Meeting the Author

Promoting your book in person can be a very valuable and memorable experience. There are a few suggestions to make your time more profitable.

Select the venue carefully. A popular bookstore or coffee café can work well. Other popular choices include libraries and gift shops. If you are a new author just starting out group events may being a lot more audience members. Whether you are a single or group event, think about something that will draw people to you like a discussion group, a link to an important event or a reading.

You should always have more than just your books at a book signing event. Bring along promotional supplies like business cards, book marks, trading cards and other handouts that will send your name and book title(s) home with a prospective buyer. Selling even one book is a win-win, but even if you don’t sell any books (at the event) the exposure can be outstanding.

Know your own book. You would be surprised at how many new authors can’t answer questions about their motivation for writing a particular story, or relate any of the challenges they encountered while writing it. Prepare a discussion guide for your book, choose the theme, a character study, a link to a historical event, occupations, social situation, or even location. Your discussion guide is really meant to be a discussion starter. Done effectively, your prepared questions should spark a lot of discussion and then just follow the thought-stream.

How-to’s are terrific lures for an audience. Prepare a brief presentation about HOW to write a book, HOW to find a publisher, HOW to avoid writer’s block, etc. When you are a published author you join the elite group of professional authors and are held in high regard. If you’ve written a historical novel prepare a brief discussion packet about the era your story takes place in.

Many venues will provide a table and table covering for your personal book display, it is always a good idea to make a phone call and check before the actual date. If you will need a table covering, bring your own in – the inexpensive colorful plastic throw-away is always a good idea to tuck into your kit. A rolling cart will make it easier to “carry” a sufficient number of books to sell.

Check with the store owner if book purchases will be made at their register or at the table with you. If you might be expected to make change be sure to have a reasonable quantity of singles and other small currency as well as change. A receipt book will not only provide your customers with a receipt and proof of purchase. Bring a decent pen in case you are asked to sign your book. A small bowl of candy on the table in front of you will actually help bring curiosity seekers closer to the table and give you a chance to say “”Hi”.

I always have a small gift to give my hostess when thanking him/her for the invitation to appear there.



Writing Exercise: Choose three careers that interest you. Check college catalogues and help wanted ads to learn about the education, responsibilities and income level of each career. List characteristics that you think a person in that field might have. – You might try this with three cultures, three time periods, three locations, etc.

Writing Prompt: Pick up a recent newspaper or listen to a news show on TV. List the first 10 traumatic incidents you read or hear about (ie: car accident, bank holdup, etc). Next to each incident write one emotion you think is a common reaction.