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My first book signing today and a few stories to tell.

Now I know what to do when I want to have fun! :)

Our campus Barnes & Noble hosted my book signing today. Sold 19 books, signed 23 (some people bought their books ahead of time) in 2-1/2 hours ... and not a balloon or candy dish in site. LOL

It hasn't rained in weeks--today it poured, yet the timing was perfect. It's student orientation week and every parent and student had to go to the bookstore and walk past my table which (bless the manager) was right as they walked through the door. I'll post pictures as soon as I have them.

The crowd that came to my table was a nice mix; those who knew me and were aware of the signing, people who had seen the article about me and my book in last Sunday's newspaper, and walk-ins (students and parents who were completely unaware of me). Sales demographics were males and females, ages 19 - 80 (The 80-year old was the only one who admitted to his age).

As you can imagine, I'm thrilled with the sales, but let's face it, I'm an unknown. My goal for Silenced Cry was to 1) create an awareness (name recognition for me and the series), and 2) generate a following.

The best story:
A bookstore student employee told me that it's rare that she finds a book that draws her in and keeps her interest. As an employed at the bookstore, she had a chance to thumb through the pages and said mine caught her attention right away. She bought two; kept one to read, and started a chain with the other. Funny, I had that same look on my face when she said it.

The chain was started when she sent the book to a friend in Singapore. That person read it, and sent it to a friend in Isreal. That friend read it and sent it on to Holland...get the picture? No wonder my site has been viewed in 28+ countries!! And here I thought I had become a master at marketing. Okay, so that day I only sold two book, but who knows how many people have read my book now, in who knows how many countries? According to the student, her friends liked Silenced Cry as well as she did so hopefully they referred it to a multitude of other friends. If they liked Silenced Cry that well, maybe they'll keep an eye out for my next book. And heck, what good is a series if you don't have the whole set, right? So who's to say they won't someday go back and buy Silenced Cry?

I still hadn't gotten over Silenced Cry becoming a chain book when I noticed that she was staying close to my table and was doing a better job of tooting my horn than I was. Customers came in, listened to her rave about the book, picked one up, read the blurb, and bought it. This was the classic example of how word of mouth helps sell books. One enthusiastic reader affecting another's behavior. After the customers bought the book, they wanted to know all about me and the series.

I gave the student my e-mail and asked her to please find out how many countries my book has been in and keep to me posted of my protag, Sam Harper's travels. I find this facinating and would love to track it on my website.

Note to self: June 19, good start toward accomplishing goal. Hire student as my publisist.

And the B&N manager? He warned me yesterday that most book signings don't produce more than 4-5 sales. He was thrilled with the 19 and wants to schedule another event for me in late November for a pre-Christmas signing. When I mentioned I had other signings lined up in September and October, but wanted to have a few more this summer, he offered to contact other B&N managers in the nearby communities and give me an intro before I contact them. Could I give him a week, he ask? Ha! You bet!

Needless to say, I'm a happy camper.

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Thanks so much Corey,

Just smile, look 'em in the eye and say, "Read anything good lately?" :)
yes - 19 books sold is a GREAT number, and the fact that you had pre-sales is really terrific. Be sure and rebook that second signing for November, that will be a great month for you to be there in the store again. Do it the week after Thanksgiving, that way the students will be back from vacation.

As a publicist, I just love B&N managers, they are much more enthusiastic about local authors than Borders. B&N gives their managers a lot of leeway in putting together their own events.

I would be very interested to hear about the chain results too.
Thanks Shannon! I will.

I don't know if you noticed the announcement about my virtual book tour that starts next Monday. I posted the information on my page (think I also placed an announcement on the events section). I'll let you know how well that works out too. :)
Congrats Marta! Sounds like fun.
Marta,

Thank you for posting this and congratulations!!!

I'd never heard of a "chain" before. That's an interesting concept.

Revvell

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