Authors: How do you handle chatty people?

**"* L* B* <S*@cox.net>**

 
     I know I should be thrilled to have this "problem," but my biggest
challenge at book signings is that people want to talk. They seem unaware
that there's a line behind them, and pull out photos of their gardens,
unroll landscape plans, or launch into stories. There's Q&A after my
presentation, but this is different, more personal. For example, a young
woman opened her wedding planning notebook and asked my opinion on table
centerpieces. Such an important decision, and all I could give her was one
minute! (I asked, "What are your colors?" She replied, "Magenta, pink and
white." So, I thought: What would Martha do? and told her, "Put teal
echeverias in magenta glazed pots.")
      I've explained to chatty people I'd love to be able to respond, but
now's not a good time, because others are waiting. They glance over their
shoulder, look embarrassed, and shuffle off. I've tried telling people
they're welcome to email me, so I can give some thought to an answer, but
only one out of a dozen has done so -- I'm afraid the rest felt like I was
blowing them off. I've also tried interrupting them and asking, "How do you
want me to sign this? To you? What's your name?" then I sign the book, hand
it to them with a smile, and make eye contact with the next person...which
usually means the first person stops talking mid-sentence. 
    I want to give people a good experience after buying my book, not
fluster or frustrate them! I'm wondering...how do the seasoned authors among
you handle this?
    Thank you,
    Debra Lee Baldwin
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Debra Lee Baldwin
Garden Photojournalist
Author, Designing with Succulents
            (Timber Press, 2007)
www.debraleebaldwin.com <http://www.debraleebaldwin.com/> 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
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