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So as Don and I sat in a beautiful independent bookstore last Saturday, we had to ask ourselves, “Is this worth it? For us or for the bookstore?”
I didn’t keep track of Don’s sales, but for myself, I sold four: two to Don, one to the bookstore owner’s wife, and one to a wonderful woman who came in and said she had read all of my books except Lost Sons.
At least the bookstore got money from my own wallet – I bought a book for myself, a Captain Underpants set for my son, and two princess books for my daughter. I probably spent more by myself than the bookstore made from selling my book.
So let’s look at the positives here:
Don and I had fun talking to each other.
We had a good time talking to the bookstore owner and his wife.
My kids had a great time hanging out in the reading loft and picking out books.
One nice non-event-participant bought Lost Sons.
I signed several copies for the owner to keep on the shelf for future sales.
We got to spend time in a gorgeous indie bookstore.
But… Don and I spent four hours in the middle of a Saturday afternoon driving to and from the bookstore and sitting there talking while the rest of the city (apparently) was out doing anything but going to a bookstore. The bookstore spent time getting our books and placing whatever ads they placed, as well as paying the staff there to handle sales. And, unfortunately, the bookstore will most likely need to return some of the books.
So the question is…
Was it worth it? Or Why do we do this to ourselves?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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Not an answer to your questions because its extremely difficult to measure the intangable of marketing.
An impression was left somewhere, with someone, some how…..but its value may not be felt for years.
(That is the value this was for your individual career.)
Zz
by Zorro
on May 29th, 2008 at 4:09 am
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I’ve got a book coming out in July and the local CRMs won’t even discuss a signing because “nobody comes to signings in summer.” I’m hoping to schedule a few next fall. That said, publishers like to see books sell in the first three months they’re out–not six months down the line…but there’s no point in doing a signing if nobody is willing to come.
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I’ll comment later when my brain wakes up.
But what I want to know is what Zorro and Lorraine are doing up at 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. respectively?
by C.R.
on May 29th, 2008 at 6:09 am
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And not only were they awake, they were capable of coherent comments…
It’s the “value may not be felt for years” that really is the problem, isn’t it, Zorro? It’s hard to feel good about four hours of basically nothing *now* without knowing what good it really does. But I guess that’s when we have to grasp onto the hope that someday it might count.
by Judy
on May 29th, 2008 at 6:15 am
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Well, I think …… uh, uh ….
Sorry, not awake yet.
by C.R.
on May 29th, 2008 at 6:27 am
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Well,as the saying goes,the early bird catches the worm.
Atually, it was 5AM, answering the call of one of our bow wows need for water. Then of course he wanted to go out. That woke up the second bow wow….then he wanted to go out!
So I checked email and such and answered Judy’s burning question with no answer at all….and misspelled words! And I even spell checked intangable. Geez, can’t win to….
Zz
by Zorro
on May 29th, 2008 at 7:47 am
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You’re right, Judy. It’s a tricky question. We try to lend our support to bookstores (especially those wonderful indies!), we try to get our names out, and meet readers and leave that good impression . . . and we have to wonder if we’re beating our heads against the wall. Lately, I have found alternate venues far more successful than bookstores, places like libraries and even a local art gallery. I’m no opposed to bookstore signings, but I know that for them to be successful both author and bookstore have to work very hard to get people in the door. Often, the poor author just doesn’t have the time! And the bookstore doesn’t have the kind of staff that can beat the bushes and drum up publicity. Answer? I don’t have one, though I can say I do far fewer bookstore signings than I used to.
by Casey
on May 29th, 2008 at 7:56 am
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I do a lot fewer than I used to, also, Casey. And when I do library events I ask for a speakers fee. Especially with the price of gas these days!!! At least then I’m not *paying* to do events.
I’m curious, Casey. When you used to write romances, did you have to do ask much running around as you do with mysteries?
by Judy
on May 29th, 2008 at 8:02 am
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Allrightie then,
I’m back from our hour of dog walking and my brain should be working. Testing … testing … okay.
I, too, wonder about the value of bookstore signings. I’ve done many, many, many over the years and only a handful stick out as being truly successful.
So much depends on the store and the person in charge of the event.
At too many of them you sit there like a bump on a log and people walk by you as if you’re invisible. You sell a couple, sign the stock, and crawl home feeling like a worthless worm.
I’ve decided not to do any this year for the new Morge Mama. Libraries and book fairs and conferences, yes, bookstores, no.
But even with libraries and conferences, etc, you always wonder if this is the best way to advance your career. Would it be better to write more books instead? Focus more on the quality of your writing?
The other question is a financial one: How much of our writing income should we reinvest in events? Does it make sense to spent $100 to earn the royalties off four books?
The idea is that we slowly build an audience until we are bestselling authors. Is that really the way it works? Or do we write an incredible book that becomes a bestseller and then the people flock to our signings?
In June I’m speaking and signing at the Mystery Writers Festival in Owensboro, Kentucky. It’s a big two-week long festival that draws thousands. I’ll be there for two days. They’re paying for the hotel, but I’ll have to pay for the gas and the food and putting the pups up at the pet resort. Prestigious but not profitable.
So, Judith, the question you ask is unanswerable. All I know is that it’s 9 a.m. and time to put my fingers to the keyboard.
by C.R.
on May 29th, 2008 at 8:03 am
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I rationalize the conferences by saying:
a) I can make lots of business contacts (authors, readers, booksellers, etc.)
b) make a few book sales…
but the biggest by far is
c) they keep me sane. I get to be around people who think a lot like me and don’t look at me strangely when I say I have voices in my head.
by Judy
on May 29th, 2008 at 8:09 am
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WRITERS’ ALERT!!!!!!
