I worked hard at promoting my first reading through social media and in-person, but it didn't go as well as I planned. The actual reading went well, the bookstore was wonderful with friendly and helpful staff, but attendance could have been better. I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED WITH THE READING. This is not a complaint.
Doing the reading during the Valentine's Day weekend, on a Friday, when numerous events were happening in town, worked against me. The social networking only works if people know you better, and I'm new in town, still getting my feet wet. I have not met many writers yet here or joined any writers groups yet. So all of these things worked against my best efforts. However, I see this as a learning experience and I'm poised for any improvements I need to make. I am planning my next readings with an eye for improvement of my performance and targeting the right people to attend the readings.
So I ask you what were your first readings or author events like? What worked for you and what worked against you? What did you learn from the experiences?
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No worries, Danika.
I think my target market is a lot smaller than children's or YA fiction markets (there is a baby boom happening so these demographics are large). My market is educated people over 40 who are into French culture or travel. There was also that glitch on Amazon a week before my reading where it said that my novel was in French instead of English. It's funny now, but it wasn't at the time.
I was realistic going into my reading. I promoted it without any media picking up on my press releases, was just given calendar listings. I am new in town, it was the Friday and weekend before Valentine's Day, lots of events were happening throughout town, some colleagues were out of town, etc...
I don't want to give the impression that I'm feeling disappointed because I'm actually not. However, I'm seeking clever ways of promoting my book because my current promotion isn't selling many books or getting me invited to speak in other venues or for groups.
I have found that media only wants the sensational and the well known. So we have garnered very little actual media coverage. That said, we have done well at book signings with the dollhouse. We have had bookstores say to us "You sold how many? My adult authors don't sell more than four an an average!"
It actually helped to be placed by the bathroom because that is where the children's department is located in one store. People saw us.
As Danika said, you will find what works for you and that only comes with persistence. Gone are the days when there are few books and the publishers present them and they sell.
The media in my city is overwhelmed with an abundance of artists, arts projects, events, authors, etc..for a small community of 75,000 people, this community has a high percentage of people in the arts, and only two publications to cover it. We have the most artists per capita next to Santa Fe, NM.
I'm new in town so that means I have to prove myself and wait in line if I'm to get any coverage.
The only French cultural meet up group near me is in Vancouver, Canada. I did join it, but getting across the border is a real challenge, which I'm not up to at the moment. Only one French group in my city who I have not connected with yet. My Twitter account is full of French cultural groups worldwide, but not much is happening with that--meaning none of these folks have inquired about my novel or bought it. I even started a blog for my characters which is very French. And I joined French cultural groups on Linked-In.
My blog Pacific NW Author attracts followers into travel and photography, literature etc, but sales of my book through this effort is minimal, but at least there have been sales. So even though travel and French culture people should be target markets, so far they're not.
Patricia--
I'm nowhere near readings and signings in my timeline and I'm sorry I can't offer you any suggestions. I do appreciate your candor and your willingness to share even your disappointments with us. Or should I say - your concerns. I'm enjoying the discussion you've initiated and I wish you the very best of luck as you move forward.
I am not disappointed with my previous reading.
I am looking for ways to improve attendance at future readings and need to increase sales of my novel, but I was pleased to give a reading at the bookstore, receive warm support from the staff and people who attended the reading. It is a good start, but now I want to move forward and make improvements.
Patricia, my experience has been that book readings and signings are a mixed bag. So many external factors determine if/how many people show up. The weather. Other events.
I was fortunate to have a crowd of almost 50 people at my first book signing in the small town of Ranier, Minnesota on Rainy Lake. The reason for this is that I set my novel, Waters of the Dancing Sky, in this area. I'd met and gotten to know a number of people there as I did location research for my novel. However, I've also had crowds of 3 people at a reading!
What I've found important is advance publicity. I contact local newspapers and ask if they will do a feature article on me and my book prior to the scheduled event. Most are happy to do so. If you contact them early enough and offer a complimentary copy of your book, some will read and review it in their newspapers.
I also sponsor a contest to promote my book. Prizes include autographed copies as well as gift certificates to places in my novel. People coming to my book events can sign up to win there or sign up via my website.
Writers groups can be one of the very best ways to network with other writers and promote each other's work. I have an incredible writers group in Northwest Wisconsin and also belong to the Wisconsin Writers Assocation (a state organization of writers.)
Best of luck to you!
I find you need a gimmick of some sort. For the children's books we published, I created a show stopping doll house which is routed as the "First Christmas Present given by Santa." It literally stops people from averting their eyes and walking past. It is responsible for selling quite a few books.
This works for children's books. What would work for your genre? It has to be show stopping, but a soft sell on it's own. Something to break the ice and allow you to become "REAL" to your intended audience.
You can see the dollhouse at my website www.secondstar.us. There are even pictures of it in the building phase.