RE: Book Signings?

**Peter Loewerthewildgardener@earthlink.net>**

GWL: With some 32 original books under my belt, I've found that booksignings,
especially at local stores, are worth the effort. For every 30 people who walk
by, there are always a few who suddenly find somebody to talk to, and yes, you
do sell a few books. I still get querry letter from books I signed 13 years
ago (before then I lived near Manhattan), and I'm happy to get them. Today,
except for Timber Press, most publishers are examples of what Mark Twain once
said (write me privately) so I understand being careful about signings but
I've found for one convert, it's worth all. Peter Loewer
On Thu, 18 Jul 2002 14:42:10 -0700 Jeff Ball <jeffball@starband.net> wrote:

Jessie,
With 8 books under my belt and comments from a number of other gardening
authors, book signings at bookstores are a waste of time.  Many hours of
sitting all by yourself selling maybe two or three books.  Even giving a
lecture drawing 20 or 30 people usually gets only about 3 to 5 sales in my
experience.  Garden centers are not much better unless they really do a
serious number in advertising the visit.  I should think the very gardens
you write about would be better possibilities; but even then don't expect to
sell a pile.  You need to be in a place with hundreds or thousands of garden
enthusiasts to sell any numbers.  My partner Nancy Szerlag has two new
titles Perennials for Michigan and Annuals for Michigan.  They are the best
selling gardening books in Michigan at the moment, but a book signing at a
Borders or Barnes and Noble would not generate much return.  On the other
hand we did a big plant sale here in central Michigan with about 1000 people
coming to the sale in one day.  Nancy sold 35 or 40 books in 4 hours.  Years
ago when Rodale had their Summer fest pulling in several thousand organic
crazies, we would sell 30 to 50 books.  Make sure your book is in every gift
shop of every public garden in your book.
One thing I did back when I had active books in book stores was to visit
books stores and offer to sign the books they had in stock.  That gets the
book a special sticker usually and often placement in a better spot.  Small
impact on the bottom line but it helps the ego some.
Good luck on your new adventure.

Later
Jeff Ball

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