A few people have asked how my day at the Indie Pop-Up Signing in Bristol, this weekend, went. So, whenever I’m asked a question that requires more than a one-syllable reply, I blog about it 🙂
I’ve not done a signing on this scale before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Everyone else seemed to know each other! But I got chatting to a few authors throughout the day, and of course lots of readers.
When I’ve done small signings at my local bookshops and libraries, it’s always felt like people are actively avoiding eye-contact with me – perhaps they think I’m going to force them to buy all my books, I don’t know. But at my table, in a room of readers who wanted to talk to authors, I spoke with lots of lovely people, gave out lots of postcards and pens, and had a generally great time.
I even sold a couple of books!
The volunteers, who kept us plied with drinks and biscuits, didn’t stop all day, it seemed, dropping by regularly to check whether we needed anything.
My table – my view out (taken just as the afternoon doors were being opened), and from in front. My beautiful book stand received a lot of positive comments, too 🙂
It was a long day – busy but fun – and I slept well that night! We didn’t go straight home. We visited the Clarks Village in Street the next day and I shopped…
How was your weekend?
Annalisa Crawford - Blogging with My Fountain Pen 
This sounds so lovely! Yes – it’s nice when you are offering your soul’s work in a setting where people actually come because they are interested in what you have on offer! A whole different vibe than say, setting up your book table at the county fair in between the pies and the golf gadgets. I’m so happy for you and love watching your journey.
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And I’ve definitely been between the pies and golf stand before 🙂 It was great to hear the question “So, what do you write?” and be able to have a conversation about it.
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Sounds like it was very successful!
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Yes, it was, Alex – exhausting by the end, though!
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That seems like an interesting event to take part in.
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I’ve decided it’s time to push myself to do things that I would normally hide away from – and this one was only a couple of hours from home, so a pretty easy journey.
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Hi Annalisa – thanks for telling us about your venture at the weekend. I love the book stand – was that made specially for you? Then lovely to have that camaraderie between other authors and readers all … looks like a really useful weekend – especially with the shopping visit … a treat to end with. Cheers Hilary
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The chocolate was a bonus, Hilary 🙂 Yes, a friend made the stand for me – he makes beautiful wooden tables, and had an off-cut. Lucky for me!
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How fun! I love to get out and meet readers.
You really know how to shop. I’m impressed!
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I wish I’d taken a photo of the shop, it was incredible! I was literally a child in a sweet shop 🙂
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Looks like you deserved the retail therapy 🙂
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Oh yes, I definitely did!
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What a fun day! And pretty much any experience that ends in chocolate is a good one. 🙂
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I completely agree with you about chocolate. I’m also being very restrained and only having a piece or two a day – it’s going to last me ages 🙂
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When you’re surrounded by people who want to be looking at and buying books, it’s always easier. I know, sometimes I’ve been at signings and people avoided me like I had the plague.
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You just want someone to say hello or smile, even if they don’t stop, on days like that, don’t you?
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I’m glad the event went well—and that you even sold a few books. I’ve done a couple of events like that one, and they’re always interesting. Even if I am a completely socially awkward weirdo who has no idea how to interact with the human race. 🙂
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Isn’t that why we wanted to be writers in the first place, MJ? 😉
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wonderful and exciting. Wow. Glad it was awesome. I’m sure the folks that bought your book will be happy. Those that waited and bought on line or downloaded will also enjoy your writing Excellent experience! Kudos
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Thanks Joanne, I hope so 🙂
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Glad you had a great time, Annalisa. That book stand is awesome too! Looks like your shopping trip might have involved a little chocolate treat or two!
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Thanks Suzanne – I’m going to be enjoying the chocolate for a long time, too 🙂
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Hi Annalisa,
Delighted that the event went so well for you. It was a most positive time for you. Nothing like a bit of shopping the next day. You did well on all accounts.
Penny’s human dad,
Gary 🙂
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Yes, I agree, a success all round 🙂 I hope you’re doing ok?
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Mmm, that chocolate looks good, especially the cookies and cream one. And I’m glad the signing went well; I think it’d be fun to be in the company of fellow writers and see what other people are writing. (It’d be more fun than getting messages from guys on Bumble asking me if I want to make out, which is what happened to me this week, sighh…)
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The cookies and cream one is ALL GONE 😀
Being asked if you want to make out? Isn’t that a question best left in high school?!
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Large signings are always exciting. You get to meet so many great writers and the crowds are usually chatty when they stop by your table. I’ve never had someone serve me lovely treats while I was attending one, so I envy you that!
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It was quite a small signing – apparently – but felt large enough for me, for my first time!
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This sounds like it was a lot of fun!
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I’d definitely like to do another one, if I can find the ones that are the right fit.
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I love it! See, that awkward, eye-avoiding thing is something I’m not looking forward to. When I do FINALLY get out to do a book signing, I think I’m going to do a dance party or something. Maybe there will be a cheese plate and photo spot with a fake time machine… (Can’t break out the real one. That’s FAR too dangerous.) 😉
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I think the cheese would definitely go down well! The best way to deal with the eye-avoiding is to pretend they’re actually looking straight at you, and greet them accordingly 🙂 Or you could use your real time machine to go forward to your second signing, and skip the first one altogether 🙂
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How fun! Glad you had a good time. Must buy chocolate now.
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Lol, yes, everyone should buy chocolate 🙂
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It sounds like it wasn’t only successful but a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing! And mmmm… chocolate…
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Yes, lots of fun, thank goodness!
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That does sound like a great signing, and the fact that the volunteers were so caring and helpful is a plus. I’ve been to a couple of signings. One big and one medium-sized and volunteers didn’t come to my table once.
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The volunteers were lovely – and made me feel very welcome, even though they knew most of the other authors and I was a newbie 🙂
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Hi Annalisa. A lovely clean looking blog. Congrats on the move. I have a WP blog too but it’s languishing ATM. Bristol looked like fun!
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Thanks Denise. Since I’ve moved my blog, I’ve been having real problems remembering to visit my old haunts – blogger made that side of blogging quite easy.
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