Bookstore Personalities

Every book store I frequent has certain characteristics that keep me coming back.  For one of them it's simple geographic location. For another one, it's the quantity of books on the shelves.  For the two independent stores I frequent, it's the warmth of the people running the store and an aura of true love for the written word.

Yesterday I was the privileged guest of the Borders Bookstore at the Lycoming Mall in Williamsport, PA where I signed copies of The Keepers of Sulbreth.  Joyce Rupert, host extraordinaire, had my signing posted on their events calenders, printed and online, had posters at both entrances to the store and had ordered a LARGE number of  my books for me to sign.  As you can see from the picture, they had a large table set up for me with a beautiful Borders cloth covering it, a comfortable chair and those clever little plastic gadgets to display my books.
Not only was Joyce helpful and friendly, but every worker in the store made me feel welcome and many stopped to speak with me.  Now let me tell you about location.
Many authors had horror stories of a signing table set in the back of the store, by the bathroom, or some other quirky spot in a store where no one will ever see them. I wasn't in the back of the store  because this store had NO back. It is set in a mall where the one entrance is to the parking lot and the other is into the enclosed mall concourse.  The store has an aisle set up from one entrance to the other, lined with displays.  And yesterday my books and I shared that prime selling place with those racks and tables of best-sellers. Nearly every person entering the store passed by my table, many of whom were only using Borders as a convenient way to enter the mall.  It was wonderful.
On one side of my table was a display of the newest hardback releases and across the aisle from me was the large table of newest mass market releases.  Many of my sales came from people searching that table for a read. On my other side was the information desk, constantly manned and constantly busy. 
The store had a constant flow of customers and I had few moments of standing by myself.  Some people stopped to talk about writing, about our favorite fantasy books, about their college plans, about their lives and the world of books.  One aspiring writer is a temporary resident of the area as he does his time as the local army recruiter.  I wish Sergeant Aleman the best of luck and hope he stays save in his next tour. 
I consider yesterday's signing as my most successful event.  Not because I sold the most books ever but because I sold them all to strangers.  Not one family member, friend or fellow writing group member were among my customers.  I love those people for their support but I'll never know for sure they purchased my book purely for its entertainment value.  Yesterday every person who bought my book wanted it for its own merits.  It was a wonderful feeling.
I sold half the books Joyce had ordered for the event and she assured me I did better than anyone they'd recently had for an event.  So even though I didn't sell out like I did at three previous events, I was thrilled with the day.  She invited me back and I'll certainly plan on doing another event. My only regret is I don't live closer to this particular Borders.  They have a large cafe and a very efficient staff.
To top off a great day and keep me alert on the two hour drive home, I visited the Auntie Anne's pretzel store and bought an original recipe pretzel.  So many people walked through the store carrying one, my stomach was growling. 
Do you have any tales of best and worst book signings?

Here I Come, Williamsport

This Saturday from 1-3, I'll being signing copies of The Keepers of Sulbreth at the Borders Store located at the Lycoming Mall in Williamsport, PA.  This is exciting for me because it's the closest Borders to where I grew up. 

Williamsport is a rather big town and the last time I was to the Lycoming Mall it was really busy so I'm hoping for a big crowd.  I owe this signing completely to my writers' group, Pennwriters.  They send out a newsletter to book sellers promoting their published authors works.  The event organizer at this Borders contacted me after she saw my book in the Pennwriters Newsletter.  Thanks, PW!
So if you're in the area, please stop by and say hello even if you don't want to read my book or have already purchased it.
Does your writers' group do anything like this to help their members?

Take That, Penn State

Well, I had my book signing in State College yesterday in direct competition with Penn State's spring football scrimmage, the Blue/White game. Fortunately for me, there are lots of people in Pennsylvania who read and some of them wanted to read The Keepers of Sulbreth.

I have to thank a few fans who showed up and helped me get through the day. Elizabeth Delafield not only showed up, she took this picture for me and brought her father along. My friend, Patty and her husband, Skip, brought more of their family, Molly and Carol, along so for a little while it looked like I'd drawn a crowd. My son, James, and his friend, Harry, both PSU students dropped in before going to the aforesaid football game. Then a friend I hadn't seen for nearly 16 years stopped by and talked for a while. More about her in a later post. All these wonderful people helped me relax and enjoy the day.

