Another Successful Book Signing Event

Today, I was blessed with yet another successful book signing event for my novel Weapons Of Light. Fifteen out of the twenty books available for sale at Vine and Branches Christian Book Store in Lodi, sold during the three hours that I was there to sign. The bulk of which sold within the first two hours. My first event with this store last year was a complete sell out of the ten books the store ordered, with two back orders. This time the new owner asked me to supply twenty books for consignment at a very generous percentage for me. I had ten on hand, so I only had to order another ten for the event. The store events manager kept the five remaining books, confident that those also would sell. Plus, she was agreeable to my suggestion, as the new owner had been when I went in to meet him, that the store be the first event host for my next novel due out later this year. So, connections made with my current novel are working toward the success of novel number two.

Earlier during the week, I was at my local bank conducting business and the manager asked if I was retired, I told him that I was technically retired, but that I was a working author. He was immediately interested and asked what I wrote, I told him my genre, then he said that he would like to purchase a book for his wife. I told him that I had a copy in my car; he said "great, I'll take it!" Now I ask you, how easy was that?

For reasons that I won't go into, it's not always easy for me to get out and about to promote myself, so the help that I receive from my Tate marketing rep, Traci, is very valuable. Together we have co-ordinated my events. I'm not a top selling author at Tate, but I'm certainly consistent with successful book signing events, and I have gotten wonderful "stranger" feed back from my readers. So with humility, I consider myself a successful published author, thanks to Tate publishers and their wonderful staff. The couple of reviews posted on B&N and Amazon, have been favorable too.

Again, I am so thankful to God for His gift and inspiration to write, and to Tate for helping to make my little star shine brighter.

Creating A Reader Fan Base

For the newly published, a starter guide to begin the journey.

Readers who think you’re a great author are the best, of course. They browse for your books at Barnes and Noble, Borders, your niche bookstore, and recommend you to all their friends, family and neighbors. (Hey, don’t stop there dear fan, how about your colleagues at work.) These types of fans support you through thick and thin, good and bad times just like a faithful husband or wife. High five to all authors who have a fan base as I just described. However, such is not the case with many of us.

The secret to building a fan base varies, and goes in many different directions. The number one factor is building relationships, and this starts during the production of your book. First by building anticipation of the release date, with local media, reviews, and even setting speaking events at your church, local clubs, whatever avenue may be open to you, to discuss how you became a writer and the road to publication. I have found that the reading audience is very interested in how an author got started in their career. All of this requires thought and a real desire to succeed—plus hard work. Good things rarely come easy. Tate authors have an advantage to building a fan base, because they have the full co-operation of their personal marketing representative. These valuable people are ready to make contacts, and assist you in any way available to them.

Things to consider when building a reader fan base. Will it be a short fling, or a long-term relationship? Just as we do in personal relationships, we must work to keep our fan base intact by continuing to be interesting and from an author’s perspective, marketable. How do we do that? By delivering a superior product—an interesting, or inspiring piece of literature—one that captivates and holds the interest of our readers, should be number one priority. Word of mouth is a powerful tool, so it’s important to give fans something to talk about, long after they have read the book.

In the publishing world, readers are valued commodities, and we must cherish them. Write with your niche fans in mind; go to your audience, with the purpose to please them, rather than to sell to them. If they like the product, they will buy it.

In the business world, we hear of customer relations, to further the growth of a company. In the publishing world, the same principals apply. We must please our readers (customers) by giving them the products they want, to keep them coming back.

Points to remember: Know your readers—their interests—what is hot in your niche market. Exceed their expectations by writing the best book you can, possibly a best seller.