Seven Tips for a Happy Book Signing...
I'm going to the first book signing of my new book Sinking Deeper: Or My Questionable (Possibly Heroic) Decision to Invent a Sea Monstertoday at the Mic Mac Mall in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia - from 2:30 to 4:30pm.
(and I realize that officially I should be calling Dartmouth by it's proper title HRM - but that belongs in a whooole other blog posting)
A lot of writers I know dread book signings - but I welcome them. I love the opportunity to hand-sell. There is a really cool feeling in watching as somebody actually pays money to reads your words - not to mention hearing them say "Cool book, dude."
(and I realize that there are very few people below the age of 100 who even say the word "cool" anymore)
So I thought I'd offer a few tips on "proper" book signing techniques.
#1 - Brush and floss! Bring your smile with you and use it. The customers who approach you at a book signing are potential readers - and they aren't going to approach you at all if you look as if you're about to break into tears. And wear a nice shirt.
#2 - Make certain your books are all well displayed. I often bring along a couple of those folding bookstands. Bookstores don't always have too many extras kicking around.
#3 - Speak up. Ideally, I like to sit close to the entrance of a bookstore and greet people as they walk in.
"Hi.", "How are you?" "How'ya doing?". "Good day." I know it sounds corny. I know you might initially feel like the greeter at a WalMart store - but try it. Catch their attention, catch their eye - and then, if they approach you step right into your pitch.
#4 - That's right - you'll need a pitch. Make certain you can sum up what your book is about in a sentence or less. People are busy these days and they do not want to fart around listening to some guy try and figure out just what the heck he wrote.
For example: Haunted Harbours: Ghost Stories from Old Nova Scotiais a book of twenty-one ghost stories of Old Nova Scotia - all of them lifted from legend and lore and history.
#5 - Practice your signature. Don't be that guy with a prescription-blur of a signature. This person paying money for a signed copy would probably appreciate being able to read that autograph of yours. Slow down. If you're a messy writer take a little time to practice it.
#6 - Try and write something personal, if time provides. A little note or something that will make this particular signed copy stand out from all the rest. Ask them their name. Get them to spell it. Be creative, you're a writer aren't you?
#7 - Don't freak out or get scared. This isn't all that much of a trick. You'll get better as you practice. The thing to remember is most book-buyers think it's cool (there's that word again) to talk to a real-authentic author. You've got that going for you - so work it.
Above all else - have fun.
yours in storytelling,
Steve Vernon
(and I realize that officially I should be calling Dartmouth by it's proper title HRM - but that belongs in a whooole other blog posting)
A lot of writers I know dread book signings - but I welcome them. I love the opportunity to hand-sell. There is a really cool feeling in watching as somebody actually pays money to reads your words - not to mention hearing them say "Cool book, dude."
(and I realize that there are very few people below the age of 100 who even say the word "cool" anymore)
So I thought I'd offer a few tips on "proper" book signing techniques.
#1 - Brush and floss! Bring your smile with you and use it. The customers who approach you at a book signing are potential readers - and they aren't going to approach you at all if you look as if you're about to break into tears. And wear a nice shirt.
#2 - Make certain your books are all well displayed. I often bring along a couple of those folding bookstands. Bookstores don't always have too many extras kicking around.
#3 - Speak up. Ideally, I like to sit close to the entrance of a bookstore and greet people as they walk in.
"Hi.", "How are you?" "How'ya doing?". "Good day." I know it sounds corny. I know you might initially feel like the greeter at a WalMart store - but try it. Catch their attention, catch their eye - and then, if they approach you step right into your pitch.
#4 - That's right - you'll need a pitch. Make certain you can sum up what your book is about in a sentence or less. People are busy these days and they do not want to fart around listening to some guy try and figure out just what the heck he wrote.
For example: Haunted Harbours: Ghost Stories from Old Nova Scotiais a book of twenty-one ghost stories of Old Nova Scotia - all of them lifted from legend and lore and history.
#5 - Practice your signature. Don't be that guy with a prescription-blur of a signature. This person paying money for a signed copy would probably appreciate being able to read that autograph of yours. Slow down. If you're a messy writer take a little time to practice it.
#6 - Try and write something personal, if time provides. A little note or something that will make this particular signed copy stand out from all the rest. Ask them their name. Get them to spell it. Be creative, you're a writer aren't you?
#7 - Don't freak out or get scared. This isn't all that much of a trick. You'll get better as you practice. The thing to remember is most book-buyers think it's cool (there's that word again) to talk to a real-authentic author. You've got that going for you - so work it.
Above all else - have fun.
yours in storytelling,
Steve Vernon
No comments have been added yet.
