Curiouser and Curiouser

So I am going to a signing, YAY! Last minute though it is.

I would like to break down some signing facts for y'all:

Plane ticket to Seattle for me: $575

Cost of hotel room for entire event: $450

Cost of one standing banner: $80

Swag (pens, keychains, bookmarks, etc.): $75

Books (I decided to bring a small-ish amount as this is first signing, I'm a last minute addition, and I figure I won't sell a lot): $115

So we're looking at $1,300, right there - and I was cutting some corners, I know most spent a lot more. For basically two days of events. I would have to sell SO MANY books to even begin to make up that cost, or gain SO MANY new readers.

Basically, what I'm saying is, signings are not cost effective for authors, for the most part. Before I even started this adventure, I kind of wondered why so many authors went to SO MANY signings. I mean, yes, it's nice, meeting your readers and meeting other authors, but it's literally burning your money. $1,300 is all some authors make in a month, and boom, gone in a weekend.

Obviously, if you're CoHo, or Jamie McGuire, or K. Bromberg, or JEM, people might travel miles and miles just to see you, hence why Book Bash and Love in Las Vegas work - and for little baby authors like me, those are the goodies, feed off of their fans.

But to go to every signing just isn't a realistic possibility. In fact, MOST are an unrealistic possibility - the only reason why I'm going to this one is it's affordable, AND my family lives in the area. I'm double dipping to make the cost worth it and visiting them as well.

I would rather save my money and put it towards better covers and better prizes, and eventually, I'd like to put it towards quitting my day job so I can work on bringing you better books.

But hey, seeing as how it may be a while before I make another appearance in the lower 48, if you're in the Seattle area, come see ME and lots of other fun authors! I'll be lurking about on Saturday, at the signing:

http://www.shadesofromancecon.com/sch...