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We need to make sure there are enough books printed and in stock for your event. If you don't tell us in time you may not be able to order enough.
We encourage all our authors to hold bookstore signings, workshops, talks and conferences, virtual or in-person. They are excellent ways to meet readers and launch books. Some of our authors get regular sales and exposure for their book(s), for many months or years after publication, through events at shops, schools, etc.
We don't organise events. If we are contacted by an event organizer we will then pass on the organizer's email address to you.
Booksellers and event organizers are keener than ever to invite authors to participate in promoting and selling their books. Bookstores are more interested in you than us – and usually want to deal with you directly, so pop in and tell them you'd like to hold an event and see what they say.
We would advise that you take your book along to your local library and talk with the librarians, and see what opportunities they have. Libraries, like most of the public sector, are cash strapped. They will not buy a book from you directly if you walk in with one, as they have proper acquisition channels to go through. However, they may have opportunities for talks to your local community.
"It is only big names that draw the crowds; keep promoting yourself on radio and in magazines and your name will grow."
"Ask if you can sign author copies (the larger chains usually do that as a matter of course) and you will sell more."
“Do a talk instead of just a signing, move about and don’t just sit at a table.”
“Some people will come up to you, but it is incumbent upon you to initiate contact most of the time!”
"Location, sitting at the front of the store, helps. You have to greet and say "hi" to everyone coming and going."
"Work with a specialized rather than general store, especially if they have a dedicated client base. They will market the event which increases the chances for sales."
“Hand out flyers, bookmarks, any kind of bag stuffers.”
“Have the book close by you, for sale, hold it when you talk about it.”
“At the beginning of a talk, poll people to find out what bought them there, or what they hope to learn. See if you can solve their problems.”
“Make friends with the bookshop people, get to know them.”
"Track the stores in the website in your area, see which titles have been launched there, contact the authors privately through the forum and ask how they got on."
“It doesn’t have to be a bookshop, could be anywhere different.”
“Show up early, hand out flyers and talk it up.”
"Just keep plugging away, and throw away all your expectations."
"Check if they supply chairs. Most people are happy to stand for a short talk, but it is helpful to have some for the elderly/infirm."
“Buy yourself a table-top easel. It is great to show-off your book in an upright position!”
“Place a nice good horizontal pile of your books next to that (you can fan them out if you want to be arty!)”
“Get yourself some bookmarks printed… Try www.thebookmarkshop.com/promotional.htm.”
“The main value of some events is in the contacts you can make rather than direct sales. Have a couple of extra chairs for conversations.”
“At book expos, walk the floor, have postcards of the book handy, give them out to booksellers (denominated by color of badge) and encourage them to come to your table for a signing event for a free copy.”
“It is easier and more productive if you can join forces with one or more authors in your area, post on the Author Facebook Group or on the HELP/Marketing & Publicity Forum.
Nick David, author of Birds of the Nile, is an author based in York (Northern England, UK). Nick began his "event" marketing with the writing group he was involved in. A first-time author, he set up readings with his local writing group and others in the area. From there he proposed talks to writing groups along the lines of “How travel broadens the literary mind” and whilst there he could promote his book Birds of the Nile set in Egypt. At another he discussed “his writing journey”. Nick also contacted his local libraries and local book festivals. In all, during publication of his first book in 2014/2015 Nick took part in seven book festivals in the North of England. He then moved onto bookstores and did a tour of local W H Smith and Waterstones Stores in the York area. Typically, he sold around 20 copies of his book at each signing. By doing lots of events he got himself known as a local author. These events helped the sales of his first book. With the publication of his second book in 2015, Nick repeated his book tore event/signings, doing a tour of 13 bookstores during the Summer 2015. Sales of the second book were much improved on the sales of the first.
Donna Bryson, author of, Home of the Brave (publication Jan 2018), emailed her local Denver (USA) Library to ask if they would purchase her book. This is their reply. The Denver Public Library is excited to be purchasing your book! We would love to explore the possibility of an author event at the Park Hill Branch of the Denver Public Library as well. We have had the most success with author events on Saturdays at 2:30pm. We book events pretty far in advance. We are especially excited to promote your book on Random Acts of Kindness Day on Saturday, February 17 at 2:30pm.To book in February, we would need the description of the event and details finalized within a month or so. If you would like more dates, I can provide more dates and even look into weekday evenings, if that is your preference. We are located at 4705 Montview Blvd at the corner of Montview and Dexter, not to far from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Expected audience can vary. Sometimes weather issues arise and it is either simply too nice or too yucky out. I would say, with your topic and expertise, I wouldn't expect any less than 20 to attend. We will promote in print with the Engage brochure, our branch brochure, flyers in the branch and community and on social media. If you would like to sell books at the event, we would love that. Our boundary is that we are unable to assist with the transactions of book sales. Are you able to bring someone with you to help with book sales? We are not equipped to provide book sales. We are happy to facilitate book sales by setting up a table, etc. We provide light refreshments. We have had many successful author events in the past. I feel that your book would be immensely popular with my community.
Lucy Starza
Susan Plunket
Susan Plunket
G.L. Davies
Daniel Ingram Brown
Daniel Ingram Brown
Oliver Rolfe
Harmony Kwicker
Harmony Kwicker
