My First Book Signing: A Fantasy Come True With Some Lessons
It is every author’s dream, but perhaps more so for an indie author like me, to have his or her first book signing. In connection with the publication of my book Clamcake Summer: One Man Eats Every Clamcake in Rhode Island (Or Dies Frying), I recently was able to hold court at a table with a stack of my books and schmooze with readers.
I thought other independent authors and even readers might be interested in my experience and whether I found that it lived up to my expectations. The short answer is yes. However, there were some aspects of the signing that were different from my fantasies, and some lessons I learned will be valuable if I ever have a second book signing.
The signing took place at a church (not my own) which was holding its traditional May Breakfast on May 1. My book opens with a description of the clamcakes served at this breakfast, so it seemed like a very appropriate venue for a signing. As many as a thousand people attend the breakfast each year, so it was a great opportunity for me to reach readers. I had attended service the Sunday before the Tuesday event to meet the people who volunteer at the May Breakfast and to drop off the books. The breakfast was scheduled from 6 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and I promised to be there the entire time signing books.
The organizers did a wonderful job setting things up. A table had been prepared for me in the church sanctuary with fifty books arranged in neat piles ready to be signed. People waited in the pews of the church for tables to open in the hall for breakfast, and I was between them and their scrambled eggs, ham and clamcakes while they waited. In addition, the master of ceremonies would mention me and my book (”The world’s foremost authority on clamcakes is here…”) whenever he came out to announce that more people could go in for breakfast. In addition, signs advertising the book signing had been placed on each of the breakfast tables. Honestly, what indie author, or one published by a major house, could ask for more?
LESSON NUMBER 1: Five hours is a long time to schedule for a book signing. Although there were plenty of people who bought books in that period, there were frequently long stretches of time when I was sitting with nothing to do. Interestingly, most books were purchased before 8:00 a.m. by the busy workers who came in and ate quickly before heading to their jobs. Perhaps they had the most disposable income for books. In any case, five hours is a long time to be sitting in one place, and I think it would have been sufficient to restrict the signing part to two hours at most.
LESSON NUMBER 2: Be careful about your giveaways. I had the bright idea to give vintage clamcake bags from my personal collection to everyone who bought a book. When I mentioned I wanted to do this to the organizer the morning of the breakfast she looked a little nervous. “People will use them as doggy bags,” she said quietly. This is an all you can eat breakfast (with a “no doggy bags” policy) and my brilliant marketing ploy could have led to an awful lot of food walking out the doors! I’m glad I mentioned it to her first. I quickly hid the bags under my coat!
LESSON NUMBER 3: You meet some really interesting and funny people while you are signing books. While I was there, I met a local historian whose work I admire. He gave me his card and invited me over to his house sometime. Someone asked if I was related to Jonathan Livingstone Seagull! There is a seagull on the book cover and my last name is Stone, but really? Someone else requested that I inscribe the book to the local library. She intended to donate it there. This was a wonderful community-minded gesture and great publicity for the book. Two kids came running out of the hall with the May Breakfast program and asked me to autograph it. “You want me to sign the program, not the book?” I asked. That’s what they wanted, so I have them the best signature of the day. “I don’t want to see this on E-bay tonight, kids,” I called as they left with their father. Ultimately, most of the people who bought the book were members of the church who had already welcomed me with open arms but now were welcoming my book as well. They even invited me to come to one of their bell ringing rehearsals when they heard I was once a member of a bell ringing group in college. I went to the rehearsal the following Sunday (but that’s another story—or song!)
LESSON NUMBER 4: Prepare for the unexpected. At the busiest period, when the hall was filled with hungry May Breakfasters, and my family and friends had arrived to lend me encouragement, a reporter for the state’s largest newspaper wandered up to the table, checked out the book and started to take notes. Then she proceeded to interview me at length about the book. The next day, on page A4 of the Providence Journal, in a well-illustrated article about the May Breakfast, my book signing received prominent mention. I sold quite a few additional copies of the book when that article came out, showing that the publicity of a book signing can have other, collateral benefits.
LESSON NUMBER 5: Have a pad handy so people can write the names they want inscribed. This is something you want to get right. Also, have an idea for a standard inscription (mine was “A dozen best wishes” since clamcakes are usually served in a bag of a dozen) but ask people if they would like something special. Quite a few people asked me to inscribe books to family members living out of state with notes encouraging them to come back to Rhode Island for clamcakes. One man wanted the book dedicated to his infant great-grandchildren with the hope that they would grow up to love clamcakes like great-grandfather.
Finally, a signing is a great chance to get to know your readers. Writing will not be such a lonely occupation (or hobby) for me in the future me as I summon up the faces from that special day when I try to envision the audience for my words.
