     Jan Fields | Wednesday, April 24, 2002 - 10:37 am 
Just a stray tip: Don't have drawings for a free book at book signings or other in-person promotional events. Drawings are great and having them for something related to your book would be great -- for example, if your heroine has a serious chocolate jones, then give away a jar of M&Ms or if your hero always wears a fedora, you could give away a fedora -- but DON'T give away a book. Some folks come to buy the book and they will buy the book. But many folks are kind of wishy-washy. They sort of want the book but haven't really decided. By having a drawing for the book, you loose any chance of swaying that wishy-washy group because they will just hope to win the thing! If you give away books, make sure it is in a situation where the winner wasn't in danger of buying it in the first place (such as silent auctions for charity or some such).
I just wanted to mention that since it is often a mistake made by authors lining up their first signings.
Jan |
| Nancy Marie | Wednesday, April 24, 2002 - 10:57 am
Yep - did that, and that's exactly what happened.
But, am not planning on doing anymore book signings, unless I absolutely have to, and unless they (whoever's hosting the signing) furnishes the books. HATE BOOK SIGNINGS!!
smiles and blessings, Kitty |
| Vickie Adkins | Wednesday, April 24, 2002 - 04:14 pm
Good post as usual, Jan!
Best,
Vickie |
| Jennifer Lynn | Wednesday, April 24, 2002 - 05:40 pm
My heroine is a major chocoholic...I'm thinking about a way to tie that in...maybe a gift certificate to a the Cheesecake Cafe here (she comments on a triple chocolate cheesecake several times)....what do you think?
Jenn |
| Jan Fields | Wednesday, April 24, 2002 - 06:07 pm
Maybe you could do a signing in the cheesecake cafe? If your heroine talks about triple chocolate cheesecake, you could advertise the signing as taking place in *the* cafe where your heroine fell in love with the cheesecake of her dreams. Readers think things like that are a hoot and businesses eat up that kind of "event" that will make folks think about them long after the fact. And then you can probably get the cafe to DONATE the gift certificate since it'll be in their place of business.
You might want to think about it. Hokey stuff seems kinda silly but it can sell a lot of books.
Jan |
| Jennifer Lynn | Wednesday, April 24, 2002 - 06:31 pm
Hmmm...that's a great idea! I'm all for hokey stuff!
Jenn |
