This past weekend I attended my first book signing as a featured author. I thought it would be interesting to tell you how it went and what I might do better next time. Also, if you have experience with book signings, feel free to give me advice in the comments below!
I arrived at Book Swap of Carrollwood just after eleven in the morning. The event started at noon. I wanted to make sure I had enough time to set up and get ready. My books were neatly packed in a box and I had all my business cards and bookmarks in a neat gathering in my bag. Leaving the box and bag under the table, I set up for the event. The other authors there had posters with their names and books on it. I would have done this as well, but I did not have the time before this event. Before too long, I had my books set up on the table in a pile in front of me. Only about six at a time, though. I had read advice to keep the number of books on the table to a minimum. Finally, it was noon and everything was ready to go, save for one author who would not arrive until one. The first hour was a little slow, not many people showed up. The lady running the event frequently came out to talk to us and was very nice. She posted several pictures to the store's social media pages and shared them with all of us. Shortly after one, a few people started to trickle in. One lady in particular stopped by and asked all of us about our books, one at a time. She grabbed several, including mine, and purchased the paperbacks. When she came out of the store, I was able to do my first book signing in an official manner. It was pretty fun, I must say. It's the first time a stranger has asked me to sign anything. The rest of the day was rather slow. A few people showed up occassionally and browsed the books but most left empty handed. It was too bad for all of us authors that it was as slow as it was, but that's the nature of these events. Sometimes, the traffic just isn't there. All in all, it was a great experience and I'm glad I did it. I will be doing another in January and hopefully the event is larger. I learned a lot of what to do next time and what to bring. Another unfortunate thing, I was unable to get copies of my first book, To the Wolves, in time for the event. I had business cards with coupon codes on the back for the paperback but due to the slow event, only ended up giving one out. That being said, I do have quite a few of those business cards left. If you would like one, or rather a picture of one so you can use the promo code, leave a comment below and I will send that to you! It's good for 15% off the paperback. So that was my first book signing. It wasn't as "exciting" or busy as I would have liked but it was a fun experience either way. I learned a lot and I was able to network with other authors, a few readers, and a really cool bookstore. I will be keeping my eye on that place and jumping on any other opportunities they might have. Let me know in the comments below if you have any advice for my next event. I look forward to hearing from you. As always, thanks for reading!
1 Comment
6/5/2017 09:05:53 am
Book signing must've been a fun and exhausting job for you. I really enjoy reading stories and experiences like this. You seem to have enjoyed this memorable experience. I'm glad that there were a number of fans who were present that day. I hope that they continue supporting you and wish you more succes in the future.
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ABOUT BONDTo cover up his search history, Evan Bond is a thriller/suspense author. As an outdoor enthusiast and horror lover, Evan Bond enjoys writing stories where the two come together. He lives in Florida with his wife and two sons. |