Comments on: 9 tips for successful author readings

By: Jai Jai Noire

Jai Jai Noire — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:38:00 +0000

Great advice, Mr Rinzler! Every point that you outline is valuable to a wonderful live reading experience for both the author and the audience. Might I add that lighting is critical — not just from a dramatic, flattering-to-human-skin-tones point of view, but from a practical see-what-you’re-reading point of view. I have filmed live readings with authors (particularly over-40 authors) who had their reading performance marred by simply not being able to see the page well. It spoils the mood for a tough-guy author, reading a portion of his gritty crime novel, when he ends up having to hold the book three inches from his nose to read. Book store lighting (surprisingly) isn’t always ideal for reading, particularly in the corners used for live events in some stores. It’s possible to coordinate in advance with the book store manager to “set dress” your reading space with a table, chair, lamp — something perhaps evocative of what you are reading, similar to what you suggest with “Pushing Up Daisies” read at gardening events, etc..

Jai Jai Noire
http://www.mightysmallfilms.com
Berkeley, CA

By: Suzanne Arruda

Suzanne Arruda — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:25:32 +0000

I don’t enjoy “reading” from my book. Instead, I now engage the audience in a game show about my character (where correct answer doesn’t matter) with prizes. I don’t get out as much do to the economy, but I still do my best for my readers.

By: LaTonya Branham

LaTonya Branham — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 03:33:43 +0000

Great tips! Thanks for sharing. Going beyond bookstores has certainly worked for me.

By: Andrew Markle

Andrew Markle — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:02:38 +0000

One of the best author readings I attended was when Ibi Kaslik, a Canadian author, came through my city. She didn’t read from her book, but played the electric guitar and did her reading more as a spoken word song. Then she just told a few stories about her work and took questions from the crowd. The whole event wasn’t in a bookstore, but a wine bar, small and intimate. Almost everyone who attended bought her book.

By: Alan Rinzler

Alan Rinzler — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:56:41 +0000

Hi Sandra-

It’s true that signed books can’t be returned and I agree that an author should always check with the host before signing more copies after the audience has gone home. But stores have different policies about this and some are happy to have a few months supply if they think they can eventually sell all of them. This is the general attitude, for example, at Mrs. Dalloway’s Books here in Berkeley, but only when they feel confident about a title’s long-term prognosis.

-Alan

By: Sandra Beasley

Sandra Beasley — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:38:52 +0000

Great advice all around, but the author should always check with the host of the reading before signing unsold copies. A signed book can’t be returned to the distributor, and a lot of bookstores work on very slim margins of profit nowadays. They might be game to stock a few signed copies on their shelves, but the rest are probably scheduled for return. Speaking as someone who hosts an offsite reading series, and works with DC bookstore Politics & Prose to secure stock, if an author signed the books while they were under my care, I would then have to buy them all!

By: Oh, The Publishing Links I’ve Seen « Leith Literary

Oh, The Publishing Links I’ve Seen « Leith Literary — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:58:23 +0000

[...] with the theme of advice for authors, editor Alan Rinzler offers up 9 tips for successful author readings, but his best tip is probably this: well done author readings can boost a publishing career, which [...]

By: lynn

lynn — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:31:39 +0000

I recently wrote a book about pets. My publisher arranged for a signing/reading at a terrific local independent bookstore (my personal favorite place to shop too!). My friends and family networked with animal welfare groups, veterinarians and so on. We also heavily encouraged folks to support the local independent bookstore by purchasing multiple copies (as Christmas gifts).

As the event date drew closer, it looked like we were going to get at least 50 people to attend. Four people told us they planned to buy multiple copies. My publisher was worried there wouldn’t be enough books, based on the store’s original order. They suggested I talk with the bookstore and maybe bring some copies of my own.

I left voice mails and emails with the event coordinator at the store — and also dropped by the store and spoke with his assistant. I never heard back – so I decided to bring books of my own (just in case).

The event was even bigger than we thought! 70+ people came and the store sold out 5 minutes before the reading started. The events coordinator wasn’t present – instead a new employee (very cool gal) was assigned to help with our event. She made sure my books got entered into inventory – but it took a good 20 minutes to enter one box (20 books). We sold all of those, then I opened a second box – took another 20 minutes to enter those into inventory. Same thing happened with a third box. Over 60 books were sold in total, but several people left without books because of the admin process delays.

After the event, the store asked me to take back the few unsold books – they said it was too awkward to keep those in inventory. Ten days after the event, they still hadn’t restocked – even though we were sending people to the store to purchase copies (again, as a way to support the indie bookstore we love so much). To date, I still have never heard from the event coordinator for the store either.

It was a great event for me and the store – but I was struck by how unprepared for success the store appeared to be. We’ve stopped referring people there to buy the book, because of the inventory delays – much to our regret. Amazon always has the book in stock and people can get it quickly too.

By contrast, we’ve had excellent experience with non-bookstore events (such as pet stores) — for whatever reason, the selling process is quick, efficient and unhampered by inventory conflicts.

It’s been a very educational experience for me – I love the local indie bookstore, but also need to sell my book via outlets that can meet demand more efficiently.

By: bc

bc — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:43:38 +0000

Memorable author readings I attended included Joyce Carol Oates, Annie Dillard (standing room only),Terry Pratchett (really, really funny man), and Tom Robbins.
The worst was Tom Robbins because, after he spoke, we waited for HOURS in line to shake his hand, have our minute with him, get his autograph on our copy… and the bookseller shut the line down.
Don’t ever let your fan base go home like that.

By: Eileen Flanagan

Eileen Flanagan — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:45:07 +0000

I’m just back from touring for my new book The Wisdom to Know the Difference: When to Make a Change–and When to Let Go. It was great fun, and I find I like public speaking more and more. After the second one, I wrote a blog post on what I had learned so far: http://www.eileenflanagan.com/blog/2009/10/2/8-things-ive-learned-so-far-about-giving-a-book-talk.html

To that (and your fine list) I would add one more: Use your event to pitch local radio stations, especially in the “B” and “C” cities. I got on two NPR affiliates in the Midwest because I was coming to their towns.