Book Signings
Last night I went to a booksigning for Team Plano (soon to come: Team Plano vs Team Seattle cage match) friend Michele Bardsley. The event was to celebrate the release of WAIT TIL YOUR VAMPIRE GETS HOME (go buy it now, please). Michele offered snacks, coffee, prizes and a reading, plus she answered questions about the book and her writing. Fun times.
It got me thinking about book signings in general. I've found that the best author events include a reading and question portion. They're more entertaining and interactive than the author just sitting behind a card table hoping someone will want a book signed. It also helps if they offer snacks--preferably chocolate.
I have to admit that I never went to a book signing before I started writing. And it got me wondering about how often other people go out of their way to attend an author event at a book store. Unless you're a die-hard fan and follow an author's blog or web site, it can be hard to know when and where these events occur. I recently found Booktour.com, where authors register their upcoming events. For readers, it's a great tool because the site will send you an email letting you know of all the book events in your area each month.
So what say you? Do you attend book signings in your area? And what types of events do you most enjoy?
It got me thinking about book signings in general. I've found that the best author events include a reading and question portion. They're more entertaining and interactive than the author just sitting behind a card table hoping someone will want a book signed. It also helps if they offer snacks--preferably chocolate.
I have to admit that I never went to a book signing before I started writing. And it got me wondering about how often other people go out of their way to attend an author event at a book store. Unless you're a die-hard fan and follow an author's blog or web site, it can be hard to know when and where these events occur. I recently found Booktour.com, where authors register their upcoming events. For readers, it's a great tool because the site will send you an email letting you know of all the book events in your area each month.
So what say you? Do you attend book signings in your area? And what types of events do you most enjoy?
Comments
I'll go to book signings near where I live, or further if its someone on my list. Though, if I do a review, I'll wait until *after* the book signing next time. :)
I'd really like to go to one, just to see what it is all about. And I like chocolate, too.
As for the website with lists of tours/signing...I would never check it. It wouldn't occur to me to check it. Now, if I went to a signing and won a door prize (say a new car) then I would definitly go to all that I found out about. Hint hint.
Tom Gallier
There's something about reading one's own work aloud that adds a different texture to the story. Plus, you get to see where the author places there emphasis and get to ask totally inappropriate questions in public to make them blush.
Mmm. Author heckling.
It's only my second signing, so I'm still kinda excited about it all. It used to be that I'd hear about them only after the event and they were always at the other end of the country. It sucked mightily. But now that I'm in London I imagine I'll be attending quite a few signings and events over the next few years. *grin*
I so hope more come closer to where I am. You know what I'd love to see? Some site that has listing of authors and where they are signing books. There could be a signing maybe 4 hours from me, with a new author I haven't read, but I wouldn't have know about it, otherwise I'd love to go and get the opportunity to meet them and read their books! Do you know of any type of place that authors go to, to post by state or anything?
I also belong to Booktour.com - and joined so I have less chance of missing a signing locally.
JZ
Short answer long, I'd love to, but they don't do a grand job of advertising around here.
I realy do wish more happened in my area because I would definitely go!!
I love signed copies of books, but there's something even more special about having a memory to attach to them!