Back in June I received the most
exciting news of my author career, I was set up for my very first Barnes and
Noble book signing. It was pretty awesome sitting there in the store among all
the other books and discussing my own book with new readers! I took some
photos, signed some books, and the manager mentioned they may even invite me
back before Christmas for another signing. To my great surprise, the manager
even asked that I sign the rest of the copies left for them to place on display
at the customer service desk! I was ecstatic!
There are plenty of articles
around that share what you will need to bring to a bookstore signing so I won’t spend much time on that here. I will say though,
for Barnes and Noble, don’t expect that they will have a full size table prepared
for you. At my store they only had a smaller display table the size of a living
room end table and were happy to have me bring in my own 5ft folding table from
my car. You will also want to invest in a solid color floor length tablecloth
(the next item on my to-do list). This will present a more professional set up.
The biggest tip I can give you
about bookstore signings is to make sure you call a day or two ahead of time to
make sure they have everything they need for your event. Books go missing,
calendars get messed up, employees leave. Best to call ahead.
But I’m betting you are wanting to know the secret to how I managed to get INTO
Barnes and Noble in the first place.
Getting into Barnes & Noble- It’s Not Easy!
The first step is to make sure you have all your ducks in a
row. Barnes and Noble wants to know whether your books are returnable, this can
be a major hurdle to cross for many authors. You will also want to be prepared
with a professional looking headshot (no selfies), a list of methods you will
be using to promote the event, as well as a list of previous signings you have
done. They will also most likely ask for your book blurb and author bio/
website details.
The second step is to make contact. BUT NEVER IN PERSON!!!
Authors- I must repeat that- do NOT approach Barnes and Noble in person and ask
them to host you for a signing- this almost never works! Instead, “hire” your
husband or a friend to speak on your behalf as your “publicist”. You may need
to train them. The goal is to present yourself as professionally as possible.
Your representative could call or go in person. Ask to speak to the store
manager.
Here are a few ways this might go down:
Your “publicist” may call and get told “Yes! Sure! Here’s a date!” = Best day
ever, right?
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| http://amzn.to/2a9V6dr |
Most likely your “publicist will get asked to send in a ton
of information by e-mail. Always call back later to make sure the manager
actually saw that e-mail. They are very busy people!
If you don’t hear back after a week or so, feel free to have
your representative call again. Inform them that the information has already
been sent in and you were wondering if you could get a date set for a signing.
Then cross your fingers HARD!
Most stores prefer to schedule signings a bare minimum of a
month out. Many stores have restrictions about how soon after another signing
they will schedule theirs. Some prefer to schedule you only if this is to be
your FIRST Barnes and Noble signing.
Once you get a no… unfortunately you should wait another
season or so before asking again.
Promotion
When you DO get a date, after you stop dancing around out of
pure joy, make sure you do your part to help promote the event. The more books
you manage to sell, the more likely they are to ask you to come back again. So,
create your Facebook event sharing the news. Share it on your blog. Post about
it on twitter. Contact your local newspaper.
I took a picture of the bookstore from the parking lot and
shared it on instagram with the news of the date of the signing. Then I
superimposed my book cover beside the store to create my Facebook event photo.
This serves to help remind local people where you will be. My husband even
shared the news with all of his coworkers which even resulted in a few of them
coming out to meet me!
The store will create a poster with your author photo and
book cover, their logo and the date of the event. If you can manage to find out
when they are placing it in the store you could go and take a photo of it and
share that on social media as well. Some stores may even add you to their event
list.
Before you leave your signing, ask the manager if they would
like you to sign a few copies for the store. Some stores will, some stores
prefer to return the unsold copies and may decline. I leave a stack of
bookmarks to go with each book the store wants me to sign for them. If they
happen to set your book up for display before you leave, take a picture and
share the proof that your book is in their store! Encourage others to go and
buy a copy!
Last tips
Remember to smile and have fun! Stand and talk to someone
who approaches your table. Offer to shake their hand and pass them a book to
look at. Bring along a friend who will take pictures for you. Be courteous and
professional in your contact not only with customers but also with staff;
without them you wouldn’t be here.
When V.L. Jennings isn't traveling to
other worlds through her imagination, she calls Dillon, South Carolina her
home. Virginia is the author of "The Alien Mind," a science fiction
novel published by PDMI Publishing, LLC. Her second title, "Visionary From
The Stars" is expected to be re-released through PDMI as well, in 2016.
She has also illustrated a children's book for PDMI, titled "Wiggle Worm's
Shape Adventures," written by Karen and Kathy Sills. Lately, Virginia
spends her time writing flash fiction on her blog and working towards her
Associates Degree in Electronics Engineering.
You can find out more about
Virginia and catch up on reading her short stories at: virginialorijennings.com
