Book Signings?

**"Jessie Stephens" jessie@texoma.net>**

Are book signings at book stores really worth the time, trouble, and
sometimes expense for authors of garden books?

My publisher and some writer friends tell me that such appearances are key,
because booksellers will "handsell" your books if they've met you. Frankly,
I've shopped bookstores all over the country, and I don't remember a
retailer trying to "handsell" me a particular title. Sure, they'll recommend
something, or several somethings, but unless they are gardeners themselves,
it rings pretty hollow.

But since I'm a beginner at the trade paper publishing game, I would
appreciate learning from the experiences of others. My book is called
TOURING TEXAS GARDENS from Republic of Texas Press. It will be available
this month from major distributors and bookstores in Texas, as well as
amazon, etc. on line. It's basically a tour guide to the public gardens of
Texas (almost 100 of them). Should I try to line up book signings in
large-city bookstores? Wouldn't it be more profitable to do it at large
nurseries, maybe with a short program, as well? Or at gift stores in the
gardens mentioned in the book?

I welcome your comments.
Jessie Gunn Stephens

jessie@texoma.net

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