Lessons from a book signing

I’m a debut self-published author and I just did my first book signing. Very little went to plan. To start with, the heavens opened up on the morning of the event. With thunder showers, not blessings. I got to the bookstore, soaked (books wrapped in plastic) and the owner, like most morning shoppers that day, decided to stay home with a jumbo mug of hot chocolate. It was looking like a blowout.

But it wasn’t.

These are my 3 main learnings:      

Don’t give up.

I didn’t quit. I called my wife who brought me a foldup table and I opened up for signings underneath the store canopy on the sidewalk. Enough people braved the weather to leave me feeling proud of what I did. (To be fair to the owner, when he eventually arrived, he did provide me with a bigger table.)      

Work your network.

People who know you are way more likely to come to your book signing. Don’t rely on foot traffic or the bookstore walk ins. You need to bring a crowd to generate a bigger crowd. The vast majority of buyers were people I already knew, but I also generated some publicity and interest. More than that, I am determined to keep pushing.      

Take names

Many of your friends and colleagues will intend to come past your event and they won’t make it. Don’t be shy to send them a link to your book or to arrange to meet them for a coffee and a signing later in the week. Most will be only too happy.

I’m more passionate than ever to write, to market my book and to help my fellow authors as they have helped me. 2025 is going to be a great year for self-publishing. Watch this space……