In this video, I explore the ins and outs of book signings and author events. I invite you to join me on this journey and take the first step towards crafting the perfect author event experience.
I unravel what you can anticipate and how to navigate these milestones that are as thrilling as they are pivotal in any author’s journey. I also delve into the balancing act of reading and discussing your work, guiding you on how to create a captivating ‘elevator pitch’ and maintain the intrigue of your plot without revealing too much.
It’s not just about presenting your work—it’s also about connecting with your audience, encouraging questions and fostering a safe, engaging environment.
And remember, it’s not all serious—after all, these events are often part fun, part business. Unless you’re speaking in an academic setting, you should be entertaining.
Jane Cleland here. Interesting question: What should I expect at a book signing or event?
Well, first of all, congratulations on being invited. I’m always very excited when someone invites me to be a guest author, sign at a bookstore, whatever it may be. And I’m always so grateful at the people who attend. So my first recommendation is that you approach the whole thing with an attitude of really great gratitude.
My second comment is that unless you’re in an academic setting, don’t plan on reading very much from your work. Now, if you’re a guest author at an MFA program, for example, it may be appropriate to read for a full half hour. There are students wanting to hear cadence, wanting to hear rhythm, wanting to see how you handle exposition, action, characterization, and so on.
But if you are a guest author at an association or a library event, a bookstore, really what you are is the entertainment. And I think that’s a good way to think about it. So you should go prepared to talk for a few minutes, 10 minutes. And when it comes time to talk about the book, focus on the premise, the theme, maybe something about the setting, if it’s exotic or interesting. Really, you want to be able to give an “elevator pitch” – that’s in quotes, an “elevator pitch,” and that is the subject of a separate shorty. I talk about how to develop that, but the point is two or three sentences, half a dozen sentences, no more. People will ask for more information if they want to know it.
What you should never do is talk about plot. So that’s what to do, what not to do. If they say, “What’s your book about?” You of course, would work that into your presentation if you are going to a book event or signing.
So what do you talk about? Well, you start by thanking whoever invited you, you thank the people who are in attendance, you introduce yourself and why you wrote this book, why now? What made you decide to go in this direction? I always talk a little bit about how I come by writing honestly. My mother was an author, and I might tell a funny little story or two about growing up with an author.
And then I might turn my attention, I might switch a little bit to the book itself, and I’ll talk about what I like about it, what the benefits to the reader are, and I’m thinking a kind of modification of back cover copy. I wanna tell enough about the book so it’s intriguing and engaging, but I don’t wanna get bogged down in the details of plot or the nuance of character. Keep it high level, wide lens.
Then open it up to questions. Come prepared with a couple of questions that you know will be of interest to the group and you can segue to them by saying something like, “You know, people often ask…” whatever it is. And then you answer it. And then you ask again, “Are there any questions?” And give them seven seconds. It’s a long time to stand there and wait. But it is hard to frame a question. You think you’d might wanna do it? “Will I look stupid if I ask that question?” “I don’t wanna be first.” A lot goes into the act of asking a question. They wanna know that you’re not gonna be mean, that you’re not gonna be sarcastic or snarky to them. That you are kind and receptive.
I know you can do it. It’s a lot of fun. They’re there because you wrote a book. How exciting is that?
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