Upon hearing the
words “book signing,” most people think of a bookstore. And in the past,
bookstores were great places for authors to meet readers and fans.
The decline of the
bookstore and the emergence of e-books has changed that aspect. Fewer stores
mean fewer opportunities for signings. Many people have converted to e-books,
and while there are ways to autograph e-books, they're difficult to sell in the
store. (Although it's not impossible, as signings at a Barnes and Noble can involve
Nook sales.) The ease of self-publishing means there are more authors, too.
Meeting a real live author in person just isn't a novelty anymore.
However, there are
those who still treasure an autographed book. And since fostering relationships
is important, personal appearances can still spur sales.
With bookstores on
the decline, where else can you do a signing? The possibilities are endless!
Depending on the subject matter of your book, consider these venues:
·
Gift
stores
·
Specialty
stores
·
Coffee
shops
·
Arts and
crafts fairs
·
Festivals
·
Farmers
markets
·
Fundraisers
·
Political
conventions
·
Trade
shows
·
Museums
·
Parks
·
School
and college events
·
Cruise
ships
Can you use your
creativity to think of other opportunities?
And my apologies to Kyra Lennon for the late posting of her upcoming book, If I Let You Go, a NA Romance coming out October 22, 2012:
I've been researching places like this myself. Great list! Good luck on finding the right place.
ReplyDeleteGreat suggestions! I'd never thought of doing book signings in non bookstore locations.
ReplyDeleteGreat list! I've been considering the Starbuck's I frequent. my husband's shop and the hair salon I work at.
ReplyDeleteHugs and chocolate,
Shelly
http://secondhandshoesnovel.blogspot.com/
Signing on a cruise ship - I could do that! Well, maybe.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting, Diane! Much appreciated! :D
ReplyDeleteSome of those places listed, I definitely wouldn't have though of.
ReplyDeleteI've seen Kyra's cover around this past week. Wishing her success with this book!
I participated in a Book festival a while back--it was a good way to do it. Though I was sitting next to a much more famous author, so I felt a little like a fraud. Still... better to have people coming to the table, even if it wasn't for me, than not coming up at all. And It was a learning experience to watch a pro at work.
ReplyDelete- Church events
ReplyDelete- Libraries
- Restaurants
- In-home book clubs
- Hometown sidewalk sale events
Check out apartment complexes. Next month, I'm speaking at a "Literary Salon" at a friend's apartment complex. They host authors each month.
ReplyDeleteWe have a couple little resturants that will do book signings. As does our library.
ReplyDeleteI've been considering doing a wine and cheese book signing party at my house.
ReplyDelete"Beyond the bookstore" is the way to go! These are fabulous ideas.
ReplyDeleteI've been wondering about this for awhile wondering where people get their books signed and meet their favorite authors. These are great suggestions.
ReplyDeleteMy friend is having her signing at an Applebee's because the bookstores in her Philly neighborhood won't carry the book. Personally, I'd love to do a signing, but really, who'd come? I'm a debut author in a small town (which I criticize in the book) in a major metro area (Seattle.) It would be nice to think I could pull one off, but since most of my friends are out of state, I doubt I could. *sigh* Too bad you can't hold a virtual book signing!
ReplyDeleteSusanne, I've done signings in all of those locations, too.
ReplyDeleteJohanna, that would be fun. I have a theory - drunk people will buy anything.
Nancy find an event near you or consider an independent coffee shop, especially one with a wine tasting night. See my comment about as to why!
How about at a reading? Our local writing group has been holding readings at the coffee shop downtown.
ReplyDeleteAll good ideas. I've met a couple writers who've set up booths at a local street fair. Also, speakers at some events I've been to will have books available afterwards and are willing to sign them. I guess you know something about that.
ReplyDeleteLee
Wrote By Rote
Those are great ideas! It's important to think beyond the basics :)
ReplyDeleteChurches or other religious places, book groups, writers conventions, libraries, speaking events. I'll probably think of others to add to the list if I think longer.
ReplyDeleteJai
I have had book signings at specialty stores and coffee shops. I've also sold books on Nook everytime I had a signing at Barnes and Noble.
ReplyDeleteI've long recommended that authors learn as much as they can about retailing so they can better convince alternative retailers to hold events for them. And I try to convince retailers that authors are an ideal resource for upping their net profit in my HowToDoItFrugally series of books for retailers including A Retailer's Guide To Frugal In-Store Promotions (http://budurl.com/RetailersGuide).It works both ways! (-:
ReplyDeleteThanks for this, Diane!
Best,
Carolyn
Me too, I love the idea of doing a signing on a cruise ship sipping a cocktail whilst doing so. Do vegans drink cocktails? If not a refreshing smoothie alongside the pool.
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas. I haven't done a signing I think out of fear nobody will show.
ReplyDeleteMmm... could it be that there IS an upside to the decline of the bookstore?
ReplyDeleteI am happy to say that this past weekend I found two new independent bookshops that are thriving,
ReplyDeleteI sincerely hope that the bookstores and real books never die.
Some place that ties in with the book could be great, and with lots of foot traffic. A friend of mine has good luck at grocery stores.
ReplyDeleteI've often thought about sitting at my local pub, where I did quite a bit of the writing, and signing there.
ReplyDeleteAlso, maybe at my gym, or work, or any other place I frequent.
With the advent of mobile billing, you can set up a book-signing anywhere, with a sales portal, and sell books right off your table!
- Eric
Those are some great ideas. Too tired to think of more, though. It's midnight here. ;-)
ReplyDeleteA cruise ship? Now that is a place I would love to do a book signing and even better if it is all expenses paid!
ReplyDeleteSome great suggestions, everyone. Eric, you should do the pub.
ReplyDeleteThese are great ideas. You should rank them on effectiveness. I'm not a novel writer, but it's interesting.
ReplyDeleteHi Diane .. I came across someone recently who was handing out leaflets for her book & ebook .. at the tube station .. and was thinking of other places ...
ReplyDeleteI guess in a mall - however small the mall was ... at a farmer's market if you're local ..
Great ideas here though ... cheers Hilary
Thank you for sharing! Sounds like a great book ;D
ReplyDeleteFab idea!
The cruise ship sounds good!
ReplyDeleteI'd like to try all of the above, but a cruise ship would indeed be something new for me, in all aspects. Niiiice!
ReplyDelete