As always, wonderful, important advice. I don't think a lot of authors realize how hopeless it is to try to schedule an event at a store in a city where they have no connections.
Really great post! Bookstore readings can get strange. Years ago I was booked at a store in the west suburbs. The owner of the store was excited about the event, even going so far as to buy radio ads on a local station--and I'm talking a lot of radio ads. That was a first for me. The station played those ads all week leading up to the event. Everything promised to be big, big, big. But when I got there, I had a few unexpected surprises. The clerk told me that the store owner took the day off. She put me at a table that was set up in a corner--and I sat there for a few hours. It was ridiculous. People coming in asked me where the bathroom was, that usual kind of stuff authors get at bookstores. One person did take an interest in me and wanted to talk..and he clearly was stoned on something. He wasn't coherent nor logical. I just smiled and nodded, saying "yes, yes, really, how interesting" over and over. Fortunately a friend stopped in to see me, which save the day. I was scheduled for four hours--yes, four hours!--but I left after two. Like everyone else, I've plenty of signings where no one shows up, but this one remains at the top of my list for great author event horror stories.
This is such valuable information for writers trying to get the word out about their books. I
Thank you for this, Christine! Much more detailed info here than I’ve seen anywhere else.
As always, wonderful, important advice. I don't think a lot of authors realize how hopeless it is to try to schedule an event at a store in a city where they have no connections.
Yeah, writers gotta hustle hustle hustle! This is such a good information! (Thanks for including my dorky pic:)
As someone currently doing this, thank you!! Great advice.
Great insights here, thanks Christine.
Thank you Christine!
Really great post! Bookstore readings can get strange. Years ago I was booked at a store in the west suburbs. The owner of the store was excited about the event, even going so far as to buy radio ads on a local station--and I'm talking a lot of radio ads. That was a first for me. The station played those ads all week leading up to the event. Everything promised to be big, big, big. But when I got there, I had a few unexpected surprises. The clerk told me that the store owner took the day off. She put me at a table that was set up in a corner--and I sat there for a few hours. It was ridiculous. People coming in asked me where the bathroom was, that usual kind of stuff authors get at bookstores. One person did take an interest in me and wanted to talk..and he clearly was stoned on something. He wasn't coherent nor logical. I just smiled and nodded, saying "yes, yes, really, how interesting" over and over. Fortunately a friend stopped in to see me, which save the day. I was scheduled for four hours--yes, four hours!--but I left after two. Like everyone else, I've plenty of signings where no one shows up, but this one remains at the top of my list for great author event horror stories.