Wednesday, July 3, 2013

IWSG


I interrupt this blogging break to bring you:

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Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Well, the month of the book release is over. Anyone who's read my blog for a while knows that I have been worried about a lot of stuff related to sending my book baby out in the world. The launch turned out to be a lot of fun. My reflections on that event are here. Jordan McCollum, whom I co-launched with, and I also did an event at the American Fork Library. A couple of people came, for which I was grateful.

I think what worried me the most was what took place last Saturday. A solo signing.

So, I posted in a couple of my writing groups for suggestions on how to make it a fun day (I did drag my husband with me because he doesn't have problems talking to people about my book). I thought I'd share some of the great suggestions:
  • Chas Hathaway suggested balloon marketing.
  • Adrienne Monson said acting like a Walmart greeter and chatting with people made it easier. This was a very common theme.
  • Another author said she preferred solo signings rather than double ones where she felt obligated to do the same thing the other author was doing--even if that was just sitting at the table waiting for people to come to him/her. Otherwise it felt like she was trying to hog the people.
I love how author Tristi Pinkston put it:
Here's something I learned a long time ago. A signing is what you make it. If you go in there with the attitude that you're going to have fun, enjoy the experience, have fun talking to people and employees, and live in the moment of knowing that you're an author and you have reached a life-long goal, you'll have a fantastic time regardless of how many books you sell.
If you go in thinking that this is awful and you are embarrassed/shy/reluctant/whatever, and that it's not worth your time unless you sell x quantity of books, you'll have a rotten time regardless of how many books you sell.
Decide the experience you want to have and then create it.
Armed with some great suggestions and Tristi's philosophy, I had a great afternoon.


AND a wonderful surprise. I used to belong to an online romance critique group that got too small to continue. The three of us that were left are still friends on Facebook. As I stood at my table yesterday, a couple entered the bookstore, carrying a book--opened to a place where the author had signed it.

My awesome friend Melanie Macek (who lives in Texas) from that old critique group made arrangements with some family members of hers to drive all the way to Layton to bring me an autographed copy of Mel's book, that I got to critique. They picked up a paper copy of A Change of Plans for me to sign for Mel (she's in my acknowledgements).

Melanie never said a word! *sniff* It totally made my day.

Yeah. Solo signings can totally rock.

What are your experiences at book signings, either as an author or a reader? Have you seen (or done) any clever approaches to make it fun for everyone?

19 comments:

  1. A change of plans looks very good on Amazon rankings...I wish you good luck with it, may it reach top 100 :).

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  2. It's never really been something I've done. I'm glad it went so well.

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  3. Sounds like a great book signing and book release experience. So glad it went so well.

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  4. I'm glad your signings went well. I have yet to be at a signing as either a reader or writer, though I hope to rectify that soon. Hope your break is going well.

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  5. What an awesome surprise!
    Attitude makes all the difference in the world, doesn't it? Tristi gave some smart advice.

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  6. Hey Donna:)

    Wow, how cool is the Writing Community :)

    That was such an awesome thing your friends did :)

    I haven't done a book signing yet, but I soooo know I have the Wal-Mart mentality, so I'll be all over the shoppers in my general vicinity :)

    Sounds like you had a great time, and much continued success :)

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  7. Hey Donna,
    Adrienne Monson is my wife, so on her behalf, thanks for mentioning her here. My other hat is her SEO/PR manager, so I was wondering if you would link to her site: www.adriennemonson.com instead of her FB page. Thanks for the mention either way!

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  8. I'm so glad you had a positive experience at your book signings. Author events are a wonderful way to connect with authors, both as a reader and a writer. I've been to four now and have loved meeting some of my favorite authors.

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  9. I am so, so glad you had a great time at your signing! Tristi has wonderful advice and I'm glad you followed it. It really is, like everything else in this life, about the attitude going in. Sometimes my anxiety can take over and overrun a choice to be happy about something, but I've learned for the most part, if you look happy you'll attract other happy, interested people. :)

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  10. How awesome of Melanie to come up and surprise you! Now that's a good friend. And man... I'd be terrified by signings, LOL! I'm totally a people person, but it's such unknown territory I think I would be scared! Love the pictures. You are beautiful, Donna.

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  11. That's great your signing went so well. And what an awesome friend you have!

    I totally agree with Tristi's philosophy. Things are what you make them. True for whatever life throws your way. :)

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  12. How awesome is that! Good for you. ;)

    I've never done one (I'm not published yet), but the thought of a signing terrifies me. I am SO socially awkward. *shudders*

    Great post! :)
    IWSG #118 until Alex culls the list again.

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  13. Coolness - I'm famous now. :) Glad you had such a great day!

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  14. What a great treat.

    I've only done one signing, with the other ten authors who share an anthology with me. It was a hoot. All kinds of friends and family attended - including a couple surprises. I hope when I finally have a signing for a book that's all mine, it will go as well.

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  15. No experience as an author YET, but the suggestions you received sound great. Glad it worked out for you. Do I now understand that you can see your book on the shelves? or did I misunderstand before that you couldn't?

    Even though it's a well known fact that blogger hates me, they FINALLY let me into your site. Interesting that the other site they would not let me on earlier today was Donna Hole's. I think it's a Donna conspiracy.

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  16. Sounds like great advice, can work for most anything too I bet.

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  17. I've read another IWSG about book signings today...yours sounded awesome. Since I'm moving to Ecuador for 5 years, I don't expect to be doing one anytime soon. LOL!

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  18. So cool that they came and brought you that book. Sounds like it was a great signing. I really like these tips on signings, though. I am terrified of them, to be honest. I think bringing my husband along is a great idea...he's not shy. :)

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  19. Sounds like you had a great time Donna! I'm so happy for you!
    Writer In Transit

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