Nick Davis's Blog, page 82
July 15, 2012
Sigmartyr – An Unofficial Action Figure Action Webcomic – Those We Leave Behind Part Seven
The Unofficial Action Figure Webcomic Sigmartyr continues… With the tide turned all that Leftenent Ide can do is delay Omega Commander Castle to give enough time for Alpha Team to escape… Click here to view this epic story…
July 12, 2012
Putting on a show an Indie Authors guide to running your signing table
Over the last couple of years I’ve attended about a dozen shows varying between Comic book stores, Bookstores, Benefit shows and Comic book conventions all for one reason to showcase my books, and to sell them. I’ve hit, I’ve missed, watched people walk past me like I was invisible, fought off convention sleepiness and pulled off some amazing sales. What follows after the jump is my collective knowledge on how to put on a show if you are an indie author in a 20 point list…
1. Try to keep everything packed in one box – try to make sure that box has wheels cause books get heavy fast and that hundred yard walk across the convention floor gets mighty long with 40lbs of books!
2. Bring someone with you to remind you to eat, drink, help you sell and prod you when you get sleepy.
3. Dress tidy… No one expects a suit, I aim for casual smart… Oh, take a towel!
4. Take your own food and snacks – convention food in the hall is very expensive. Try to keep your snacks light and refreshing I’ve found dried and normal fruit is the perfect convention food.
5. Stay hydrated… Again drinks unless you can get into the green room are awfully expensive in a convention hall. Try to stick to tea or water, stay away from sugary drinks they will dry your mouth in convention air.
6. When setting up try to arrive 40 – 60 minutes early. It is much better to be sitting down and looking relaxed when the show opens, than looking a hot mess and still putting your stuff out. Plus it give you chance to network, talk with the staff and make any adjustments to your display.
7. Bring your own drop cloth – every show I’ve been too you will get a table and maybe two chairs. Your own cloth even if it is a sheet will do wonders and make you look a little more professional.
8. Invest in a material stand… Books look much better standing up than laying down and invites your customer to touch and flick through. I got mine from Office depot for about $25, it is three-tier and displays my books wonderfully.
9. Do not put all your books on the table – it will look like a jumble sale and really only need two or three copies out of each title. Unless of course your trying to make a book tower.
10. Smile, say hello to everyone who passes by… If you are busy signing a book your helper should be engaging passers-by. In short do not be shy, the more you get to talk the more comfortable you will be to talk about your work.
11. Have conversations even if it doesn’t lead to sale right then, chances are they will come back to you.
12. Have something you can giveaway, a business card listing your website, a postcard that is a cover of your book. Every person who visits you should come away with something to remind them of you.
13. Smile – if you look miserable no one will come near you.
14. Take hand sanitizer I don’t think I have to explain this… Some convention goers do have an odd interpretation of hygiene.
15. Pictures… Pictures… Pictures… If it is a comic book convention chances are there are Cosplayers wandering around, ask them to take a picture holding you work… They love it, you get a cool picture and it lightens up the day. If you can tweet the pictures from the show floor.
16. If possible have a blow up of your book cover and make a poster, people are engaged visually before they read anything.
17. Put the book in the customer’s hand… It is an old salesman trick, once it is being held they find it harder to put down and it increases the chance of making a sale.
18. If you are signing a book, write the name of the person down your signing too… I lost count of how many badly spelled names I’ve written.
19. Keep your witty dedication short.
20. Have fun!!! Your living your dream and selling your work… Enjoy it!!!
July 10, 2012
Something special may yet come this way as we look at the art inspired by The Daughter of Frost
Did you know The Wonder Tale The Daughter of Frost was written for my Daughter? To celebrate this story, which has turned into one my best-selling Wonder Tales eBooks. I’m working on a special project trying to illustrate the book. As I work to try to make this happen several Artists have submitted test pieces of Aneira the Daughter of Frost…
To learn more about The Daughter of Frost visit please click here…
July 9, 2012
A totally random image post… Frogs… Frogs… Frogs?!?
Frogs… Frogs… Frogs?!? By Nick Davis
What does this all mean?
July 8, 2012
Sigmartyr – An Unofficial Action Figure Action Webcomic – Those We Leave Behind Part Six
The Unofficial Action Figure Webcomic Sigmartyr continues… The power of the Omega Mecha frame may yet prove too much… Click here to view this epic story…
July 7, 2012
A Grand Day out as Tristan goes to Chucks Comics Hoo Haa Anniversary
Well, we are back from Chucks Comics Hoo Haa Anniversary and it was a good day for all. Tristan meet some new fans, I sold a few more Cuddly Hero Sketch Cards and the new look for my graphic novel Fabula Exposition gained the book renewed interest, and two more copies were sold.
Eleventh Doctor, 90′s Jean Grey & Tristan by Paul Salvi
Click the image to view his website
I was tabled next to Paul Salvi; a hidden artistic talent who was knocking out commission sketch cards all day, you can see the three I got above, if you get time check out his work at PaulSalvi.com.
The Hoo Haa Anniversary was a great event to check out Chucks Comics a hidden treasure of a comic book store with a great crew and great selection of books right here in East Baltimore. To learn more about Chucks Comics at http://chuckscomics.com
July 6, 2012
Don’t forget you can meet Tristan from A Teddy Bear Tales at Chucks Comics Ho Haa Anniversary this Saturday!!!
In about 12 hours I will be taking Tristan, A Teddy Bear Tale and the Alt-world Books The Wonder Tales, Fabula Zero Exposition and The Tether Saga to Chucks Comics Ho Haa Anniversary Event. This is a great chance to pick up one of my books, to check out the Cuddly Heroes and take a look at Chuck’s Comics… I hope to see you all there and don’t forget you can RSVP here.
July 5, 2012
Evolution of a Page – A Teddy Bear Tale II Page Nine Color
Completed Illustration for Page Nine of A Teddy Bear Tale by Dan Nokes
This is the final stage of the Evolution of a Page – A Teddy Bear Tale II Page Nine the pencil has been approved with the final changes of the real world elements fading into the landscape in this new world that Tristan has discovered. At this point Dan apply the color ink wash to bring the illustration to like and now page nine of A Teddy Bear Tale II is complete.
This is the second stage of the illustration process. To learn more about A Teddy Bear Tale II and view the first six pages of this book featuring the new adventures of Tristan please click here.
July 4, 2012
Be Safe and have a Fantastic Independence Day
This will be my eleventh Fourth of July here in the USA, this is a Holiday that is more than just an excuse to be with friends and family, it is day to remember your freedoms. A day to remember those that protect your freedoms and a day to remember to never give it away for the sake of security. But you don’t need a lecture from an Englishman about your rights about your freedoms… Just take a look at your Declaration of Independence and these opening words…
“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
You really don’t know how lucky you are… Never forget this and have a Happy and Safe July 4th 
July 3, 2012
Sigmartyr – An Unofficial Action Figure Action Webcomic – Those We Leave Behind Part Five
The Unofficial Action Figure Webcomic Sigmartyr continues… Not giving up yet Heroic Mech Pilot Ide uses all her skill to keep Commander Castle at bay… Click here to view this epic story…
