Angela,
My 8-year-old daughter is an author. She has received a lot of coverage in our city since April when she was featured in the newspaper, and given the opportunity to be a weekly guest columnist. She was also interviewed by the local news, which was aired across the state.
We are preparing her for a book signing. My question is, if we do the book signing at (a large, nationwide bookstore), are we to order the books for that day, or does the store order the books for that day? Also, I would need some step by step tips to have a great book signing.
T.W.
Hi T.W.,
You’ll need to contact that particular store to see how they want to handle the signing. They’ll either want to order copies from the publisher or distributor, or they might want to order copies from you on consignment. See:
How to Sell Books on Consignment to Bookstores and Other Retailers
Before you contact them, be prepared with a promotional kit, which will include a copy of the book, an excellent, tantalizing description of the book, and, most importantly, photocopies (or print-outs) of the local news stories. The store will probably want to promote the young, local celebrity if she’s going to be on-site for a signing.
I spoke with attorney Harvey Randall about child authors working for profit and he said, “You might also want to check with the Child Protective Agency and Labor Department in your jurisdiction as such an activity could be deemed a business operation. Further, you and/or your child hopefully will be earning tax-reportable income as a result of her writing efforts and appearances which may result in her having to file federal and state income tax returns. For example, in Florida, minors under the age of 14 may not work at all unless they obtain an exemption.”
We’ll be featuring and article on this topic by Harvey next week, which will go into far more detail on this topic.
Whatever you do, don’t expect a book signing to be a cash cow. Book signings are increasingly disappointing (with regards to book sales) and many authors won’t do signings anymore. With dwindling brick and mortar stores (and, subsequently, face-to-face sales), and with the unfair terms bookstores demand (a 55%-65% discount and the right to return unsold copies), bookstore sales just aren’t that appetizing to authors anymore, especially since they can sell far more copies, with a lot less effort, sitting at home on their laptop.
Some authors like book signings because, hey, they do stoke the ego and, if handled correctly, they can sell a few copies. But, other authors, like me, prefer to promote their books online only. I, personally, don’t like the pomp and circumstance of in-person appearances, regardless how large or small. I did that for awhile and it turned out to be a LOT more trouble than it was worth.
The exception is W.W. Brock. That guy sells out of his books all the time! Click HERE to read how he does it.
RELATED:
STOP GLUTTONOUS PURCHASING PRACTICES BY BOOKSTORES! Why ALL Books Should be Non-Returnable!!
Marketing to Bookstores – Still a Waste of Time?
Are Book Signings Big Book Sellers? Not Usually…
How My Bookstore Signings Led to a Traditional Publishing Contract and Film Consideration!
HOW TO SELL OUT AT BOOK SIGNINGS! What’s the Most Important Tool in Your Arsenal?
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The Do-It-Yourselfer's Guide to Self-Syndication
Practical resource outlining the self-syndication process, step-by-step. Packed with detailed information and useful tips for writers looking to gain readership, name recognition, publication and self-syndication for their column or articles.
https://writersweekly.com/books/4693.html
90+ DAYS OF PROMOTING YOUR BOOK ONLINE: Your Book's Daily Marketing Plan by Angela Hoy and Richard Hoy
Promoting your book online should be considered at least a part-time job. Highly successful authors spend more time promoting a book than they do writing it - a lot more.
We know what you're thinking. You're an author, not a marketer. Not to worry! We have more than a decade of successful online book selling experience under our belts
and we're going to teach you how to promote your book effectively online...and almost all of our techniques are FREE!
Online book promotion is not only simple but, if you have a step-by-step, day-to-day marketing plan (this book!), it can also be a very artistic endeavor,
which makes it fun for creative folks like you!
Yes, online book promoting can be EASY and FUN! Let us show you how, from Day 1 through Day 90...and beyond!
https://writersweekly.com/books/4693.html
90+ DAYS OF PROMOTING YOUR BOOK ONLINE: Your Book's Daily Marketing Plan by Angela Hoy and Richard Hoy
Promoting your book online should be considered at least a part-time job. Highly successful authors spend more time promoting a book than they do writing it - a lot more.
We know what you're thinking. You're an author, not a marketer. Not to worry! We have more than a decade of successful online book selling experience under our belts and we're going to teach you how to promote your book effectively online...and almost all of our techniques are FREE!
Online book promotion is not only simple but, if you have a step-by-step, day-to-day marketing plan (this book!), it can also be a very artistic endeavor, which makes it fun for creative folks like you!
Yes, online book promoting can be EASY and FUN! Let us show you how, from Day 1 through Day 90...and beyond!
Before the year 2000, book signings at major and minor stores were great!
I personally had 52 signings and in most cases sold out (25 -100 copies). The stores use to order the book in then stand back and watch me do a one-minute act and they sold.
But after the year 2000, no store wanted to order a book in that was not returnable.
Do not fall for that gimmick — I learned the hard way.
If the store is willing to let you do a book signing, ask questions up front about how they want to handle obtaining the books, and be prepared to hear, “..you bring them yourself, and we will take a percentage of the sales”.
Count yourself lucky that a major chain store will even let you do a signing under their roof — if the book is POD.
This article is chock-full of great advise, as is W.W. Brock’s attached article.