P.S. Use a nice pen. I used a BIC and got grief for it!
A dozen best wishes, David
I thought other independent authors and even readers might be interested in my experience and whether I found that it lived up to my expectations. The short answer is yes. However, there were some aspects of the signing that were different from my fantasies, and some lessons I learned will be valuable if I ever have a second book signing.
The signing took place at a church (not my own) which was holding its traditional May Breakfast on May 1. My book opens with a description of the clamcakes served at this breakfast, so it seemed like a very appropriate venue for a signing. As many as a thousand people attend the breakfast each year, so it was a great opportunity for me to reach readers. I had attended service the Sunday before the Tuesday event to meet the people who volunteer at the May Breakfast and to drop off the books. The breakfast was scheduled from 6 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and I promised to be there the entire time signing books.
The organizers did a wonderful job setting things up. A table had been prepared for me in the church sanctuary with fifty books arranged in neat piles ready to be signed. People waited in the pews of the church for tables to open in the hall for breakfast, and I was between them and their scrambled eggs, ham and clamcakes while they waited. In addition, the master of ceremonies would mention me and my book (”The world’s foremost authority on clamcakes is here…”) whenever he came out to announce that more people could go in for breakfast. In addition, signs advertising the book signing had been placed on each of the breakfast tables. Honestly, what indie author, or one published by a major house, could ask for more?
LESSON NUMBER 1: Five hours is a long time to schedule for a book signing. Although there were plenty of people who bought books in that period, there were frequently long stretches of time when I was sitting with nothing to do. Interestingly, most books were purchased before 8:00 a.m. by the busy workers who came in and ate quickly before heading to their jobs. Perhaps they had the most disposable income for books. In any case, five hours is a long time to be sitting in one place, and I think it would have been sufficient to restrict the signing part to two hours at most.
LESSON NUMBER 2: Be careful about your giveaways. I had the bright idea to give vintage clamcake bags from my personal collection to everyone who bought a book. When I mentioned I wanted to do this to the organizer the morning of the breakfast she looked a little nervous. “People will use them as doggy bags,” she said quietly. This is an all you can eat breakfast (with a “no doggy bags” policy) and my brilliant marketing ploy could have led to an awful lot of food walking out the doors! I’m glad I mentioned it to her first. I quickly hid the bags under my coat!
LESSON NUMBER 3: You meet some really interesting and funny people while you are signing books. While I was there, I met a local historian whose work I admire. He gave me his card and invited me over to his house sometime. Someone asked if I was related to Jonathan Livingstone Seagull! There is a seagull on the book cover and my last name is Stone, but really? Someone else requested that I inscribe the book to the local library. She intended to donate it there. This was a wonderful community-minded gesture and great publicity for the book. Two kids came running out of the hall with the May Breakfast program and asked me to autograph it. “You want me to sign the program, not the book?” I asked. That’s what they wanted, so I have them the best signature of the day. “I don’t want to see this on E-bay tonight, kids,” I called as they left with their father. Ultimately, most of the people who bought the book were members of the church who had already welcomed me with open arms but now were welcoming my book as well. They even invited me to come to one of their bell ringing rehearsals when they heard I was once a member of a bell ringing group in college. I went to the rehearsal the following Sunday (but that’s another story—or song!)
LESSON NUMBER 4: Prepare for the unexpected. At the busiest period, when the hall was filled with hungry May Breakfasters, and my family and friends had arrived to lend me encouragement, a reporter for the state’s largest newspaper wandered up to the table, checked out the book and started to take notes. Then she proceeded to interview me at length about the book. The next day, on page A4 of the Providence Journal, in a well-illustrated article about the May Breakfast, my book signing received prominent mention. I sold quite a few additional copies of the book when that article came out, showing that the publicity of a book signing can have other, collateral benefits.
LESSON NUMBER 5: Have a pad handy so people can write the names they want inscribed. This is something you want to get right. Also, have an idea for a standard inscription (mine was “A dozen best wishes” since clamcakes are usually served in a bag of a dozen) but ask people if they would like something special. Quite a few people asked me to inscribe books to family members living out of state with notes encouraging them to come back to Rhode Island for clamcakes. One man wanted the book dedicated to his infant great-grandchildren with the hope that they would grow up to love clamcakes like great-grandfather.
Finally, a signing is a great chance to get to know your readers. Writing will not be such a lonely occupation (or hobby) for me in the future me as I summon up the faces from that special day when I try to envision the audience for my words.
P.S. Use a nice pen. I used a BIC and got grief for it!
A dozen best wishes, David
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