Marketing books is a full-time job!

The days when authors focused on writing and publishers and agents handled all of the marketing are long past -- if they ever existed. Authors have always attended signings at bookstores, conferences, and other venues. They've always given speeches and workshops and interviews. What's changed is who organizes these appearances. It's now all down to the author. You become your own publicist. 

Every public appearance is marketing, even when you're not selling books. My presentations to the Wheels Museum and to SouthWest Writers were opportunities for promoting my book and, as importantly, myself. I gave my "Adding Authenticity to Your Writing" to SouthWest Writers. I think of it as "Reference Resources for Lay People." 😄 There was a lively discussion afterward and several people stopped me later to tell me how informative it was. I had a great time and didn't have to grade anything! 

At the suggestion of my publisher, I suggested to my critique group -- Write Minds -- back in June that we organize group signings. Those ultimately were all held in August, with the intervening six or so weeks devoted to organizing them. Signings were so much more fun with a group! The time passed more quickly, but more importantly, more people stopped. Our group included one historical fiction (WWII) writer, two sci-fi authors, a historical romance writer, and, of course, one historical cozy mystery writer. We appealed to a much broader group of readers. People who were attracted to one book often politely talked to the rest of us -- and sometimes even bought one of our books as well. I remember someone buying my book for her mother, after having bought one of the others for herself. We agreed that the prime hours were 2-4 on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, so set up around 1:30 to be ready. Not much point in arriving before then.

Our first signing was at Books on the Bosque in Albuquerque -- in the afternoon after my SouthWest Writers presentation (whew!). They are a small, independent bookstore and coffee shop that caters to the literary crowd. They set it up as a reading event, not just a signing. We each took 10 minutes or so to read from our work, then answered questions. Unfortunately, it was sparsely attended. I wonder if we could have done more or better promotion. I suspect that if any of us were better known ... Maybe we need to join a book club or two. 😄

Then, it was back to Page 1 the next weekend and a traditional book signing at tables in front of the store. A week off, and then the two Barnes & Nobles in Albuquerque back-to-back over Labor Day Weekend. I'm exhausted! Nothing more at this point before the Southern New Mexico Book Festival in Las Cruces October 11, when I'll be giving my "Adding Authenticity" presentation again.