Paper Boat Booksellers is happy to be back hosting events in our store and beyond! We strive to be a platform for local authors and take pride in the success of their events. Here are a few tips to offer you for having a fun and successful event.
ONCE YOUR EVENT IS SCHEDULED
Start promoting your event however you can! Encourage friends, family and other contacts to attend your event. Contact local media and mailing lists to let them know about your event and that your book is available through Paper Boat Booksellers.
Send out press releases, review copies and other promotional materials (posters, flyers, postcards) and let your local resources know that you are available for interviews.
Get involved with the local community through friends, book clubs, libraries and organizations to extend your outreach and network. The more you reach out, the more people will know and the more likely they will have interest in your book and event.
PREPARING YOUR PRESENTATION
Remember, an author event is just one of many ways to promote your book, just like press releases, reviews and outreach can help you get your book into the hands of readers. You want to consider your presentation carefully and make sure it will grab the audience’s attention.
Attend author events beforehand-either at our shop or somewhere else and see what other authors are doing and what captures your interest. Take notes!
Think of your presentation from the perspective of the reader. More than likely, readers want a varied experience where they get a mix of background information about you and your writing, information that is useful and educational, an entertaining presentation (audiences love pictures-think of a slideshow that shows the where and when, the inspiration for places you’ve written about in your book, etc.), and content that is intriguing or inspiring. Reading from your book for more than 5-6 minutes at a time is a sure way to put your audience to sleep. Events should last no more than an hour including time for Q&A.
If you plan on doing a multi-media presentation, make sure you have the right equipment and that you know how it works prior to your event. All equipment needed can be brought in the day of your event and arrive early enough to set it all up and do a test. Please bring your own laptop.
Be prepared with a back-up plan in case your computer presentation doesn’t work due to technical problems. You should have a non-technical presentation ready to share with the audience just in case!
Practice your presentation at home in front of your family and friends. Have fun!
THE DAY OF YOUR EVENT
Arrive to your event 15-20 minutes early, or up to 30 minutes early if you are concerned about getting your technology ready. This will give you a little time to breathe and relax five minutes before you begin. Please don’t show up to early though-Paper Boat doesn’t close until 6:00 and your event host won’t be able to help out until after that (if your event starts at 6:00, we will close at 5:30). We also need time to move shelves and set-up the event space with chairs, podium, books, etc.
Let your event host know of any special requests or help you might need such as extra water, a table for displaying material or if you have any signing restrictions (no photos, no personalizations, etc.).
Promote your book to the audience as available at our store and if we have it available as an e-book as well. Please be considerate of the opportunity our store is providing by not advertising your book as available through other websites, Amazon or Kindle. Amazon does not provide a personal, intimate experience and that is just one of the differences between us and them.
Thank the audience for attending your presentation and for their support in purchasing your book. Be gracious to the audience and also to the store staff-and Paper Boat always appreciates a positive plug for shopping and supporting independent bookstores!
Bring a good signing pen or two that is fast drying so other pages don’t get smudged.
Please be understanding if your event has a low turnout. While Paper Boat wishes that every event could be standing room only, sometimes due to a variety of factors, events just don’t have the attendance hoped for. Even if just a few people attend, give them your full attention and energy. You never know when one of those people might write a social media post, share your book or spread the word to a dozen other potential readers.
If you are disappointed in low turnout, use the experience as a learning tool to explore other options in how to promote your book. Remember, an event is just one way to market your book-when one technique isn’t effective, it gives you the opportunity to explore others.
We want every author to have a truly positive experience at Paper Boat Booksellers. Thank you for being a part of our Events Program and choosing our store to promote your book!