How to Have Fun at a Booksigning (even when you're not signing!)
Saturday, March 15, 2008
I just got back from an author talk/booksigning for two chaptermates: Michele Lang has a new book, Netherwood, coming out from Dorchester. And Candace Gold has A Heated Romance available from Highland Press. I always look forward to these events, probably moreso when I'm not signing, because there's no pressure on me. I don't have to sound clever or urbane at the drop of a hat, I'm not scanning the crowd to see which of my friends showed up (and worse, which ones didn't!) and I don't sweat how many books the store ordered, how many are sold, and how many are left after the event.

Regardless of whether I sign or not, there's a palpable energy at a booksigning. Authors are thrilled to have a fan base. Readers are excited to attend. So...what's not to like? I love sharing the joy of the moment with both sides. And when I'm signing, I can't necessarily read both sides. Believe it or not, the audience side is sometimes a lot more exciting than the author side of the table.

I always try to remember Nora Roberts's advice regarding booksignings. Too many authors forget that a booksigning is not all about them. It's about the fan. Think about it. Sure, we the authors, sweat the moment or plan the moment from start to finish. But for whom? Ourselves? Not really.

To the readers, a booksigning is their brush with celebrity. They want to be able to tell their friends they met a famous author. They can't wait to get their hands on your latest release. They want to discuss your characters as if those characters are truly alive. Maybe a fan will get the inside scoop on your next book. For them, it's all about the moment. They spoke to you! "OMG, she's just as nice in person as she looks in her photos!"

And really, without the reader, an author has no audience, no voice, no job. Something to think about...

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posted by Gina Ardito aka Katherine Brandon at 2:59 PM |

3 Comments:
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At March 15, 2008 at 3:38 PM, Blogger Sandra Cormier said........
Well, I hope someday I'll be 'famous' enough to have someone actually thrilled to meet me!
 


At March 15, 2008 at 3:49 PM, Blogger Unknown said........
This is so true!

I don't know if you've ever played Snood, but when I asked my son what the goal was he succinctly said "to get rid of all the ones on the top row." Dealing with intermediary rows was something you have to do to get there, but that top row is what is important.

The same with published writers. Like Snood in the end it is the top row, the public, that you want to be in contact with and leave a good impression upon. Both with your writing and your personality. Of course, you have to deal with all those intermediary rows to get there!
 


At March 16, 2008 at 7:01 PM, Blogger Zara Penney said........
Its about bringing a personal element to the process. A name to a face to a fingerprint.

The dedication might say:

"To my son for all his time reading my manuscript and fixing the computer when it wasn't cooperating" from the author.

But it also says

"To Janet
or
"To Veronica
or
"To Margaret

"From me, the author"

And it's suddenly a personal thing. A treasure. An heirloom. Something that is mine that I treasure - not just a book - but a very very personal possession.