W. C. Fields Was Right

by Shari Randall

Last weekend, I attended my first writers’ festival – the Local Authors Fair at the New London (CT) Public Library. To clarify, I attended for the first time as an author. I met lots of great folks, fellow authors, and dedicated librarians. And I learned the secret to sales at writers’ events:

Adorable dogs and cookies.

It’s been a month of firsts – my first novel, my first book signing, my first blog interviews. In each, I’ve had fun, but I know I’ve made rookie mistakes. For example, at the authors’ festival appearance I showed up with books. Just books. No cookies. No candy. No dog.

Bottom line? I sold two books. The author with the adorable dog? She had a constant line of buyers!

Don’t let this happen to you.

If you haven’t written an uplifting story of a dog that beats the odds, or don’t have an adorable dog to accompany you to events, here are some out of the box ideas for selling books at signings and fairs from my favorite writers, the Sisters in Crime of the Chesapeake Chapter.

Sherry Harris swears by a basket of chocolates to “lure people in. Even though that sounds creepy.”

Barb Goffman suggested that authors offer to take off an article of clothing for every book sold.

Maya Corrigan warned that this might work best only during the warmer months. Libby Klein disagreed, saying that this strategy might work better if the author offered to put on an article of clothing for every book sold.

Donna Andrews suggested that you have stuffed animals do the talking. During one Barnes and Noble group book signing, where customers either avoided making eye contact or asked the authors where to find the bathroom, Donna liberated some stuffed reptiles from the children’s department and used them to entice, er sorry, entisssse, customers to visit the authorssss. The result? The rest of the signing was a resounding successssss.

Other advice? Grace Topping said don’t sit down – remaining standing is more welcoming.

Alan Orloff said something about offering to wrestle an alligator, but then, that’s Alan Orloff.

Do you have any advice for author events?

Shari Randall is the author of CURSES, BOILED AGAIN, the first of the new Lobster Shack Mystery series from St. Martin’s Press. At her next signing, she’ll be the one standing at the signing table with a basket of chocolates, fully clothed, thank you very much.

Sponge Bob Writer Pants

by Bethany Maines

I recently read an article that suggested writers try to visualize their stories through sculpture working with cardboard, string, glue and party hats. I’m sure the point of the advice was to visualize your story in a new way. Whether it was through bubble charts or sculpture, the idea was to shake up how writers were thinking about their work.  A worthy goal and sound advice. And on one hand, I think that anything that gets a writer to more fully visualize their story is great. On the other hand, it seemed like the kind of advice that would only be given by someone who knows nothing about sculpture. I’m sure there are artists that can create striking sculptures from a toilet paper roll, a sponge, and a party hat, but I can practically guarantee that your average mystery writer is not that artist.

Which, I suppose, is the best part about advice: we’re not obligated to take any of it. And sometimes ignoring advice is fine.  My mother advised me not to paint my bedroom wall red.  I advised her not to put that weird wallpaper in the bathroom. Neither us took the advice and we’re all happy with the way things turned out. The bathroom still looks good and she painted over the red wall the second I moved out. Sometimes ignoring advice is not fine. Oil and waterbased paints do not mix. Putting an entire vacation on my credit card and quitting my job was not a sound financial decision. 

But in fiction advice is placed on a higher plain. I don’t know how many times I’ve read a book or seen a movie where the hero is offered a sage bit of advice and then promptly ignores it. “The old peddler specifically said not to do that!  Are you an idiot? Take the advice!” I want to yell at the pages. In fiction, not taking advice is like a giant billboard reading: Bad Things Are About to Happen. In real life, the advice comes from friends, relatives, “experts,” and articles, and, sadly, there aren’t as many giant sign-posts about which advice is the best. Figuring out which advice is portentous and which advice you can freely ignore is part of growing up.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever ignored?

Bethany Maines is the author of the Carrie Mae Mystery series and Tales from the City of Destiny. You can also view the Carrie Mae youtube video or catch up with her on Twitter.