Book Signings

I’ve had so many aspiring authors ask me how I set up my book signings and it's surprisingly easy to do. It’s definitely intimidating at first, especially when you get ghosted by some stores, but remember to keep putting yourself out there. So, the simple answer to the book signing mystery is an email. I know that sounds insane, but it's that easy. I search for book stores around me that I’d like to sign at and search for their email through their website. For smaller independent bookstores, they sometimes will have a section on their website for you to fill out a form for events. If that’s the case, then your task just got easier. My first book signing was at an indie bookstore and that was how I set that book signing up. I think starting small is always better when trying something new, but if you’re up to it, then you can shoot for the big retailers like Barnes and Noble.

            The task is still the same, but if you’re trying to get into Barnes and Noble specifically…there is one more step. Since Barnes and Noble doesn’t put their email on their website, you will have to call to get the email. I was super nervous to do that step, but I promise you it's so easy. Each Barnes and Noble has a specific email. So yes, you will have to call each individual store to ask for their email. What do you say to get the email? Honestly whatever you want, but keep it short. You can talk more about yourself in the email. I just told the worker on the phone that I’m a local author and was hoping to get the email for your store. Every time without fail I get the email and then thank them and that’s it for the call. Scary part done. 

            The important part is the email. This is where you really sell yourself and let your work shine. I personally try to keep it smaller, but only because I have a PDF form that includes all of the information they’re going to want about my book. In the email itself, I talk about myself and what kind of work I write, but that’s it. Below is the template I use when sending an email to bookstores.

                 You always want to show them the cover and give them as much information on the template as you can about your book. This will allow them to not only check out your book, but to make sure it will sell well in their store. After you send the email, it’s the wait game. You could get a reply in a few days to a few weeks, and sometimes not at all. It truly depends on the store. Some of them will still email you back to let you know that they can’t do a signing, which is nice so you’re not still hoping for a reply.

                 Now there are a few ways for the book signing to go if you do get the okay from a store. In my experience, having a consignment agreement is the most beneficial to us authors even though the store takes a percentage. For smaller book stores they may have their own rules and set up for a signing, but I would always try to push to bring your books yourself instead of the bookstore purchasing them for you. If the bookstore purchases the books prior to the signing then you are getting paid for all of the books they order. Which sounds great since you aren’t relying on how many books you sell, but that means you are getting paid through wherever they purchased. Whether that be Amazon, Ingram Sparks, Barnes and Noble Press, etc. I’m not sure how it works if you’re traditionally published since I’m self-published, but if I sell any book through the ones I listed above, I get pennies on the dollar per book. Not really ideal when trying to make writing your full-time career.

                 So let’s talk about consignment signings. This is where you bring your own copies to the signing and you get paid a percentage for each copy you sell. Whatever you don’t sell, you get to take back home with you. If the store were to purchase your books for you like I talked about above, whatever you didn’t sell would stay at the store since they’re technically the bookstore's books now. Anyways, back to the consignment agreement…for Barnes and Noble the percentage has been 60% for the author and Barnes and Noble gets 40% of the sale. At the end of the signing they tally up the amount of books you sold at the register and calculate your earnings and you get paid in cash that day. I know 60% may not seem like a lot, but I promise you it's way more than you’d earn selling a paperback through Amazon.

                 So how do you get copies of your books prior to your signing? I order my author copies from Amazon since their printing costs are by far the cheapest for now. You only have to pay printing cost on your author copies so you're saving money and then when your book is being sold at the signing, it is getting sold at retail price. So you technically get a profit right from the start. A lot of authors don’t realize that they can distribute their paperbacks and hardcovers anywhere, even if their e-book is enrolled in Kindle Unlimited. When you make your e-book exclusively through Kindle Unlimited you are only signing up the e-book to be distributed through the program. You have free rein to get your paperbacks and hardcovers and sell them wherever you want. You could get copies and set up at vendor events if you wanted to.

                 I know that may have seemed like a lot of info, but I promise it's easy. I know I keep saying that, but I want to preach it to all authors. You have fricken got this!! First thing to do would be to make your own template with all of the info you need for your book. Never put more than one book on the template. Do separate documents for each title you have. Also remember that they can see what you name the file so make sure it's simple and related to the book title. I usually use ALYCIACAROSELLA_THEREASON and then change the title at the end to match the book in the document. Once that is made you can get your list of emails. If you don’t have a specific email for your business, I recommend doing that so you can have your book-related emails not mixed with personal emails. This way you can add a signature to your email that has shortcuts to take the person receiving the email to your books more easily. This part is completely optionally, but I’ve gotten a lot bookstores to go directly to my website from my signature and see how many books I’ve published. 

                 After you get your first reply, it will get easier and easier. I was petrified for my first signing and it was so much fun that I got addicted after. I think the following year I had a book signing almost every month. Remember to have fun and good luck babes!!