Danielle, the Community Relations Manager, for that B&N was so kind and helpful. She checked in with me often and made sure I had everything I needed.

Then all those wonderful strangers who stopped by to talk and bought my book. One took the time to show me her brand new Nook and then purchased my book on it. Really cool. And I can't forget the gentleman named Dave. He walked in the front door and right up to me.

"I'm buying your book."

Dave wanted no conversation. He told me he was on his way home to Connecticut and was going to read my book while his wife drove. Great. I hope it helped the miles pass for him.

It was a great day. My daughter went along with me and sat in the Starbucks Cafe, a perfect day for her. We visited my mother for a few hours afterward. I changed my clothing to sweatpants and sneakers at her house.

And did I mention, I sold a lot of books! How good can it get?

On The Road Again

If you're from central Pennsylvania, chances are you have some feelings about Penn State Football. You either love the Nittany Lions or you hate them. I'm one of the few who is kind of indifferent. My oldest step-son played some baseball at PSU and he's a big fan of their football team. My youngest son is a freshman at one of PSU's branch campuses and I'm a huge fan of his cross country team, but that doesn't mean I have to be nuts about the football team. And this weekend I'm in direct competition with them.

No. LOL. I don't have to tackle anyone. This weekend is the annual Blue/White game when the football team wraps up their spring practice with an inter-squad scrimmage. It's a huge deal in State College, Pennsylvania but I intend to overshadow it with my booksigning.

On Saturday, April 24th I'll be signing The Keepers of Sulbreth, my first fantasy novel, at the Barnes and Noble behind the Nittany Mall in State College from noon until 3:00, the exact same time as the football game! Now which would you rather attend?

If you've answered the last question correctly, I look forward to seeing you there.

Which do you think is a bigger event? A football game or a book signing?

Friday Fun Times

I could list many different things I love about being a writer but that's a blog for another day. I'll address two of the top wonderful benefits offsetting the rejection letters, endless edits and dare I say ceaseless promotion.

First are those opportunities that come along when I can interact with readers. This Friday from 6-8 pm, Aaron's Books in Lititz, Pennsylvania is hosting a multiple author booksigning and I'm honored to be invited. The historic town of Lititz hosts a special event every "2nd Friday" where all their shops stay open late. We're hoping for a big crowd and lots of readers interested in our books.

And writing about 'our books' let me say something about the second thing I really love about being an author. Spending time conferring, comforting, encouraging and being there for each other in this sometimes lonely career. And I should mention with the particular group of ladies I'll likely being doing a lot of laughing and having a good time. I'll be hawking our books with on Friday with three sister members of CPRW. Victoria Smith, Vicky Burkholder and Misty Simon have a published shapechanger anthology titled, The Shape of Love. I've read it and strongly recommend this fun and very original collection of short romances.

Vicky Smith also has her new YA fantasy available. Akashan'te will keep you up at night so be careful when you start reading it.

I'll be hoping to meet some fantasy readers interested in epic fantasy and the first book in The Futhark Chronicle, The Keepers of Sulbreth.

The weather looks clear, the company is of the best sort and Aaron's Books is a great location. I hope some of you can stop by and bring friends.

More Than Expected

As most of my loyal readers know, I had my first book signing for The Keepers of Sulbreth this past Saturday. I was extremely nervous and changed my outfit selection many times. When I arrived at the shopping center I couldn't find a parking spot. On any other day I would consider that bad luck. But on this day I wanted the huge crowd. Surely in a crowd of a couple of hundred shoppers passing in and out of the store a few might want to buy my book.

The welcoming and efficient staff of Barnes and Noble set a table up for me right inside the front door. They had a large poster in a stand beside my table and another smaller one in a plastic frame they set on the edge of my table. The manager even offered me coffee.

I had barely spread out my free book markers when a couple walked in the door and right up to my table. After reading the back cover blurb they bought one of my books. Then a number of my friends showed up, writers and none writers. Thank you my fellow romance writers from CPRW and my fellow bloggers from The Susquehanna Writers' Blog.

My two nieces drove nearly two hours to surprise me with their support. How great was that and so was the pizza we celebrated with afterwards.

After two full hours of smiling and selling, all but two of books stocked by the store had been sold. I signed the last ones for them and they were going to put them on the front counter with special stickers on as 'autographed copies.'

