Great article, Lynn! And here's another phase of being an author where most of us would rather spend hours at the dentist having root canal surgery than be the sales representative. Walk into a retail operation and ask to take up valuable floor space for a book signing event? Bring on the dental drill! When in all honesty, most local brick and mortar booksellers would love an event that raises their profile and brings in foot traffic. Telling the store that you will use your own mailing/subscriber list for promotion will help. (Of course, try to get a copy of the store's mailing list for your own future promotional use, if possible.) A practiced 'elevator speech' for the owner/manager of the store is essential. Leaving a copy of the book and a one sheet of reviews/promotional info is a fantastic idea. Even better? In my contracts with my publisher of my three novels, I negotiated 150 comp copies for my own promotional use. Let the store owner know that you have inventory that you can supply and split the money from sales during the books signing (60/40? 50/50?). At the book signing for my last book, I also had one copy each of the previous two letting the attendees take a look and then order from the store! And book signings don't always have to be at book stores. If there is a local tie in within your story, maybe approach that venue.
I could write miles of copy about events. I love creative locations - craft brewery, gift shop, church, alumni event, etc. Aligning a location to the book theme can be fun.
Great article, Lynn! And here's another phase of being an author where most of us would rather spend hours at the dentist having root canal surgery than be the sales representative. Walk into a retail operation and ask to take up valuable floor space for a book signing event? Bring on the dental drill! When in all honesty, most local brick and mortar booksellers would love an event that raises their profile and brings in foot traffic. Telling the store that you will use your own mailing/subscriber list for promotion will help. (Of course, try to get a copy of the store's mailing list for your own future promotional use, if possible.) A practiced 'elevator speech' for the owner/manager of the store is essential. Leaving a copy of the book and a one sheet of reviews/promotional info is a fantastic idea. Even better? In my contracts with my publisher of my three novels, I negotiated 150 comp copies for my own promotional use. Let the store owner know that you have inventory that you can supply and split the money from sales during the books signing (60/40? 50/50?). At the book signing for my last book, I also had one copy each of the previous two letting the attendees take a look and then order from the store! And book signings don't always have to be at book stores. If there is a local tie in within your story, maybe approach that venue.
Keep up the great advice you dispense here!
This is awesome, Marc. Thank you!
I could write miles of copy about events. I love creative locations - craft brewery, gift shop, church, alumni event, etc. Aligning a location to the book theme can be fun.