Auntie's Bookstore, an independent bookstore here in Spokane, hosted my first book signing on Saturday. Whew! Friends and family came. We hugged. I sold a few books -- and signed them!
What I learned. Bring bookmarks. Smile. In quiet moments, amble around the bookstore and ask if people would like a bookmark. When people slow down as they walk by, I asked, "Do you like historical fiction?" Then followed up with conversation. Not necessarily about my book. This was fun. One passerby, a trucker, said he loved audio books. This gives me renewed motivation to find out how to make an audio book. Maybe I should read it! Another turned out to be a graphic artist with a portfolio of gorgeous drawings.
ABNA Quarter finals update: I'm still excited about Monday's news that Years of Stone is a quarter-finalist for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. The excerpt of the first 15 pages is available as a free download HERE. Readers can post their reactions. That includes you, if you are interested. I'm still working toward a release date of sometime this summer. I've started reading through the excerpts from other writers. What diversity!
FOR THE COMING WEEK:
--Continue work on Years of Stone edits. 5 out of 7 days.
--Take draft flash "Color Me Green" or current chapter of YOS to new F2F Crit group.
--Post on writing blog 6x, travel blog 1x, ROW80 2x and read 10.
--Crit 1 sub for NOVELS-L and sub another chapter of Years of Stone.
--Read and review at least one indie writer this week.
--Update Marketing Plan and focus on e-mail lists and newsletter.
--Prep book club questions for Standing Stones for Book Club by this Thurs.
--For WSQ: Draft article (deadline May 1) on Applique Society, finish 2 quilts, order library books.
May your week -- and your writing -- go well.
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| In honor of my friend, Nancy, who just acquired a baby llama, here's a pic of a baby llama (Camp, Peru, 2009) |
Check out what other ROW80 folks are doing HERE.
Love the pic of the baby llama. So cute!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your first bookstore signing-so glad things went well for you and that you sold some books. :) Seems you've had quite an exciting week, with the signing and the news about the ABNA quarter-finals!
Good luck on your goals and I hope you have a great week!
A solitary book signing sounds scary. I've heard that sometimes authors will get together and sign at the same time to help it not feel so much as author versus the world. Do you know Pauline Baird Jones? She likes to have audiobooks created for all her books. You could always ask her how she does hers. Bravo for putting yourself out there.
ReplyDeleteYou are braver than I am to do a booksigning by yourself! I've only signed in big group events. Of course what happens then is readers flock to their favorite authors and us unknowns sit there talking to each other. Better than giving directions to the bathrooms, I guess. In any case, congrats on surviving it and good luck with the ABNA!
ReplyDeleteSounds like your book-signing went well. I'll remember your pointers when I get to that stage. The audio book thing sounds like a good idea. I'll be curious to hear more about the process of making a book into an audio book if/when you learn more! :)
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!