Guest Author - Yvonne Russell

Author Signings
Author signings can be magnificent triumphs. They can also be lonely, tragic affairs.

Fountain Pens I Buy From Art.com

Even well known authors can find themselves filling in time, speaking to bookstore staff. Publicists tell of booksellers who have quietly gone out to the back office phone, during a particularly dismal turnout, to rally friends to come in, so that the author can save face.

This is a strange phenomenon, as you would think readers would flock to meet Mr. Famous Author, and maybe Mr. Not So Famous Author, if they have good publicity. This is not always the case, and many authors cringe at the thought of a bookstore signing. Perhaps, it is the passive, unimaginative nature of many book signings.

On the other hand, I have seen events deemed unsuccessful in terms of turn out and sales, but where children were thrilled to have one on one time with their favorite author. The author in turn, was genuinely interested in speaking to the children. So I guess it depends on how you define success.

Advice from a Children's Editor
Harold Underdown, an experienced children's book editor, goes further in his outstanding book The Complete Idiots's Guide to Publishing Children's Books. He says "I'm telling you upfront. Don't do signings. If you go to work with a bookstore, make an event out of it. Bookstores want events."

Bookstore Events
Independent bookstores have to compete against the superstores such as Barnes and Noble. They have become increasingly innovative in their efforts to draw crowds, and they have a loyal, book savvy customer base. The wonderfully imaginative Harry Potter celebrations marking the release of each new book, are a case in point. Children's Department events engender such a spirit of fun that success breeds success, and customers eagerly await announcements of new events in the store's calendar.

Costume parties, costumes, storytelling, larger than life storybook characters, trivia quizzes, author panels, clubs, activities and author talks all add to the fun. Attend some of these yourself, at different stores, and for different types of books, to get a feel for how it all works.