Comments on: 7 Secrets to Selling More Books at Events

By: Ann Sligar

Ann Sligar — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 21:21:06 +0000

What a Lot of great ideas. One I'm unfamiliar with is trading cards. Are they like baseball or gaming cards based on the book--characters, or settings, or themes, or ...?

By: John Gordon

John Gordon — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 15:32:42 +0000

Jenny / Penny - I hadn't heard of doing a PowerPoint presentation as part of a reading/signing event.

Although in my past life as a garden designer, I've done a number of PowerPoint presentations to garden clubs, I have no idea what images would be appropriate for a reading and signing (unless I was promoting a book of photographs!).

Since my genre is mystery, I prefer to build images in my listeners' minds with a short passage or two from the story. Not sure I can imagine carrying a laptop, digital projector and screen into a bookstore and then expect the store to turn down their lighting…

But wait! My protagonist, Penny Summers, is a garden designer. Perhaps a short PPT on garden design…. Hmmm.

By: Penny Sansevieri

Penny Sansevieri — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 15:30:10 +0000

In reply to Rosepoint Publishing. Also try the trading cards, as I mentioned folks love them :-)

By: Penny Sansevieri

Penny Sansevieri — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 15:29:33 +0000

In reply to John Gordon. John yes, Jenny beat me to it :-) Folks love the slides, it's also a nice way to get in touch with them after - because you have their email. Not in an annoying way (never pester) but just to stay in touch.

By: Penny Sansevieri

Penny Sansevieri — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 15:28:37 +0000

In reply to jmcgarryxx. Good point, you're 100% right. Do both. Much more effective! Thanks for the note!

By: Penny Sansevieri

Penny Sansevieri — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 15:27:50 +0000

In reply to Penny Richards. Penny LOVE this! Here's what you hit on that I failed to mention in my piece: when it comes to fiction readers love, love, love connecting with the characters. You're so smart to do character based gifts. The trivia I love, too ---- help readers dig deeper. So love that. Rock on! Keep up the great work!

By: Penny Sansevieri

Penny Sansevieri — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 15:25:59 +0000

In reply to Holly Robinson. Holly so the thing about in person events is that we do so much virtually, readers LOVE meeting their fav author in person. In an age where we're everything digital, there's a particular magic to in-person. The excitement, the energy - it's hard to compete with that! Thank you for the comments!

By: Penny Sansevieri

Penny Sansevieri — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 15:23:58 +0000

In reply to Jennifer Jensen (@jenjensen2). Jennifer you can also do a lot of this yourself. I had a client who did kisses with a trading card attached to a small pouch she got at a craft store. It was pretty inexpensive to do it and had a great impact. People love chocolate :-)

By: Penny Sansevieri

Penny Sansevieri — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 15:22:41 +0000

In reply to Laura Drake. Laura hi there! I love this, thanks for the feedback! I love doing events because you never know what will happen or what could come of it. I've gotten big speaking gigs from smallish events I've done so you can never tell. Also, along with the bookmarks consider trading cards either with tips from the book or book characters. Readers love these!

By: Penny Sansevieri

Penny Sansevieri — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 15:21:14 +0000

In reply to debherbert2013. Mermaid events? That's fantastic - I'm so there. And remember, YOU are the best promoter of your work so get out there and make people love your work as much as you do! :-)