M.R. Pritchard's Blog, page 32
December 9, 2013
Book Signing, the day after.
So yesterday was the big book-signing. I was a bundle of nerves for an entire week and the night before I couldn't even sleep a wink. Here's what happened, before, during and after:
The biggest part of your book signing will be getting the word out. So I spent hours promoting. I did this by posting event links on all of the local news channels' event calendars. And then to take it a bit further, I posted on all of their Facebook pages. I was afraid this kind of pestering was going to get me blocked, but guess what... It got me TV time! Sunday morning one of the local news channels did a thirty-second blurb on the book signing!
The second biggest aspect of your book signing will be being prepared.
My husband has a contact with the printing industry and had this banner made:
What else did I bring? Business cards with my webpage, Facebook and contact info on it, bookmarks for each book and Sell Sheets (one page with my info, book cover images, blurbs and ISBN information for each book, since I have 3 books, they all fit nicely on one 8.5 x 11" page), a basket to do a drawing, a handful of pens, a piece of scrap paper to write the names down on in case people wanted their book personalized, and 2 brand new Sharpie pens.
What am I missing?... Oh, books! How many books should you bring? I scoured the internet to find this answer. Some people said 5, some people said 20. Some people said they only sold 2 books at their book signing. Reading that made me want to barf, because you know how many books I had ordered? Over 100! So part of me was afraid I was going to be left with boxes of unsold books and part of me was anxious I was going to sell them all and have to express ship more in for Christmas presents.
Let's move on.
When my alarm went off for the third time, I figured it was best to stop feigning sleep and get in the shower. Thankfully, I have the world's best husband who loaded the truck and got breakfast before I made it downstairs. We got to the event at 10am and started setting up. I got the spot next to the Christmas tree, which was perfect because I love the holidays! Doors opened at 11 am and the tables were ready!
And... It was snowing in upstate NY. Bummer!!! I figured due to the snow and waiting for patrons to get out of Church, that we wouldn't see many people before noon. And I was right. But not long after noon people started trickling in.
At the end of the day, the book signing was a success! I talked for almost 5 hours straight to people who stopped by the table. And I had the best book seller ever, no one can say "no" to a sweet little 7yr old who blatantly asks, "Do you want to buy some books?"
My daughter helped me bag and hand out bookmarks, coupons, business cards and reminded people to enter the drawing to win free books. My husband handled the money and the receipts.
My favorite part of the book signing (besides seeing so many friends and family come out to support me!) was when a fan sent her father down with a note on which book to buy because she couldn't make it.
So, down to the numbers. How many books did I sell?
Over 60! I have just enough stock left for Christmas presents and to fulfill orders for people who couldn't make it but definitely wanted the books. So it worked out perfectly.
Will I do this again? Definitely. I sold more paperback books face-to-face than I have with all of my online promoting.
So, fellow Indie Authors, find a Vendor/Crafter Fair and get a table. Word of mouth is the best way to spread the news of how awesome your book (or books) are, so get out there.
The biggest part of your book signing will be getting the word out. So I spent hours promoting. I did this by posting event links on all of the local news channels' event calendars. And then to take it a bit further, I posted on all of their Facebook pages. I was afraid this kind of pestering was going to get me blocked, but guess what... It got me TV time! Sunday morning one of the local news channels did a thirty-second blurb on the book signing!
The second biggest aspect of your book signing will be being prepared.
My husband has a contact with the printing industry and had this banner made:
What else did I bring? Business cards with my webpage, Facebook and contact info on it, bookmarks for each book and Sell Sheets (one page with my info, book cover images, blurbs and ISBN information for each book, since I have 3 books, they all fit nicely on one 8.5 x 11" page), a basket to do a drawing, a handful of pens, a piece of scrap paper to write the names down on in case people wanted their book personalized, and 2 brand new Sharpie pens.What am I missing?... Oh, books! How many books should you bring? I scoured the internet to find this answer. Some people said 5, some people said 20. Some people said they only sold 2 books at their book signing. Reading that made me want to barf, because you know how many books I had ordered? Over 100! So part of me was afraid I was going to be left with boxes of unsold books and part of me was anxious I was going to sell them all and have to express ship more in for Christmas presents.
Let's move on.
