The Dreaded Booksigning by Diane Burton

Booksignings can be eagerly anticipated or dreaded. Usually, they don't go the way the first episode of Castle went, with a huge crowd and the publisher providing free drinks and food. They're more like the scene in National Treasure: Book of Secrets where Riley sits alone waiting/hoping for someone to stop by. 

September was a month of book events for me. Each one taught me something new . . . plus something I should have thought of and didn't. 

photo credit: Michael D. Jones

I'm a lifetime Girl Scout. Be prepared is our motto. Sadly, I wasn't as prepared as I should've been. For my first shoulda, here I am on a beautiful Sunday in Ann Arbor, Michigan at the Kerrytown Book Fest held in a farmer's market. This was a big event, with many, many vendors--authors, book publishers, sellers of book-related paraphernalia. Do you see my tablemate's (Michael D. Jones) banner? Do you see mine? It was at home still in its box. My tablecloth did get a lot of comments, though. For this all-day event (10am - 5pm), I shoulda brought a cushion to sit on.

Another shoulda, something I didn't think about. The author next to me had a bowl of chocolates. That stopped people, who politely asked if they could have one. She then engaged them in conversation. Chocolates are messy, especially on a hot day. I brought hard candy to the next event.

photo credit: Tamarack District Library

The following Saturday, I participated in the Tamarack District Library's Bios, Books, and Brunch in Lakeview, Michigan. As you can see from the picture above, many authors participated in this event. That's me sitting on the right. Next to me is Loralee Lillibridge, a long-time friend and author, who shared a table with me. At the opposite end of that row is Maris Soule, another long-time friend and my chauffeur. LOL It's always more fun to go to an event with someone. The conversation there and back makes the trip go faster, you can plot, discuss problems with a WIP, or just catch up on each other's lives. 

BB&B was a much shorter event (10am - 1pm). The library ladies couldn't have treated us authors better. Our tables were set up all over the library, encouraging readers to walk around. They offered free food (homemade scones and fruit) and drinks (coffee, tea, water). Almost like Castle's event. Better, in my opinion. Talking to everyone who stopped was a lot of fun. Asking what they liked to read is always a good conversation starter. One lady told us she'd been in two abusive marriages but was working through it. Her counselor suggested she journal, and what did we think of that. Loralee and I encouraged her to do so, and we chatted for quite a while. About an hour later, the lady came back to buy my book. Talking to people, listening to them, being open and friendly is so rewarding. Not the money she spent on my book. It was the fact that she'd gone home to get the money. I won't forget her.

Alpena Book Festival

Last Saturday, Hubs and I drove up to Alpena on Michigan's east (Lake Huron) coast. If you look at the back of your left hand, Alpena is at the tip of your index finger. (BTW, that's a Michigan thing--showing a location on your hand.) I attended the 3rd Annual Alpena Book Festival presented by the Alpena County District Library and three bookstores. I had such a great time last year, networking with authors and readers, I had to go back again. They offered panel discussions on various topics. (I'm in the corner next to the gentleman.) In the last hour of the all-day event, authors signed books. Did I bring my banner? Yes! Did I bring hard candy? Yes! See, I do learn from previous mistakes, even if I forgot to have Hubs take a picture of me with my banner. 

Something I had no control over but greatly affected the festival this year was the weather. Even in northern Michigan, the temps were in the 90s with high humidity, very rare in mid-September. That did not encourage people to walk around to the different venues. Attendance was lower than last year and disappointing to the organizers. I still had a great time.

Usually Hubs doesn't go with me to book events. But, since it's almost a five-hour drive up to Alpena, it was great having a chauffeur. Besides, he makes a terrific Sherpa. We then went on a mini-vacation a little further north so I could get what Hubs calls my "bridge fix." I love looking at the Mackinac Bridge that connects Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas.

While preparing this post, I realized another shoulda. Get someone to take a picture, if only for a post like this. At my local writers' group, we talked about booksignings right after the Kerrytown event. Jean Davis, our organizer (and my chauffeur to Ann Arbor), talked about standing versus sitting, that standing puts you at eye level with the passersby. Good idea. Unfortunately with chronic low back pain, I don't do well standing. I did bring my business cards, bookmarks, postcards (with book info), my Square device to take credit cards, and plenty of change. Haven't had the opportunity to use Square yet, but I'm prepared. LOL

Authors tend to be introverts. After all, we have characters in our heads that we love talking/listening to. Why do we need to talk to real people? Booksignings can be awkward, painful even, for an introvert. In my mind, I'm an introvert. Anyone who knows me has a hard time believing that. I like to talk. I enjoy panel discussions. Maybe it's my years as a teacher. But before each event, I ask myself what am I doing! My stomach knots up. My hands shake. I should never have signed up for this! When I get to the event, my nerves settle down, and I have a great time.

After preparing the draft for this post, I found an interesting post on the Kobo Writing Life blog on booksignings.

I'm gearing up for the next event presented by the Grand Haven (MI) Loutit District Library on October 14th. 


Diane Burton combines her love of mystery, adventure, science fiction, and romance into writing romantic fiction. Besides the science fiction romance Switched and Outer Rim series, she is the author of One Red Shoe, a romantic suspense, and the Alex O’Hara PI mysteries. She blogs here on the 30th of each month, on Paranormal Romantics on the 13th, on Pandora's Box Gazette on the 3rd Wednesday, and on her own blog on Mondays.