I had a signing yesterday at Barnes & Noble in Charlotte, NC. It ended up going well, although my plans for the event were completely hijacked. (Yes, that’s me in the corner of the picture, listening to the talented Joyce Lavene read from her latest book.)
We were seated in the mystery section and were planning on doing a regular signing. Then a lady came in (a customer) and asked for us to speak instead. There were no chairs set up at the time (because it was to be a regular signing). So the CRM at the bookstore kindly brought over some chairs and we started talking about our books.
The customer also asked us to read. I’ve never read from my books. That’s just not usually part of my dog and pony show. I don’t ordinarily enjoy hearing other people read their books, either. “I don’t read,” I whispered to her. She raised her eyebrows. “I mean, aloud.” Again with the eyebrows. “Except to my children.” She looked stern. So I ended up reading my prologue.
On the upside, I sold a good number of books. Some of the customers didn’t have time to sit and listen to speakers, but they came up to me on the side and I signed books for them during our impromptu program.
The delightful Customer Relations Manager (CRM) at the store offered to put me on her list of authors they could call up to speak at different local high schools. This will probably also pan out into more sales.
Someone else asked how much time we spent promoting and Joyce answered that 90% of our working time was in promoting (and she and her husband Jim have written over 50 books). It’s so true. I spend a lot more time promoting my book (online promotions with blog interviews, Tweeting, Facebooking—and in-person promoting) than I do with my writing. But the writing is woven into my day.
It’s funny. Promotion is a huge part of what writers do…but we’re all basically introverts who don’t like to leave home. Or read aloud. I think most of us are good sports—I had to be pulled out of my comfort zone, but it resulted in book sales.
I remember the first time I had to read an excerpt aloud — a friend and former crit partner, who writes poetry, invited me to her book launch party and said she wanted to help me promote my first book (which was still only available in digital format.) She said I should plan to read for about 30 minutes. I said no way. She said, oh, this group is used to sitting for hours listening to people read. Yeah, but poetry is different. I finally agreed to read, but read only the first scene, which was about 10 minutes.
Since then, if asked to read, I usually do my character interviews, which are a lot more fun, and they feature me, so I’m more comfortable.
Wow that could be awkward, especially if you weren’t planning to read. And it almost seems to competitive.
Do you ever take a bad picture??? You are very photogenic.
Congratulations on making the most of an awkward situation! I think you handled it beautifully! I’m glad you got the chance to read, even if you hadn’t been prepared. I know that when I’ve gotten unexpected chances to read, it’s always ended up in interest in my writing.
I know what you mean, too, about the amount of time authors spend in promotion. It’s important to weave that and writing, as you say, into one’s day.
Congrats, Elizabeth. Now you can count reading as another successful tool in your promotion toolbox. Now you can work on doing all the characters in a different voice.
I’m so impressed that you handled it so coolly! I would probably have been a mess, stammering and stumbling. I tried to hold writing seminars once, and I felt like I was doing wretchedly, but I suppose that was just my own nerves.
Elizabeth – yes, I read both parts, since it’s more like a narrative in my POV. You can read my Frankie & Ryan interviews on the ‘free reads’ portion of my website (www.terryodell.com) if you want to see how it can work.
Yes, when the other character is speaking, I ‘modify’ my voice a little, but only things like cadence. I don’t try to do any ‘male-sounding’ voices.
I had to stop by and read this post because I’m facing my first signing at B&N next month…and now I’m scared! I can’t imagine having to get up and speak, but there are a lot of things I never intended to do before my book was published.
Another author and I were just discussing how we both never realized how much would go into promoting a book.
I hope you promoting continues to go well.
Congratulations on a successful event all around. Learning to deal with the unexpected is one of life’s most challenging lessons. Sounds like you handled it beautifully. I’m not surprised.
karen
Congratulations on not running away and hiding when asked to read your work aloud! I imagine it’s an interesting experience! I’m glad it worked out so well!
Good for coming up to the challenge. All you need to remember is that you are in service to the work then your jitters will fly away. Because your book is like a child right now. It needs you to wash its face and help it get lots and lots of friends! I’m the opposite of a regular writer, I guess. I was a publicist and an actor so I love a crowd, love reading, love doing interviews. And Journaling Woman, you are right – it is competitive. Readers have X amount of dough to spend and lots of places to spend it! We need to capture and hold their attention. No problem for you Elizabeth!
Elizabeth,
Congratulations on such a successful signing that turned into a reading, that will be turning into more opportunities to promote your books! When you said, “I’ve never read from my books. That’s just not usually part of my dog and pony show.” This proves one of my favorite sayings is true…”Just because a path is well worn, doesn’t mean it’s the right one.”
Sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone, like you did yesterday…and it will work in your favor!
If/when I get an agent and get my book sold, you won’t be able to shut me up. I have a story I was born to tell, and I’m chomping at the bit! I’ll read to anyone, anywhere, anytime!
Keep up the good work!
I think not knowing you would be called on to do this is better than knowing it’s going to happen and worrying about it in advance! Sounds like you handled it perfectly. I think it is so true, that as authors we need to get out of our comfort zones occasionally, even if we do it while kicking and screaming along the way.
In person promotion can be tough for those of us who don’t have the ‘look at me!’ gene. I admire you for gathering up your gumption and forging into uncomfortable territory. Reading aloud can be scary – do you do different voices for each of the characters? Am I reading too fast? Too slow? Is the audience falling asleep? Why is everyone coughing?
Well done, Elizabeth. One more arrow in your quiver.
Elspeth
Terry–I’m not sure I know how to do a character interview live, although I’ve seen it done very effectively in print. Do you read both parts? How does it work?
Journaling Woman–I take soooo many bad pictures! You’re sweet.
