The book signing takes place January 14, 2023 at Owl’s Nest Books in
Calgary, Alberta. Please come.
When my first novel, SUMMER OF LIES, was released,
COVID was shaking up the world. People met on Zoom, Facetime or Messenger. No
public gatherings allowed. I must admit, I was okay with that. Talking to
real people in real time about my book scared me.
But now that WHAT ABOUT ME? has
been released in a less restrictive COVID environment, I will be at my first
book signing. In public. With those real people.
The logistics are taken care of. I have chocolates, a small poster, my
favourite pen, a selection of colourful sticky notes and a bottle of
hand-sanitizer. To be prepared, I Googled Everything I Need to Know
about Book Signings. A few articles disagree with each other but spelling
the person’s name correctly in the book, bringing your favourite pen and
smiling were consistent throughout.
But here’s my problem. I’m an introvert. Stop laughing! I am. Honest.
Yes, I can talk the ear off an elephant if need be and can converse with
mammogram technicians like nothing is amiss, but when someone asks about my
writing, I force my eyes not to dart around in search of an exit. And my mouth
- well all the words it knows reaches the exit before I do.
I’m thankful that, in seconds, I can redirect the conversation -
possibly mention grandkids. I have six of them and numerous tales of their
antics. Or there’s my 90-year-old dad. He’s super interesting and I have a
lifetime of stories to share about him.
When I attended my first writers’ retreat in 2009, I realized my
hesitation to discuss my writing with strangers. At the introduction supper I
sat at a large round table. There was constant chatter about
agents and publishers and editing techniques.
I was in awe of their writerly worldliness right up until someone asked
me what I was working on. With my fork, I lifted a piece of lettuce from my plate and said,
“do you think the dressing is raspberry vinaigrette?” Yes, I dodged that
bullet! And I still deflect those conversations.
Why?
I wish I knew. Book reviews have been good. Emails and notes say
readers enjoyed my novels. So why can’t I promote them? Do I have Imposter
Syndrome? Maybe?
Today I blame the problem on my lack of sales skills. People say being
good at sales is an art - just like writing. And it takes practice. Since
I’m at the bottom of the ‘art of sales’ learning curve, I will take all suggestions on how to have a successful book signing.
In the meantime, I ask myself, what if no one shows up?
Do I eat the chocolates? Do I cry? Do I cry first and then eat the chocolates?
You can contact me at: bbaker.write@gmail.com
Summer of Lies: Baker, Barbara:9780228615774: Books -
Amazon.ca
What About Me?: Sequel to Summer of Lies : Baker, Barbara:
Amazon.ca: Books