More Lessons Learned From Book Signings

Book Signing - Hot Shots
sBook Signing at Hot Shots Coffee House

I was honored to do two book signings in my hometown this last weekend. I wondered what it would be like to personally know many of the attendees believing that in most cases you can never be a prophet in your own land. Many of my signings on the tour were very successful with large numbers coming out who had already read, Almost Human. I wondered if this would be the case in my hometown.

At both events, I was pleasantly surprised by the size of the turnout and number of readers. I mentioned in a previous posting some lessons I had learned from my first book signing. Well, here’s another reason to do these personal appearances. You never know who you might meet.

The two I did this last weekend were both at coffee shops, Hot Shots Coffee House and The Tea and Coffee Exchange. They are excellent businesses in my hometown area of Lake Arrowhead, California. I highly recommend both!

While many of the people who attended were locals who I knew, some brought friends who I’d never met. While some bought books for which I’m grateful, others turned out to be beneficial contacts to promote my book. One was a fellow author who invited me to speak at a local writers’ group I’ve been trying to contact for a considerable time; another, was a producer of a TV program that might feature my book.

So the new lesson I’ve learned is book signings are not about selling books so much as making a personal connection with people who might help you grow your book. These people are your readers or potential readers who will have a stronger connection to you and your work by meeting face to face. That is how loyalty is built.

I will never complain to my wife, Tammy, again about doing one of these events again!

Lessons Learned From My First Book Signing

Book signing at Del Rio, Gold Hill, Oregon
Del Rio Vineyards and Winery, Gold Hill, Oregon

 I had no idea what to do at a book signing and stressed over my first one. As a writer, I’m embarrassed to say that I had never attended one in my life!

My first one was at a winery, Del Rio, in Gold Hill, Oregon. It was a beautiful setting. Fortunately, I was asked what inspired me to write the book. So I gave the backstory of the book. That went on for a while and then I opened it to Q/A. Questions ranged from details of the book to training wild animals in the movies to the craft of writing. We were there a good three hours. So this has become my formula now. Oh! I got a lot of free glasses of a very good Merlot as well! 

Book Signings are very important, not so much to sell books directly but to make a personal connection with readers and to build a buzz; word of mouth to capture new readers. Your readers bring friends and tell friends about your work. You know a signing is going well when people begin tweeting their friends to come join them.

I have two book signings coming up this weekend; Hot Shots Coffee House in Blue Jay, Ca. (SAT. 8/29, 4 PM to 6 PM) and The Tea and Coffee Exchange in Lake Arrowhead, Ca. (Sun. 8/30, 10 AM to noon).

Now, I actually look forward to these events as I get to meet readers and learn about their experience with my book.

Autograph copies of Almost Human may be ordered at the following link, http://bajamotoquest.com/2015/07/14/second-edition-is-available/

Lessons From the Road: “Pay It Forward”

Shade Tree Mechanics-- GS Giants style
Shade Tree Mechanics– GS Giants style

Tammy and I had just come out of a long ride on backcountry dirt trails in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming when I first noticed a fog of oil wetting the dusty surface of the rear drive on my BMW R1200GSA adventure motorcycle. Clearly, my outer seal was failing.

I was so intent on running a mental inventory of tools and parts needed for the repair that I had not noticed the man standing beside me. Apparently, he had come out of the RV, with a BMW motorcycle in tow, parked at the pump in front of me. Almost on cue, just as I had come to the realization that I didn’t have the parts to make the repair the man said, shaking his head, “That’s not good—You won’t get very far with that. Do you have the part?” Continue reading “Lessons From the Road: “Pay It Forward””