by Sharon Archer
Reading: My revisions!Listening: Cher
Watching: New Tricks DVD
Making Me Smile: Seven Sleeps to go!
Seven sleeps and I’ll be off to the Romance Writers of Australia conference! I can’t wait to catch up with friends at Coogee! It’s going to be huge and there’s going to be a LOT of talking! And I’ll get to meet my fellow LoveCats – some of them for the very first time... well, face-to-face first time because we’re already firm e-friends!
AND I’m taking part in my very first book signing! The Australian Romance Readers Association is organising an event to coincide with the conference in Sydney. I’m really excited about this and more than a bit nervous too! I belatedly thought it might be a good idea to Google for tips!
I found some terrific sites – including one by Larry James. I’ve promised myself I’ll go back to study this well before I do another book signing!
Of course, I’ve left it way too late to take advantage of some of the suggestions – like promo materials. Fortunately, other clever LoveCats have thought of this so we have these LoveCat DownUnder postcards to give away. Very cool!
One of Larry’s tips – his most important - was to HAVE FUN! So I’m going to be sure to follow that one!
And because it’s all so beautifully organised by the ARRA, I don’t need to do things like make sure there’ll be somewhere for me to sit, or posters, or announcements. Another really great thing about this event is that I won’t be doing it all alone! There are more than 40 other authors – including fellow LoveCats - and I know the ARRA will have us all very well catered for.
But some other tips I found on the web were nice little extras like have a nice pen, lots of water handy and a camera!
So do you have any other tips for me? If you do, I’d love to hear them! And I’d love to see you at the signing too!
PS I also came across this fun and very clever You-Tube clip by Parnell Hall which I thought I’d share with you... I'll be going out to buy one of his books after this! Sadly, I can't sing for peanuts so I won't be able to turn my book signing experience into a You-Tube ballad - for which you should all be profoundly grateful! ;)
Ooh, I'm getting excited about the conference too, Sharon -- it's going to be so much fun! (Do you know you were the first person I met at my very first conference?). And although book signings do seem rather daunting, I'm looking forward to the ARRA one. Mean to put into practice your "Have Fun" maxim.
ReplyDeleteThough, as I'm sitting next to Debra Dixon, Parnell Hall's line "why did they have to sit me next to Mary Higgins Clark) made me LOL.
Hi Sharon,
ReplyDeleteIt will be so great to catch up next week. As for the booksigning - it should be great fun. I've only been to one - the inaugural ARRA one last year and had a lovely time. Yes, take a pen. Other than that - really, just relax and enjoy yourself! It's great talk to other romance readers so I've no doubt you'll leave with a smile on your fac.e
Yes, I enjoyed Parnell's youtube piece!
Love the Parnell Hall video -- isn't it fabulous?! I'm SO looking forward to the conference, and I'll be extremely relaxed at the booksigning because I chickened out of signing. I'll wander around and spread my relaxation vibes to all the other LoveCats!
ReplyDeleteHey Sharon, I'm sure you'll have a blast being able to sign your books for readers - what a buzz that should give you. I think it owuld be daunting trying to think of something to write all the time (or have you got one line that you are gonig to use for everyone's books?). Lilian Darcy told me that's what she doesn't like about signing - thinking of what to say .
ReplyDeleteAnd as an aside to Michelle, at least you are sitting on *that* side of the table ;)
I've seen that Parnell Hall video before - it's gorgeous! Thanks for posting it again.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait till the conference and meeting all my writing friends and lovecats and other romance readers. Bliss!
Michelle, I'm so chuffed to be able to claim the position of first person you met at an RWA conference!
ReplyDelete"Have fun" will have to be our motto! Oooo, lovely that you're sitting next to Deb Dixon! You'll be able to get the inside edge on GMC! Expect to have your brains picked for any extra little hints!
I think I'm sitting between two lovely authors - fellow medical author, Amy Andrews, and paranormal best seller, Keri Arthur! So hopefully two steady hands who'll be able to take this novice in hand if I look like I'll run amok!
:)
Sharon
Hey, Annie! Not long at all! Woohoo!! Yes, last year's book signing was great - it was fun being on the other side of the desk! This year will be a whole new perspective!
ReplyDelete:)
Sharon
Emily, we are going to hold you to your promise to spread those lovely relaxation vibes around! And at the next signing, you get to bring your pen too!
ReplyDeleteAnita! EEEK! Good point! I hadn't even thought about what might be good to write! Golly, it takes me so long to write anything... and I'm quite sure no one's going to want me to run through half a dozen drafts while I try to polish my thoughts up... so maybe I'd better have a ponder!
ReplyDeleteAs long as I spell names right... mmmm, might take a pad just in case I need to get someone to write it for me...
Will we be seeing you at the conference?
Rachel! Bliss indeed! I'm looking forward to hugs all around!
ReplyDeleteIsn't Parnell clever for turning his book signing experience into a clip - awesome promo!
Sharon, counting the days!! Absolutely going to be there... see you then :o)
ReplyDeleteHi Sharon,
ReplyDeleteI don't think you could possibly go wrong at this even, so many enthusiastic people milling around, squeeing!! (g)
Sounds fabulous
ps - that was meant to be 'event'!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Sharon, I'm just back from RWA in Orlando and am the veteran now of two more mass booksignings.
ReplyDeleteA good tip I picked up from a bookseller in New York last year is to sign with a glittery pen or sharpie in a pretty colour. I was signing opposite Nalini Singh and lovely Nalini has the same advice--always have some pretty, glittery pens in your bag.
I took some with me to the US and wouldn't you know it for the mass signing for literacy they'd stopped working (maybe from the pressure from the plane) and I was stuck with plain biro. So for the next signing I had lovely ones with Disney characters on the top that were the only ones available in the hotel store!
Lesson learned: make sure your special pens are in working order before the signing!
PS. That last one posted before I added: So looking forward to seeing you at the conference!
ReplyDeleteAnita, five sleeps.... not that I'm hanging out or anything!
ReplyDelete;)
See you soon!
LOL!! I'm glad you clarified, Mel... for some reason my first thought was "uh-oh, Mel must know I'm a Sagittarian!"
ReplyDeletesee you soon!
Check - nice glittery pens... that WORK! I'll bring a supply! Ooooo, I just had a thought.... I have a pen shaped like femur! I must bring that as well - perfect for a medical writer! LOL
ReplyDeleteWow, those RWAm signings are HUGE - you are very much a veteran if you've survived two of those!
Can't wait to see you! I hope the goodie-bag filling went well today!
Oh lord, as if I wasn't keyed up enough about the signing now I have to remember pens...and words...and glitter?? Oh, lord...
ReplyDeleteNo. I jest. I'm really looking forward to the chance to meet people who might have read my books or might yet read them. And to sharing my first official signing with friends.
I got some fluoro gel pens, Nikki! I thought they looked kinda snazzy and I believe the gel ones have a nice flow - easy to push. Very tempted by the ones with the feathers on top.... but I managed to resist!
ReplyDeleteNot long to go now - two sleeps until we get on a plane!
:)
Sharon