Several years ago as I was marketing my book, “Holiday Adventures for Kids” I made a terrible mistake of venturing into local libraries during their ” story hours'” for children. A book signing in a public library during story hour just seemed to make sense!
However the error in my thinking soon became apparent.
Since little children don’t tend to carry large sums of money with them they weren’t going to be in a position to invest in my book no matter how excited they may be about making a purchase.
On top of that Mom and Dad had probably dropped them off for the reading hour to gain a little escape from the constant pressures of raising the little rascals. So they were not even present to provide financial assistant if the little child really wanted to make a purchase.
As my presentation began and I tried to gain their attention I had the distinct feeling I had returned to the classroom and had to begin recalling a variety of disciplinary tricks to get their undivided attention.
To further complicate the gathering of rambunctious middle schoolers one curious adult would invariably arrive interested in finding out more about my book. They would be appalled by the chaos that usually ensued and would leave empty handed muttering as they departed, “I’ll never attend a book signing by that so called author again!” 🙁
So this summer as I ventured out on my book signing tour for my latest children’s book, “The First Advent, Stories and Activities” I was determined to improve the book signing successes at the local libraries.
The first line of business was to eliminate the “children’s story hour” book signing attempts. The one’s with bankrupt children and parents escaping to the peace and quiet outside the walls of the public library.
The head librarian in a neighboring county came up with what I thought was a brilliant idea. Since grandparents make up the major buying group for children’s books why not take advantage of the situation.
We decided to have a ‘first ever’ ‘Grandparents Grandchild’ book signing event. I would explain the inspiration for writing the book and read the first and last chapter to the attendees.
And since the book had several activities I would make copies of one of the activities, the word find, for each of the paired grandparents and grandchild. The set of grandparents and grandchildren that correctly completed the activity first would win a free autographed copy of the book.
What an exciting concept! What a drawing card the book give away would be or so we thought. 🙂
We were excited about the prospects thinking dozens of grandparent/grandchildren teams would come forward and the book signing gala would take on an excitement never experienced before in the two local libraries.
We were wrong.
My wife and I arrived at the first library signing hoping to see throngs of grandparents and grandchildren lined up at the library door awaiting admittance.
What we observed was an empty, locked library and not a soul around. Not even the librarian! Had we misunderstood the date?
I entered the building hoping to see some sign of life within. The only light was emitted from a propped open door of a freshly washed washroom floor. The place was deserted!
After several minutes of discussion about the next step that we should take we hear voices and up bustles the librarian.
She explained that the library is normally closed on Mondays and since this was a Monday evening I began to sense the “wheels coming off of our book signing expectations”.
The library personnel had advertised and talked up the event however the signing scheduled on their normally closed Monday negated all of their efforts.
Nary a grandparent nor grandchild showed up that evening but we had a wonderful visit with the librarian and learned almost everything about her personal life that there was to know.
And it was not all a loss as the librarian purchased a signed copy of “The First Advent” for the library.
We shook off the disappointment of the ‘no show’ grandparents and grandchildren at library number one and looked forward to better results at library number two which was scheduled for the next evening.
When we arrived at the second library things were looking up because the lights were on and the library was open.
On top of that the assistant librarian immediately bought two books. I could feel the excitement building! 🙂
I was scheduled to read to the attendees at 5:30 and as the hands of the library clock creeped to the 5:25 hour no grandparent/grandchild had made an appearance.
Suddenly as I was beginning to visualize another failed evening down the stairs came a mother carrying her six month old daughter with Grandpa following closely behind.
I wanted to race up the steps and hug them all, however I didn’t think that would be appropriate.
The young mother also carried a tray full of cookies and explained that she was the head of the library’s Friends of the Library Committee. She had forgotten to get volunteers to supply the evening’s snacks. Realizing that she gave that assignment to herself while also supplying us with the only grandparent/grandchild contestants.
Unknowingly she had guaranteed the success of the grandparent/grandchild book signing contest! So it only made sense after waiting several minutes after the 5:30 deadline to be sure no late entrants appeared that Grandpa Rich and Granddaughter Winnie were declared the winners of a free autographed copy of “The First Advent, Stories and Activities”
So the library book signings wouldn’t be considered a great success but they weren’t a complete failure either. Let’s see I sold three books and gave away one free one. That puts me in the black by two books.
The bars were very tasty, the conversation was enjoyable as were the conversationalists. Winnie was the cutest, sweetest little girl who I got to bounce on my knee for a few minutes and she reciprocated by drooling all over my arm. Grandpas don’t mind a little drool however. 🙂
But the next time I plan a book signing at local libraries I better change the theme because that grandparent, grandchild idea didn’t really draw them in
I wonder how “Bring Your Pet To The Book Signing” theme would fly? I’ll have to give that some thought and ‘yikes’ that means I would have to write another book! 🙂
Until next time.