I didn't keep track but the store had told me they were going to order twenty books in addition to the ones they had already on the shelves. It was lovely and fun. Thanks to everyone who showed up and those who offered their best wishes.

Don't Let Me Be Alone

Every author nightmare has to be sitting for hours at a book signing and selling no books. I did that once at a coffee shop with two of my friends. Our bad luck was a monsoon like down

pour keeping shoppers to a minimum. But at least I had two friends there to share the pain.

This Saturday, Febuary 13th, I'll be having my very first book signing in a major bookstore. I'll be hawking my first fantasy novel, The Keepers of Sulbreth, at the Barnes and Noble in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. Camp Hill is a lovely little town set tight up against Harrisburg, PA. It's the only Barnes and Noble in the Harrisburg area.

I hope a few of my friends make the signing and perhaps a few relatives from near and far. Some of my students are going to be there if they haven't forgotten. Three snow days from school cut into my reminders not that teenagers don't have excellent memories if there's something they really want to do.

What I'm really hoping for is to sell every copy B&N have and then some. Then I'm sure they'll have me back when the second, third and fourth Futhark Chronicles are published.

What is the longest distance you have ever traveled to meet an author or attend a book signing? If you're an author, what was the best signing you've ever had?

Book Event Snowed Under

I spent hours preparing promotional material but Mother Nature had other ideas. We're at about 10 inches of snow and it's still falling. I'm sure it will be lovely in the morning but I would have liked to see it arrive tomorrow night.
Catherine at The Midtown Scholar Bookstore made the wise decision to postpone the huge author event she had arranged for today. She's going to put it together again in the spring. I'll be reminding everyone then and depending upon the date, I'll have another new book to sell.
Everyone be safe and don't let those men shovel snow.

Book Signing Event!

I believe book signings are helpful for authors to get their name out there to the public and perhaps more importantly for making friends with booksellers. But for an author, signings can be hours of sitting, talking and selling oneself without moving a single book. I've sat, stood, paced around at numerous book events and wondered if my time wouldn't have been better spent sitting at my desk at home and writing.

But this Saturday I'll be part of the biggest signing event I've yet to attend. The Midtown Scholar Bookstore-Cafe in Harrisburg, PA., is hosting a varied and talented panel of authors for readings and promoting their works. There will be poets, literary fiction writers, nonfiction authors, one YA author, and closest to my heart, romance writers. Cate Masters will be joining me in promoting our published novels along with fellow Susquehanna Writer, Don Helin selling his suspense novel.

Catherine, owner of the Midtown Scholar has put together a terrific holiday affair including a free holiday concert.

I am a bit nervous about reading from my work and have yet to select the passages I will use. I hope those of you local to Harrisburg will consider stopping by sometime between 2:00 and 5:00 this Saturday afternoon.

Book Signings: Victory or Crash and Burn?

Tomorrow I'll be going to my fourth ever booksigning. Currently only three of my books are in published and I'm still waiting on my author copies of one of those. So I'll only have two books available for this signing, The Greater Good and The Lesser Evil. A Ruthless Good is also out in print, but I haven't received any copies yet.

This is my first book signing involving my fellow Pennwriters and at an outdoor venue. I'm quite excited about the expected crowd and hopeful I'll see better sales than at my previous signings. So today I'm packing my 'stuff' with cautious optimism. I'm driving an hour and a half to reach the farmers' market in Hellertown, PA. At the least, I would like to earn my gas money back and hand out lots of promotion material.

I'm using the boxes my sons brought home from their college bookstore orders. The sturdy cardboard boxes were constructed to hold textbooks and have handles so they're perfect. But I have many more things to organize and stow in some handy-dandy carry baskets. I have some bookplates a friend in CPRW had made for me. I have the beaded bookthongs I designed and made myself. I sell them for four dollar apeice or give them away with a book purchase. It's a good deal. Then I have postcards/book markers from Vista print with my book covers and website information on front and back. Of course, I need my pens and my sales record book. Then is my little tin with mints in, not chocolate since we're outside, that I'll sit out if there's room on the table. I'm gathering one and five dollar bills from my husband and children so I have change to give to all those happy customers.

I'll pack a bottle of water or two and some Rolaids for my heartburn. It always shows up at these events. What am I forgetting? What clever ideas will I learn from my fellow authors as they do their brand of promotion? Any suggestions on what else I might need?