Sunday, my local Romance
Writers of America chapter hosted a book signing at a local mall. I watched the
way other authors interacted with shoppers as they walked by.
 |
| Laura Breck |
Of course, we all had
candy and free giveaways on our tables to try to lure customers closer, but the
authors who made the most contacts were the ones who came out from behind their
tables.
Standing in the high
traffic areas, these authors handed out bookmarks and trading cards and chatted
with people as they walked by. The topic wasn’t their book, but instead, they
asked questions about Valentine’s Day plans or what they were shopping for.
Most of the people who
walked by weren’t interested in buying paperbacks, but they were excited to
learn about our books so they could download them to their electronic readers.
A few people bought books, though, mainly as gifts for loved ones.
It was very
nice to connect with readers, even though I now have a big box of paperbacks,
and no place to store them!
Happy
Valentine’s Day!
Laura
~Smart Women ~Sexy Men ~Seductive Romance
~Dancing
in a Hurricane is available in digital formats at Amazon, Smashwords, and Barnes & Noble and in paperback at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Createspace
~Love in the Land of Lakes is
available in digital format at Smashwords, All Romance Ebooks, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon, and in paperback at
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Createspace
7 comments:
That's interesting, Laura, that people in a bookstore would mention downloading books to their readers. I'd think they were physical book customers if they're in a physical store! Obviously people now read both ways and aren't set on one way or the other. Thanks for sharing your experience.
I'm not surprised more people are buying downloads. it is efficient. Save a tree, save a beaver-- you know.
Trees and beavers, love it. As nice as it is to hold that precious print book in our hands, I had heard too that electronic books have far more sales than their traditional counterparts. Great way to connect with readers though.
I don't buy print books unless it's for gifts. I love reading on my Kindle. Since I have so many unread, I'm never without something to read.
I haven't bought a paper version of a book in over 2 years, except for books on craft so I can jot notes in the margins. I refer to those so often that I need paper copies by my chair. Libraries, too, are offering eBooks and readers to their patrons.
You're so right, Laura! I've been to a number of similar events, and when shoppers think you're going to try to sell, they back away with fear in their eyes...sometimes while making the sign of the cross. :-) It's like social media--try to be social person, not a salesperson.
This is great! It sounds like everyone had a good time, and they most likely made some connections. I am also an ebook convert, although I do love holding a paperback in my hands, and I have bookshelves overflowing with beloved paperbacks I can't let go of.
As for book signings, now with ebooks so popular, many people (myself included) are making postcards with Qcodes on them. That way, you have something to give away, and something to sign, and readers can easily download your books. I love them!
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