Book signings
by Elizabeth ~ May 15th, 2009. Filed under: General.I was in a bookstore the other day, and right by the entrance was an older lady (about my age!) signing and autographing her first book. There wasn’t a soul paying any attention to her. Her first book is self-published - not a great draw for most readers.
But hey, most best-selling authors have been there, too. It’s par for the course. It’s not only that no one will buy your book, they won’t give you eye contact.
I stopped, talked to the author and was overwhelmed by her eagerness to talk to a published author. We hugged and wished each other well.
What’s my point? Next time you see an author sitting alone with a pile of books by his/her elbow, and everyone is giving her a wide berth, stop and talk to her for a minute or two. It won’t cost you anything, but the reward for her - priceless.
June 22nd, 2009 at 1:03 am
Your anecdote reminds me of a time, many years ago, when I was at a large gathering of romance writers who were signing books, and I noticed a rather lonely-looking woman with no one at her table. I stopped, chatted with her, and bought one of her books. (She had two out at the time, and I remember thinking that they would make great paperweights if they turned out to be dull, they were so thick.)
I felt so noble, buying her book when I could’ve stood in line to see Johanna Lindsey instead.
That “lonely” writer was Diana Gabaldon. Ha! I feel taken down a peg, even today, thinking about that.
June 22nd, 2009 at 1:59 pm
The author I stopped and talked to was Jennifer Blake, a great favorite of mine. The last time Diana Gabaldon came to my town, the big box bookstore was packed out. You couldn’t get near her. Her OUTLANDER is still one of my favorites. I remember thinking, “She must be Scottish. She has got everything right.” What a delight that book was.