Book Signings

New LDS Bookstore Opening in Pleasant Grove UT

The following message was sent to me by a reader and since I’m all about promoting LDS books, I decided I would post it here. I may regret this if I get bombarded with everyone who wants to promote their business, but I’m taking a chance and hoping it won’t get out of hand.

Dear LDS Publisher,

I know you don’t usually do advertisements like this, but I thought perhaps you would make an exception in this case.

There is a new independent LDS bookstore opening this weekend, November 8th, in Pleasant Grove, Utah. It’s called Provident Book, and it’s located at 661 W State, Pleasant Grove. It’s just north of the PG Rodeo Grounds and in the same strip of shops as Timpanogos Cyclery.

As I’m sure you’re aware, it’s been a long time since there was an independent bookstore in this area and we’re excited to be opening it. We hope your readers that are local to us will come by for a visit and will support us in our efforts to make books by smaller presses readily available to the public. Of course, we’ll carry books from the “big guys” as well.

To celebrate our Grand Opening, we will have over 30 authors there signing books throughout the day. They will include David G. Woolley, H.B. Moore, Rachel Ann Nunes, Jennie Hansen, Michelle Ashman Bell, N.C. Allen, Julie Coulter Bellon, Tristi Pinkston, and Angela Hallstrom—just to mention a few. You can find a full list and the schedule here.

Our store will also carry a fabulous line of toys and games for all ages, LDS CDs and DVDs, and lots more. For a sneak peek, you can visit my personal blog. You’ll also find a printable coupon for 25% off any one item there.

I hope all your readers in the Utah County area will come by and visit—and bring their Christmas shopping list. You will be amazed by what we have!

Thanks (in advance) for helping us spread the word.

Karlene Browning, Asst. Manager
Provident Book/Humdinger Toys

P.S. LDSP—if you come to the store and reveal your true identity, I’ll give you an extra discount. 🙂

How does an author set up a book signing?

Generally, the author doesn’t set up the signing, the publisher does. As an author, you tell your publisher which stores you’re willing to travel to and if you’re traveling, the areas you’re willing to stop to do signings in. Then the publisher contacts the bookstores and tries to set something up. Some stores love author signings, others refuse to do them.

If, however, you have a relationship with a particular bookstore—know the manager, employees, or buy enough books that they know who you are and greet you by name when you walk in the door—then just ask them if they’d be willing to do a signing and what they need from the publisher (usually free returns, posters, etc.) and from you (varies). Then let your publisher call them and work out the details.

And before anyone says, “I’m willing to do whatever it takes, but my publisher just won’t work with me on the book signings,” read this and this and this.

Utah Residency, Optional

An LDS publisher recently requested to see a rewrite of my novel. (Hang on. Is that “An” or “A” LDS publisher? I’m going with “An” since it sounds better.) [Say it aloud and use the one that fits.] Obviously they haven’t offered a contract, but for the sake of fantasizing, I’m going to pretend they will. Since I don’t live in Utah, how will this affect the marketing of my book? For example, book signings, school visits, etc. Also, are LDS publishers wary of taking on authors who live outside of Utah for this very reason? Thanks in advance!

Since the huge majority of LDS books and products are sold in the Utah/Idaho corridor, living somewhere else means you won’t have easy access to multiple promotional signings. It also means you won’t be able to do co-op events with other LDS authors–like workshops or community events or Ladies Night at Deseret Book before conference. Unless, of course, you’re willing to drive/fly out for a week or two and hit all the bookstores who’ll have you. (That will probably not be paid for by your publisher, so think about taking a working family vacation.)

If there’s an LDS bookstore in your area, we will set up a signing for you there and at any other local bookstores that will let us in. If you’re going on vacation to an area that has LDS bookstores, we can try to set up a signing. You can also do RS workshops or firesides locally and within neighboring wards/stakes.

You’re on your own with schools, as is every author. Living in Utah doesn’t mean an automatic pass into the schools. It depends on the type of presentation you’ll give, the content of your book and your connection with the school.

Pretty much anything else can be done regardless of where you live–thanks to the magic of telephone, fax, Internet, and good ‘ole USPS. Radio shows, book reviews, websites, blogs, online interviews, press releases, postcards, catalogs, etc. can all be done no matter where you live.

So, no. Publishers won’t turn you down if you live outside Utah as long as you’re willing to make the effort and do what is within your ability and budget to help promote your book.

Book Signings a la Mode

No, I don’t mean serve ice cream at your book signing. I mean, if you’re going to do a book signing, make it feel like ice cream.

About the comment that publishers don’t want to make the effort to set up signings…uhm, yes and no. Here’s the deal. Let’s say we have 100 authors who all want to do a book signing tour (as in, half a dozen signings each) and they’re scattered all over the U.S. If every bookstore we call says yes, that’s 600 phone calls we have to make, at about 15-30 minutes each, so we’re looking at 150 to 300 hours JUST TALKING TO THE BOOKSTORES!

But of course, they won’t all say yes, so we have to call more stores. And then we have to call the author and make sure the dates we sign them up for are still good. And then we have to work out the details to get extra books ordered, offer a generous return policy, send out posters, flyers, reminder calls.

And if averages hold true, we’re going to only sell a handful of books at each one.

So that’s why publishers aren’t super-hyped about setting up book signing tours and why, if you want one, you’re going to have to do a lot of work yourself.

The exception to this is if the publisher can showcase a group of authors at the same signing–for example, getting a bookstore to do a book signing day where we have maybe a dozen or more authors show up throughout the day to do the signings. Then it becomes a party–ergo, the a la mode reference.

a la mode