My First Check From a Book Signing.

Check out my first check from my first book signing at a book store.
This check is from my book signing at Barnes & Noble in Denton, Texas. Their arrangement was for me to bring my own books to the book signing and they would take 20% from my book sales and sent me the rest.
My first book signing experience:
Books Tom purchased while browsing the book store $37.21.
Snacks for Tom and three grandchildren $15.98
Books I bought from my fellow self-published authors $45.47
Book signing celebration at steak house $176.29

My profit from book sales after cost of books and Barnes & Noble’s 20% $20.08

In the red for $254.91

Book signing with family in Texas-- PRICELESS!

My First Royalties From My Publisher

My publisher posts my royalties for my books they sold on their web site after two months of selling them. I checked their web today and in January I earned $0.00 in royalties. In February I earned $1.79 in royalties and in March I earned $1.79 in royalties. So far I earned a total of $3.58 in royalties. I have direct deposit into my checking account. They pay quarterly. I guess I can wait for my money. Wow! They sure must have done some extensive promoting to have sold two books in four months. I guess I’m on my own for promoting and selling my book!
So far I have three book signings lined up. This Saturday I will be at Borders Express at the Shenango Valley Mall from 12:00-2:00p.m. I have a book signing at the Borders Book Store in Niles on June 14 from 1:00-3:00p.m. I am giving a presentation at the Sharon Library on August 14th at 6:00p.m. in the community room.
Hope to see you Saturday!

My Second Book Signing in a Book Store.

Check out the display for my book signing on Saturday, May 24th. I have posted flyers around town about my book signing. Thursday a friend of mine and I are going to pass out flyers around my neighborhood. I hope this book signing at Borders Express is as successful as the one I had at the Barnes & Noble in Texas.
Saturday I went to my sister-in-law’s garage sale and set up a table. I sold one book to a friend I worked with when we were teenagers. A few people said they were coming to my book signing on Saturday. This book signing was very similar to the one I had in Texas at Maureen’s garage sale. It was a freezing cold day and I had to wear my winter coat, hat, and gloves.
Come to my book signing at Borders Express in the Shenango Valley Mall on Saturday, May 24th from 12:00-2:00pm.

It Pays to be Persistent

Yesterday after my fourth call to a local book store, I finally got a response. I guess you just have to talk to the right employee (whoever that may be). When I called and said, “I have been calling for a month and just want to know what the dates of your self-published author book signings are and if I could schedule one. I left two messages to the person in charge and she hasn’t returned my calls. Could you find out the dates?” Her response was, “Well this isn’t right someone should have gotten back to you. Give me your information and I will talk to the manager and either the manager or the public relations person will get right back to you. I am sorry for the delay.”
Well this morning at 8:00am I received a call with the information I requested and they are e-mailing me information about the procedure to get my book into the store for sale. I know it’s a long shot for the bookstores to display self-published author’s books on their shelves, but it’s worth a try!

Frustrations of Scheduling a Book Signing.

When I first pursued calling book stores to request a book signing, I didn’t realize no one would return my calls. First I called a book store and talk to an employee who would say, “We have a special person who takes care of setting up book signings. She or he is not in now. What is the name of your book? What is your phone number? She or he will call you.” After a week I would call again and repeat the same conversation I had the week before. Then I wait another week and call again this time I ask, “When will they be in the store?” Then they give me their cell phone number or voice mail number. I call and leave my message and wait another week and call again and leave another message.
I called the Barnes & Noble in the area and left two voice mail messages in the past month and she has not returned my calls. They have two book signings a year for self-published authors and I was inquiring about them.
The only book stores that I had no problem scheduling a book signing so far was at the Barnes & Noble in Denton, Texas and the Borders Express at the Shenango Valley Mall. I had no problem getting through to the person in charge. My book signing at the Borders Express is Saturday May, 24 at 12:00-2:00PM. If you are in the area stop by and see me. All the information that I have read about scheduling book signings say, “Just keep calling!”

Home from Texas

My book signing in Texas was a huge success. A special thanks to everyone who supported me.

I met many interesting people. It still amazes me how many people are interested in writing a book with thoughts of one day publishing it, but never pursue it. Maureen told me of a friend of hers that bought my book in December. After she read my book, she told Maureen that I inspired her to write her stories. She sent one of her stories to a magazine and won a contest. This gave her more confidence to write more. She had always had in the back of her mind to write children’s books. She had many ideas but never pursued writing.
I have been busy setting up book signings around town. My first is at Borders Express at the Shenango Valley Mall on May 24, from 12:00-2:00pm. Then on June 14th from 1:00-3:00pm I will be signing books at Borders located at 2102 Niles-Courtland Road in Niles, Ohio.