A Gathering of Local Authors

 On Saturday, October 28, 2006 I woke up to a wind-driven rain storm.  What a day for a book signing with four other local authors in a nearby bookstore!  But - it was the kind of day “bookaholics” liked to spend browsing, so my hope was that the weather would not deter them.

I sloshed through the rain juggling an umbrella, pulling a canvas tote full of books, and dashed into the store, trying to dodge the deluge and avoid looking like a drenched rat!  No easy task.

Inside was cozy and warm, though, and the store had done a great job promoting the event and preparing for the author signing.  Each of us had a separate table with a nice sign, all ready for our book display. 

It was interesting for me to see what each of the other authors did to enhance their tables.  The woman next to me had written a cookbook so she had a big platter of homemade cookies available.  She had also been on a local New Hampshire news program so she had signs from that appearance too.  Her table was wonderful.  (She is a Home Economics teacher in a New Hampshire high school and has a natural “flair,” so to speak.)

Two other women had written a children’s book about the color red so their table display, not to mention their outfits, were of course red .  They also had bookmarks, cards and other small gifts related to their book, for sale.

The other three authors, myself included, opted to just display our books on the table.  One of them, another woman, had written a book on Loons, and the lone man in the group had written a book of humorous essays on being a new father.  We were quite a mixed group.

Over the course of the next two hours more people than I expected, given the weather, came in.  I talked with several of those who stopped by my table and that was fun. 

What’s interesting is that each of us sold three books in that timeframe, except for the man with the essays.  He sold six.  The cookbook author next to me, having been on numerous signings like this one, said that three sales was about the norm for any given event.  I didn’t have any data to draw on so her knowledge was helpful to me. 

It was a very entertaining afternoon, and I really learned a lot.  By the time I left the rain had stopped.

Till Next Time...

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