When my alarm went off for the third time, I figured it was best to stop feigning sleep and get in the shower. Thankfully, I have the world's best husband who loaded the truck and got breakfast before I made it downstairs. We got to the event at 10am and started setting up. I got the spot next to the Christmas tree, which was perfect because I love the holidays! Doors opened at 11 am and the tables were ready!
And... It was snowing in upstate NY. Bummer!!! I figured due to the snow and waiting for patrons to get out of Church, that we wouldn't see many people before noon. And I was right. But not long after noon people started trickling in.
At the end of the day, the book signing was a success! I talked for almost 5 hours straight to people who stopped by the table. And I had the best book seller ever, no one can say "no" to a sweet little 7yr old who blatantly asks, "Do you want to buy some books?"
My daughter helped me bag and hand out bookmarks, coupons, business cards and reminded people to enter the drawing to win free books. My husband handled the money and the receipts.
My favorite part of the book signing (besides seeing so many friends and family come out to support me!) was when a fan sent her father down with a note on which book to buy because she couldn't make it.
So, down to the numbers. How many books did I sell?
Over 60! I have just enough stock left for Christmas presents and to fulfill orders for people who couldn't make it but definitely wanted the books. So it worked out perfectly.
Will I do this again? Definitely. I sold more paperback books face-to-face than I have with all of my online promoting.
So, fellow Indie Authors, find a Vendor/Crafter Fair and get a table. Word of mouth is the best way to spread the news of how awesome your book (or books) are, so get out there.
December 4, 2013
First Book Signing Jitters...
So this Sunday, December 8th, 2013
Will be my first book signing!
Enter nerves, sweating, and lots of rum and cokes.
I bought my table cloth, a new pen, stickers, bookmarks, business cards, and a boxes of books!!
Stay tuned for updates!
And if you live in Upstate, NY, Swing on by!
Will be my first book signing!
Enter nerves, sweating, and lots of rum and cokes.
I bought my table cloth, a new pen, stickers, bookmarks, business cards, and a boxes of books!!
Stay tuned for updates!
And if you live in Upstate, NY, Swing on by!
November 15, 2013
My book is being featured Sunday at The Fussy Librarian
My book is being featured Sunday at The Fussy Librarian, a new website that offers personalized ebook recommendations. You choose from 40 genres and indicate preferences about content and then the computers work their magic. It's pretty cool -- check it out! www.TheFussyLibrarian.com
November 13, 2013
Enter to win a paperback of SARATOGA!
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Saratoga by M.R. Pritchard
Saratoga by M.R. Pritchard Giveaway ends December 14, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter to winNovember 4, 2013
Waiting is hard to do.
So my December release, SARATOGA, is out to beta-readers and the response has been amazing!
So amazing that I'm having a hard time sticking to my timeline and waiting until December to click "submit"
I can't wait to hear what everyone else has to say about the book.
Until then, I guess we'll just have to stare at the cover....
So amazing that I'm having a hard time sticking to my timeline and waiting until December to click "submit"
I can't wait to hear what everyone else has to say about the book.
Until then, I guess we'll just have to stare at the cover....
November 1, 2013
October 31, 2013
Happy Halloween!
Don't forget to brush your teeth!
October 24, 2013
First Snowfall!
If you know me, you know I love the snow!So guess what I woke up to...
That's right, it's only October 24th and we have had our first snowfall.
And it's not even Halloween!I feel like this hasn't happened since I was a kid.
Good thing I cleared the garden beds the other dayExcept for that lone zucchini plant.
I was hoping to get another harvest off of it.
That's right, it's only October 24th and we have had our first snowfall.
And it's not even Halloween!I feel like this hasn't happened since I was a kid.
Good thing I cleared the garden beds the other dayExcept for that lone zucchini plant.
I was hoping to get another harvest off of it.
October 19, 2013
Dream tank
I just finished watching a "Tanked" marathon on Netflix at the request of my seven year old daughter. And since we
have two large tanks and I love building my tanks and maintaining them, I'm glad to see the aquarist bug is hitting her.
So watching all of these episodes got me to thinking what would be my dream tank?
I started thinking about all of the things I love and what would be interesting and inspiring (Oh yeah, and if I had an unlimited budget and a house larger than a shack...)
So what would I want?
I'm thinking Dystopian Post-Apocalyptic Library overgrown with vegetation and fish.Don't forget to add the Apocalypse smog.
I even created my own rendering of my dream tank:
It's okay, you can laugh. I'm obviously not an artist, but a girl can dream!
