There’s More to Life Than Showing Up — RTs Tips for a Successful Booksigning

(Originally published in PASIC Basics)

If you’ve ever gone to a bookstore for a booksigning only to sit by yourself at your table behind a barricade of books, with no one even speaking to you except to ask for directions to the bathroom, you’re not alone. Carol Stacy, publisher of Romantic Times, said at the PASIC 2002 conference that there’s more to a successful booksigning than showing up, pen in hand.

“Readers don’t get it,” she said. “They don’t know what to do.”

She offered several tips for more successful booksignings.

Get together with a group of authors. “That’s more fun for authors, and less intimidating for readers,” Stacy said.

Don’t leave pre-promotion of the event to the store. Let people know about the signing. Contact the local newspaper or send notices to your reader list. At the signing, enlist friends and family to hand out fliers in the mall, the store or the parking lot.

Have a lure, something to get people to come to your table, other than just to buy a book. Candy or other treats work. “Balloons are great,” Stacy said. “It looks festive, and every parent wants to get one for their kids.” Other patrons will ask people with balloons where they got the balloons. Some authors wear costumes related to their books or enlist friends or children to wear costumes. But don’t do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. Find something that works for you.

Have people around you to help draw in readers, but don’t let your entourage block the table or make readers feel like they’ll have to crash your clique in order to talk to you. Get your friends and family to talk to readers for you and encourage them to come talk to you.

It’s important in talking to readers at booksignings that you’re not there to sell your book, that your primary goal is to meet readers. Concentrate more on interacting with readers than on selling your book.