#IWSG: Are Book Signings a Thing of the Past?

http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/

Insure Writer’s Support Group: Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
The awesome co-hosts for the November 4 posting of the IWSG will be Stephen Tremp, Karen Walker, Denise Covey, and Tyrean Martinson! 

New Blog Design:  Hope you like Romance Under Fire blog’s new design. I’ve been working on acquiring new images for posters, headers, and a book trailer. Muy mucho pesos, amigo. I managed to afford two images this month for this blog’s header. I’ll have to spread the cost for the remainder over several months. Wouldn’t you know I’d select iStock’s very best. Friends have recommended other sites which have cheaper subscriptions, but I couldn’t find ones that beat iStock’s quality. Did you find great images elsewhere?

 

Tip of the Month: I found a site called Query Shark that may critique your query letter. There are strict guidelines to follow in order to get your draft query accepted and posted and critiqued. I’ve reviewed some the recent posts. She identifies where the author needs to improve and how to amp up the tension. In other words, get the agent/publisher’s curiosity engaged. I can see why my query letters have not inspired agents to request my manuscript. I’ll back digging in deep with a rewrite. Here is the link:  http://queryshark.blogspot.ca/2007/07/instructions-for-submitting-work-to.html

Also, here is a website that is worth a look-see: Writers in the Storm.  Copied from Writers in the Storm website: “We are a group of seasoned writers. We write in different genres and bring unique perspectives and strengths to the table.

Along the way, we’ve discovered that there’s more to life than writing, and sometimes life can be the richest story of all.

We chose Writers in the Storm as the name of this blog because every writer must weather the storm within: self doubt, rejection, deadlines and balancing our writing passion with everyday life. Not to mention the storm raging outside – the paradigm shift in the publishing industry.

We began this blog in April of 2010. Over the years, we’ve narrowed our focus, to writing craft and inspiration. Many writers have helped us on the path, and we hope to give a hand back to aspiring writers.

Feel free to scan our archives – there’s tons of information there!”

Book signings, a thing of the past?

Recently, I paid to participate in a book signing, an annual community event. Several other local authors arrived and displayed their books beautifully. To draw a larger crowd, crafters had been invited; they brought an assortment of soaps, paintings, etc. The location was in the same building as a large library and centrally located within a booming city. Singers and musicians were listed to entertain the public. The organizers had food and refreshments on hand.  The event was well advertised.

We set up our tables, decorated with colorful posters. We waited. And waited. A few people ambled in as they left the library next door. They glanced at a few books but mostly just kept cruising to the exit doors. Musicians and singers were wonderful. A first nations dancer caught the attention of a few, mostly only those who wanted to have a photograph of them standing with the man in his colorful traditional ceremonial dress.

Did any authors sell books? A few, but most everyone said it was not worth the cost of renting the table, the display, and the car gas. The books that did sell were in the erotica genre, a relatively safe bet to receive the titillating rush, :).

This is the third time I attended this annual event. All previous events were just as disappointing.  The first time, I thought it was because we were too close to the library. People could get reading material for a year for the library’s small membership fee. The second time, I thought the poor sales was my fault. I wasn’t engaging enough, too engaging, or my table ‘s decorations failed to impress and invite. This third time, I’m baffled.

I did have a great time, mostly chatting with the other authors. All of us had written well, and debated on the subject material of our next novel. The favorite choice was to write a story about retired madames, and call it “Hookers R Us.”

If you’ve had a book signing, was it worth the effort? What is the key to a successful book signing?  Or is purchasing a print book on the way out?