigned to its failure. After all how can it be a success when I sold one book and talked to a few people - who asked questions but didn't make a purchase?

Yet it wasn't a complete frustrating failure. Oh no, by making one sale I have my book(s) in another persons hands. There was another lady there as well who gave me her card and said "call me". Is she a buyer? Yes, she is. She owns a book store several hours away from my hometown. And i will definitely be calling her.

As well, I learned a few other tidbits about selling my book. That wonderful amount on the back of the book is set in stone. If it says $5.00 the average reader will not be willing to pay more for it. Does that mean I'll take a loss for my books sold? No. But I have learned that if it said suggested retail price or in US Funds a reader/buyer is more likely to ask how much in Canadian.

So while on one hand I didn't have the sucess that I'd have loved to have ( a sold out afternoon) it was joyfully frustrating. An experience that I will most definitely be doing again - with a bit more planning, more exposure, and attention to getting readers through the doors, wallets in hand and opened to make a purchase.

Comments

Sometimes it's not the money but validation which we need.

Good luck with your book.
Rita Sawyer said…
Congrats on the signing.
Darla M Sands said…
It sounds like you took positive energy out of the experience. Good for you! I'm reminded of a tale by essayist David Sedaris. Feeling unworthy of fans' picture taking, he created a sign prohibiting photographs, hoping it sounded like a store policy. So when he was in a bulk warehouse store for an under-promoted book signing he felt even worse when people walked by presumably wondering why they shouldn't take a picture of the small, mysterious man seated at a table all by himself. :)

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