As authors, it’s easy to stick to a traditional bookstore signing that includes a brief reading and some questions and answers. Or else you’re sitting at a table with a stack of books, hoping someone will stop by.  But if you’re a newer author who doesn’t have a big local following, you might not have the turnout you want.

Did you know, though, that readers aren’t just interested in books? They love experiences surrounding books just as much. If you transform a signing into an interactive, themed event, you’ll capture the interest of more readers who’ll return for future events. And the best part is you don’t need a large budget.

Create One Signature Interactive Experience

Choose an activity that readers get to experience.

If you’ve written a fantasy novel, you could invite readers to “choose their destiny.” Give everyone a sealed envelope when they arrive. Inside is a magical question, a fictional prophecy, or a character role they’ll discover during the course of the event. Hide creative clues like mini-swords or character art around the bookstore that will unfold the story.

For a cozy mystery, the attendees can become detectives. Scatter clues throughout the bookstore. Have a table of evidence and possible suspects guests can interview through character cards or recorded message. At the end of the event, everyone submits who they think the culprit is before the big reveal.

If you write sci-fi, create a “Save the Colony” expedition. Tell the guests a distant colony has suddenly gone silent, and it’s up to them to determine what happened before time runs out. As they arrive, hand them a mission packet that tells them who they are, a star map, a mission log, a few “classified” documents, and a checklist of objectives. You can set up mission stations throughout the bookstore where each crew member gets more clues. At the end of the event, everyone offers their take on what happened to the colony.

The goal isn’t elaborate production. It’s giving readers an active role in your story.

Keep the Event Moving

In these events, audiences aren’t expected to sit for an hour while you read. They’re moving from station to station or searching for clues, which keeps them interested and involved. You can then follow with a short reading and allow guests the opportunity to purchase your book.

Constant movement keeps energy up, and attendees have a reason to stay until the end.

Remember to Pitch an Experience Not a Signing

When you approach a bookstore, give the manager a reason to want this event to happen. Explain that visitors will explore different areas of the store and spend more time browsing. You’ll have interactive activities, prize drawings, and make customers want to come back for more.

Don’t Depend on the Bookstore for Promotion

Bookstores usually will list your event on its calendar and social media pages, but that’s largely the extent of the marketing assistance you’ll be provided. So it’ll be up to you to fill the room.

So once you get the go ahead, start promoting several weeks in advance.

Create a personalized invitation that features your cover, event details, and bookstore location. While you can share that on social media, consider sending them to your neighbors or leaving one at a little library in your neighborhood.

Make sure to submit your event to any community calendars, which are usually available through neighborhood newsletters.

Contact local book clubs, writing organizations, libraries, and college creative writing programs. Remember you’re not asking people to come to a booksigning; you’re inviting them to an event. That’s much more interesting.

Consider what businesses would work best with your genre. Is there a bakery in your book? A coffee shop? A magic shop? This works especially well if the business are close to the bookstore. Ask them if they’d be willing to display flyers or hand them an invitation. More guests at the bookstore means more foot traffic near their businesses.

Above All, Create an Event Worth Remembering

Readers won’t remember a simple booksigning, but they will remember an activity where they laughed, solved a mystery, made a discovery, or felt like they had stepped inside the pages of a novel. Experiences give them that.

RELATED:

• Use Current Events to Promote Your Novel By Alice J. Wisler 
• Industry Events: A Good Source Of Article Ideas By Damaria Senne
• How I’ve Sold Thousands of Books at Events I Organized – by Gary Sturgis, Author of SURVIVING: Finding Your Way from Grief to Healing
• Author Events 101: How to Profit from Promotion by Sharon Woodhouse
• Attending Events Related to Your Book’s Topic Can Lead to BIG Promotion Opportunities and Future Sales By K.M. Robinson – 06 2019

Rachel Carrington is a published author of fantasy and paranormal novels. She’s written over 2,500 articles, some of which are included in Writer’s Weekly, Rooted in Rights, StarTrek.com, The Writer, and The New York Times. She’s active on most social media channels under @rcarrington2004.

 

HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT SELF-PUBLISHING A BOOK?

Angela is not only the publisher of WritersWeekly.com. She is President & CEO of BookLocker.com,
a self-publishing services company that has been in business since 1998. Ask her anything.

ASK ANGELA!