Jan–You’ve got the perfect background to be a successful writer! And you’re right: it’s extremely competitive at the bookstore level. I don’t feel that way with my writing friends, but it comes out when cover art is being picked, interviewers are looking for authors, conferences are being planned, etc.
Kathleen–An excellent saying! And true. I really stick to my routines and what I’m comfortable with. Clearly, that doesn’t allow for much growth.
Jane–If I’d known I’d be reading, I probably wouldn’t have joined the other writers! You’re right…it was better to not know.
Margot–I was surprised that it translated into sales! I applied the principle “If I don’t like it, no one likes it” to the reading. But it worked out well.
Alan–I was only comfortable reading the narrator’s part. :)The prologue predictable for me to read, but at least I didn’t have to do voices. If I could read well, I’d have chosen voice-over work or something!
It was funny to read this blog post. Your posts are always so honed and poised, I can’t even imagine you struggling with a reading request. Isn’t amazing how our writing personas and our face-to-face personas can be so different?
Congratulations on a great reading and good sales!
Donna–I think I would have been even more freaked out if I hadn’t written a short, foreboding prologue for my book. Once I realized I could read that (and that it’s a perfect teaser) then I was okay. I read last so I had a few minutes to think about it while the other writers were talking.
I love that you said, I don’t read. I can just see the lady raising an eyebrow. At least now you know you may be called upon to read aloud. Always have a couple of passages marked in your carry-with-you book so you’re ready to read whether it’s a short reading or a longer one.
Congrats on the sales!
Helen
Straight From Hel
That’s good stuff! And I don’t like reading from my books either – if I have a choice, I don’t.
Which B&N? My Charlotte visits are usually to Park Road Books or Borders.
Urgh! I would hate to be caught unprepared! Though to me reading would be easier than just TALKING.
The idea of spending 90% of time promoting though–YUK! Can’t I just write books? I just want to write!
Sounds like overall a successful and growing experience. Glad she pulled yout out of your introverted shell to read. lol. I enjoy doing readings from my books. I also have had fun being interviewed live as one of my characters. Great fun!
Marvin D Wilson
Terry–That’s a very good idea. I think it would be more interesting than reading a random passage, too. And couldn’t you even work in a plug at the end? Sort of a, “And tell me, _____, where would someone find out more about our books? On my website, conveniently printed on these free bookmarks!” Okay, that sounds kind of corny. But maybe I could do something along those lines.
Helen–Well and then I felt bad because none of the other authors said they didn’t read. Peer pressure! I think I might carry something around with me, just in case it happens again.
Diane–It’s the Barnes & Noble at the Arboretum shopping center (off highway 51.) Whitney Schuner is the CRM there and she is SO nice. I’m not just saying that, either…she’s a delight.
Hart–That’s what I kept saying after my first book! Now I’ve just been completely indoctrinated by the industry.
Marvin–There was definitely some growing happening. I like your idea of being interviewed as one of your characters. Not sure if I can carry off being an octogenarian, though.
Emily Ann–And that’s the funny thing because usually the signings are very ordinary (almost boring. Okay, they ARE boring.) This is the first time someone has ever said they wanted to sit down and listen to us speak. I guess the moral is to be prepared (which, clearly, I wasn’t!)
Karen–Thanks! You’re right about handling the unexpected. It helped that I was there with writing friends. I think I’d have been a lot more nervous if it had been a solo act.
Kristen–I did consider going on a coffee break and conveniently getting lost. But I was brave! :)
Happy to hear your reading went well. Being thrown into something unexpected at the last minute like that can be tough! Sounds like you did a great job :)
I’m surprised to learn you’d never before done a reading. Well, you can’t say that now. Sounds like it went well. I’ve done a couple, but had the good fortune to know in advance, so, I looked over the book, tried to find a section that captured the essence of the writing, developed a little intro for context, and whenever I had to do something impromptu, or when a buy at my table would ask what my favorite part was…I got that a lot…I’d be set. May wanna have something like that ready for next time.
Best Regards, Galen
Imagineering Fiction Blog
Elspeth–Those are exactly the kinds of questions I asked myself!
W–*Very* different. I’m so comfortable writing that I’d rather email than talk on the phone, etc.
Galen–I bet you’d read well. It sounds like you’ve put thought into it, too. No context for me! I opened up to page 1 and BLAM! Started reading. Finished the prolougue quickly and called myself done. :)
I think Whitney used to be the CRM at a B&N in SC, and I do remember her as very nice!
And I finally looked it up on the map – you commented once that you’d like to attend one of my seminars. The closest I will be to you is Mooresville on October 21st. I’m doing a seminar through Mitchell Community College’s SBC.
B&N is a class act. They go out of their way to make you comfortable. Glad it went well.
Diane–In Greenville? Could be. She looks really young to me, but then many people have, lately. :) Maybe in her late-20s? Oct. 21st…ugh…that would be a Brownie Scout night. Maybe things will shift before then, though…I’ll keep an eye on my calendar.
Karen–They were super there. Very nice people. I was also interested in their interest in putting me on their school talks list. If I can talk in a school and not embarrass my kids, it’s a great thing!
Jemi–Unexpected twists are fun to write, but not to live through. But all’s well that ends well!
I’ve been taken by surprise at so many events that I finally show up with no expectations, prepared for anything, and just go with the flow. I enjoy reading aloud, though, especially if I have something funny selected.
Patricia–Those are words of wisdom. I’m going to be a lot more prepared next time. I don’t usually adapt to surprises well!
Well done for reading and keeping your courage. I have just read one of my poems out loud at my son’s wedding, it is strange reading our own work out. Good luck with your future public speaking and again well done.
Glynis–Thanks! Oh, I think a wedding would have a LOT more pressure. A once in a lifetime event…ack! Sounds like you aced it.