Book Signing Take 4- A Great Big Thank You

Shortly before my first book signing I saw the video by author Parnell Hall, “Signing at the Walden Books” which I found touching and horrifying.

The video tapped into one of my greatest fears:

What if I had a book signing and no body showed up?

This fear usually manifests itself two days before the event and leads to a lack of sleep and a little knot in my stomach that doesn’t go away until I arrive at the event and find out that I am not alone.

This past Saturday I had my fourth book event, a book  reading and signing a our local Borders. I knew that I wasn’t going to be there by myself because my mom and dad where making the trip down from L.A. to be there, and bringing my niece along to help with my props. I also knew that my husband and Super Blog Buddy Sarah were going to be there, so I really had nothing to fear.

Imagine my surprise when I showed up to find my own cheering section made up of friends and family. This turned out to be a good thing since there didn’t seem to be any children around to read the story to, but we made do.

So here are my thoughts on book signing #4:

• I have a wonderful group of family and friends.
• You don’t need children to have a fun book reading
• It’s fun to have grown adults say “Aye Carumba” on command.
• If you are looking for a great place to have a gathering I would suggest your local Borders it’s air conditioned and has lots of room and make sure you use the children’s section so that you have plenty of seating.

So this is a great big “Thank You” to everyone that made it out that day. I truly appreciate your support and next time I have a book signing maybe we’ll bring snacks and turn it into a true party.

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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Book Signing Take 3- I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends

Last night I had my third book signing and while I can say my second book signing was a family affair, my third book signing was all about friends.

Deena from Readers Inc. made me feel more than welcome and (with a little departure from the normal Thursday night signings) had a lovely table set up in the back of the air conditioned store that included a display of my books and an Edible Arrangement of fruit.  This was truly appreciated since summer had decided to finally arrive here in San Diego and I had visions of standing in the sun and melting. My loving husband even threw our big golf umbrella in the car just before we left just to make sure that I wouldn’t be bombarded by the heat.

It was a fun evening with visits from several of my friends including a group of women from the San Diego SCBWI who decided to eat at a local Italian restaurant first and then stop by and visit the book signing.

The lovely ladies of the San Diego-SCBWI straight from their Italian dinner.

More wonderful friends from the San Diego- SCBWI (I’m not sure where they ate)

I am pleased to say that we sold out of books and I learned a valuable lesson: Always bring extra copies of your book to a signing event.

I have another signing scheduled in September at the Borders in Mission Valley and I will be sure to carry extra copies in my car (just in case).

All in all I came away with a great sense of friendship and appreciation for every one at Readers Inc. and all of my friends who turned out to make my first book signing here in San Diego a fun event. I also came away with a great edible arrangement of fruit.

Thanks everyone,

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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Boy is My Face Red

Last week my picture book “Grandma’s Pear Tree” was released. This was a huge moment and the end of a two year process. After waiting for nearly two weeks for the books to arrive,  I was thrilled to come home and find the big box, exacto knife and my husband waiting with a camera. It was a beautiful moment. I would share the pictures but they didn’t come out, so you’ll have to take my word for it, it was beautiful.

Now that my book is out it was time to make sure that I had everything mentioned in the marketing articles to promote my book:

• Blog…check
• Twitter account…check
• website…check
• book signings…not quite (three out of four isn’t so bad).

It was time to get busy and try to arrange some book signings. Armed with my newly printed business cards, fresh of the press book and wearing my most business-like (and least Mom-like) outfit, I headed to my local Barnes and Noble. I walked into the store, headed toward the children’s book department and panicked. Yup, I wimped out. I grabbed a few picture books (which I will review later this week) and sat and read them waiting for my nerve to return. Unfortunately  it didn’t so I walked back to my car with my tail between my legs and headed home.

That night at dinner I shared my experience with my family and after some good natured ribbing about me being a “weenie”, they convinced me to wait a few days and try again. My Mother-in-Law, who is much braver than I am, decided to take matters into her own hands and by the next day I had a book signing scheduled at the book store close to her home (details are in the “Upcoming” section of the blog) with the possibility of another.

So today I dressed up in my second best business-like looking outfit and headed to Barnes and Noble again. This time I spoke with the clerk who suggested that I email the person in charge of promotions (which I did as soon as I got home). I am still waiting to hear, but I am proud that I was able to face my fear and I wasn’t a “weenie” this time.

This is a great time to recommend the Shrinking Violets website. This site is full of information for those writers who are a little more introverted and need a little help.

Here is a quote from the site:

Hardly anybody ever writes anything nice about introverts. Extroverts rule. This is rather odd when you realise that about nineteen writers out of twenty are introverts. We are being taught to be ashamed of not being ‘outgoing’. But a writer’s job is ingoing.

–Ursula K. LeGuin

I will keep you posted on any book signings or events in the “Upcoming” section of the blog.

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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