Monday, February 8, 2010

The Thing About Book-signings



As you all know, I had a book-signing on Saturday. As you all know, it was snowing. Once I decided to go ahead and have it, my family kept trying to prepare me for a not-so-big showing. (Battening down the emotional hatches.) And I said gratefully, "I know of two people definitely coming."

Truth is I've had signings where I've sold not one book. Signings where people avoid eye contact with me at all costs, tell me they don't read (while in a book store!), ask me where the bathroom is, go on and on about the book they're writing...yet not so much as pretend to be interested in the display on my little table.

It's discouraging. And slightly embarrassing. And it's the reason why I don't have many solo signings anymore, only group signings. Except for big launches. Like Truly, Madly's--because I love this book and it deserved a big to-do.

And luckily for me, I have great friends who aren't afraid of a little snow. They came out to support me like gangbusters, many buying multiple copies to give as gifts. How awesome is that?

But here's the thing. Of the dozens of books that were sold on Saturday, only two went to strangers. Two. And I'm just as grateful for them as I was for all my friends and family who came out. The whole singing was humbling. And heart-warming. And I left that bookstore with the best warm and fuzzies a girl can have.

I might just change my mind about solo signings yet. But maybe, next time, during the summer...

12 comments:

  1. if you have one this summer for the next book, I'll be there :)

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  2. Glad the snow let up and all went well. Sounds like you had a good time. I got cold just looking at the photo. :)

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  3. It sounds like you have a wonerful suport system. those other don't know what they were missing, your book is wonderful!

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  4. If it were near me I would have brought a bunch of my friends along!!! I brought quite a few of them already and gave them as gifts it would have been nice to have you sign them though!

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  5. I'm so glad that everything worked out for you on Saturday. Two strangers is okay because they'll like your book and then buy the next and the next and the next.

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  6. Katie, I'll hold you to that!

    MC, it was SO cold. Still is, with more snow expected tonight. Stupid groundhog.

    Aw, thanks Elie!

    Thank you, Donna! That's so sweet. I do have bookplates available if you're interested--go to my website www.heatherwebber.com and look under the "extra" tab... Bookplates are *almost* as good as an autographed copy.

    Hi Dru, that's what I'm hoping. Plus, they were really nice!

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  7. I'll be passing my book around the mom's group now that I've finished it. so maybe I'll get a group to come with me. Any excuse to come visit you.

    though I may be in Cincy in May for my college roommate's wedding.

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  8. You need to come to MA so Jessica and I can come see you!

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  9. Lori, I'm trying to set something up for the summer. Do you have any suggestions for a store to try? Maybe somewhere on the South Shore?

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  10. Well now the South Shore would be PERFECT as that is where I live!!!

    There is a Barnes & Noble in Braintree and one in Walpole. There is also Borders in Braintree.

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  11. Please don't give up on the signings, yet! Do you ever come to Illinois? We have a Barnes and Noble in Rockford and DeKalb. I can think of alot of people that would be there to see you and buy your books if you came by!!

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  12. Hi Lori --thanks.

    I'll be in Illinois really soon, on a book tour with the Deadly Divas, though I'm not sure if I'm close to those areas or not:

    *Thursday, April 8, 6pm
    Barnes & Noble 2769
    1577 North State Route 50
    Bourbonnais, IL 60914

    Saturday, April 10, Noon-3PM
    Coal City Library
    Coal City, IL 60416

    Sunday, April 11, 1PM
    Barnes and Noble Booksellers
    631 E Boughton Road, Suite 100
    Bolingbrook, IL 60440

    Maybe I'll see you at one of those?

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