Monday, July 14, 2014

Book Signings by Merrillee Whren

Politicians, famous authors, celebrities and dignitaries, who have written books often travel around the country doing book signings. As we move into the digital age of books, will there be fewer and fewer book signings? In a couple of days, there will be a massive book signing at the Romance Writers of American Conference in San Antonio. The proceeds from this autographing will go to support literacy. You can read more about it here. If you are in the San Antonio area, you may want to attend. You will find a number of the members of the Sweet Romance Reads signing books there. Melinda Curtis will be signing her book, Season of Change. Karen Rock will be signing her book, Wish Me Tomorrow.

Here is a photo of me at my very first book signing at the International Christian Retail Show in Denver in 2005. What a thrill to see dozens of people lined up to get my book. Of course, they were giving it away, so people wanted a free book. 

The photo below is the first signing I had in my hometown where people actually came and bought the book. Those two signings were a wonderful experience, but I rarely do book signings anymore. 

 
What do you think about book signings?

8 comments:

  1. I love book signings and am always very excited to meet an author real-time! It's interesting to me that now in the digital age we have places like Authorgraph where you can get books signed virtually. Still great, but not nearly as fun as seeing someone in person. Have a wonderful time in San Antonio! :)

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  2. Thanks, Ginny. I'm doing setup for the literacy autographing this year. That should be fun.

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  3. With more people reading on electronic devices, I guess book signings will be fading away.

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  4. I think they'll fade away as well, plus it was a way to meet an author whereas now authors are all over the internet so there is far less of the "mystique" factor about an author today. Biggest book signing I went to was Diana Gabaldon about 12 years ago - queues out into the street, it took about 20 minutes to get to her table! It was amazing.

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  5. Aileen, I believe you are right.

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  6. Joanne, you have a point about authors being on the internet and having less "mystique." I used to get signed books, but we moved so often that I was always getting rid of books, even the signed ones.

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  7. I always enjoy the Literacy Signing at RWA. I get to see so many people I've met over the years. This year I will be signing myself for the FIRST TIME!! I'm signing my debut novel MARRY ME. I'll be somewhere on the last row with the "Ws"

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  8. Booksignings really have changed. The last one I attended had no bookseller. Readers brought books they'd already purchased and were encouraged to buy e-books. What a change.

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