Just this morning Zogby has released a new poll on the reading and book-buying habits of Americans. Very interesting stuff. Go to zogby.com.
by C.R.
on May 29th, 2008 at 8:14 am
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CR, I’ll be interested to hear about Owensboro. A reader recently told me about it, the first I was aware of the event.
And while we’re on the subject, one thing we haven’t mentioned . . . yes, generally libraries and festivals are much better options than bookstores for signings, but as someone mentioned, there’s the gas prices to consider. Another thing we often don’t think about is the time. I was in Dayton last week for a library event. I had a great time. The audience was wonderful. And yes, I sold a lot of books. But this took two days out of my schedule, the day I drove 4 hours and did the event, the day I drove back 4 hours and then was so tired I couldn’t accomplish another thing.
The question is valid: is this kind of thing worth our time and effort?
by Casey
on May 29th, 2008 at 8:49 am
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Glad you sold a lot of books and had fun, Casey. That does count for a lot.
Were you also paid? I think that’s a huge consideration anymore, especially when you think of TWO days of writing lost. But even if you were paid — with the amount libraries can afford, was it really worth it in a business sense?
by Judy
on May 29th, 2008 at 8:57 am
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BTW, if any of you are interested, check out the SinC blog this week. We’re talking all about our publishers summit from the other week. Lots of information there from various publishers and agents about the business today — what’s happening with mysteries, what publishers expect of an author, and what agents are really thinking. Today is the section I wrote about Putnam and Soho Crime.
http://sisters-in-crime-sinc.blogspot.com/2008/05/publisher-summit-part-ii.html
by Judy
on May 29th, 2008 at 9:01 am
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I sold 89 books that Saturday. Or maybe fewer, I can’t remember.
Actually, stores where I do repeat signings have been rewarding. Repeat customers, store owners who order more and more books and slowly but surely a fan base. By the time I’m 97 I will be somewhat successful.
But, the fact remains, to sell the numbers you need to be successful, it takes more.
Lee Child was at Sleuthfest this year, and he said he’d probably sell about 250 books. While for some of us that would be a good number, it wasn’t for him.
“The only way you can sell books,” he said, “is to get store exposure. End caps, displays in airport stores, and Walmart, Sam’s Clubs etc.”
Of course, the publisher has to pay for that privilage with money and huge discounts. And of course, you have to be Lee Child, or Casey Daniels to get that kind of exposure.
(is it true that Zorro goes into these places, mask,cape, and sword in hand, and threatens them?)
DB
by Don
on May 29th, 2008 at 10:17 am
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Great, Don. Thanks. Your two words of wisdom — be Lee Child, or have a guy in a costume threaten people.
Now we’ll all be bestsellers!
by Judy
on May 29th, 2008 at 10:32 am
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Judy,
While I love to go to author events where they will also be signing, be it a bookstore or library or whatever, in most cases it seems the people who come in are ALREADY fans of the author. Very few people just wander over to an author event in a bookstore-especially if the author isn’t giving a little talk, becuase then you feel like you HAVE to buy a book even if you don’t want to. At least at a library signing, even if there is a sales table set uup, the pressure is off so people who happen to be in the library for another reason may well wander over. Conferences are better because there you have people who are already interested in your basic field-mysteries or whatever, and so some new people may be attracted to your work when they meet you or hear yuou on a panel.
by caryn
on May 29th, 2008 at 11:22 am
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I’ve been doing more and more signings with the guitar. In Dayton last week at least four people DID just wander over, because I was making such a racket with my stringed instrument. It does get attention.
DB
by Don
on May 29th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
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All I know is in the Columbus metro the first rule of book signings, or any other event, is that you never, NEVER, schedule an event on a Saturday in the fall. Especially if the Buckeyes are playing Michigan.
I’ve seen the Buckeye effect while doing radio remotes in Lima, too. Tumbleweeds roll by while you sit on your can.
Judy, your post reminded me of when I used to do remote broadcasts on the radio, and I’d spend my talent fee at the store I was working. I’m sitting in a chair I bought with part of my talent fee at a remote at Office Surplus Outlet.
Book events are like everything else: timing is everything.
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I once dropped Casey at the Buckeye Book Fair and headed off to Columbus to pick something up from a friend.
Once i got back to I71, I stopped at a McDonalds for a coffee….it was probably 70mls north of Columbus and it was a Saturday when the OSU game was being played in Columbus. What a nightmare! I’ve never seen such a crowd at a McDonalds. I asked the service person why they were so busy….she said Buckeye football sir….its always like this when OSU is playing in Columbus.
I grabbed my coffee and said GoBlue!
Zz
by Zorro
on May 29th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
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Zorro,
Probably the McDonald’s guy made more than I do at a typical signing 
jeff
by Jeff
on May 29th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
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Jeff, you’re on to something. Next signing I’m asking everyone who buys a book, “You want fries with that?”
by C.R.
on May 29th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
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Judy, your blog was very timely. I just got back from a booksigning with three other (fortunately, very congenial) authors, and our experience was similar to yours. If it’ll make you feel any better, here’s a story Tony Hillerman told on himself. He and another author were signing at a bookstore in Seattle. No one bought any books until the store owner took pity on them and bought one from each of them. At the end of the day, a rather grubby man came up and asked Tony if his book had any Indians in it. When Tony said yes, they guy bought a copy. So, Tony concluded, “I sold twice as many books as the other author!”
(If these things happen to him, the rest of us can take heart!)
Blessings,
Margaret
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