In the delightful alternate universe that has somehow become my life, I am scheduled for readings at bookstores in Chicago, Boston, and Portsmouth, NH.
On the one hand, this is great news! It’s so much fun meeting other people who love to read as much as I do. Maybe they’ll even like Louisa May Alcott too and we can gab about her all evening — my idea of a splendid time.
On the other hand, have you ever been to an author reading? Yikes. Cornelius Elbowpatches drones about his writing process (which probably bears no resemblance to the way he actually works), then reads from a chapter in the middle of the book, for which no one in the audience has any context or hope of understanding. Then the Q&A begins. This could go on for hours. A woman in the front row, who is wearing a sweatshirt with a cat on it and carrying a surprising number of plastic bags, asks around eight hundred questions no one can hear about how she can get her own novel published.
(I do have fond memories of one event. Jonathan Safran Foer read at the Barnes and Noble on 82nd & Broadway when he was promoting the paperback for Everything Is Illuminated. I really liked the reading, but that was mainly because he is very cute. Short, but cute.)
I need your help, dear readers! Is there such a thing as an enjoyable, engaging author event, or am I doomed to bore as I have been bored? Tell me your stories of the best and the worst.
(And let’s play nice and leave names out of it.)
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Sorry I don’t really have any suggestions, but really hope to make it to one of your readings. Just wanted to find out the date for Chicago!
PS Thanks for making me laugh out loud with the cat sweatshirt
Best thing I can tell you is to let your passion shine through and readers will see it, feel it and respond to it. (And a little nip of cheap wine never hurts either.) Hope to see you in Glen Ellyn sometime, where ladies in cat sweatshirts have to sit in the back row! Good luck!
Note to self: Buy cat sweatshirt.
I remember that JSF reading fondly. I also love Colson Whitehead readings (again, tres cute).
Here are some things I would enjoy in an author reading:
Free cookies
Yoga with guided meditation
Financial advice
Sing-a-longs
Thoughts?
I may be biased, but I think you could read the phone book and I’d be happy, just because you (and your book) are so awesome.
Practically speaking, one thing that worked for me was to talk about my writing process. Like, how many years I worked on the book, things that were tough for me to overcome (don’t leave out the juicy bits!), and how many rejection letters I got before I actually landed an agent. I think many people at readings are budding authors themselves, so they really like this stuff.
Also, I brought donuts.
Mmmm … donuts.
When I went to the historical fiction conference this year many authors were not in favor of author visits. C. W. Gortner said that only 5 people came to one of his. Some say they can be good and others say not so much.
I have never been to an author visit. There has never been one that I have wanted to go to. And none that come to my area.
However, have you thought about doing a reading at Orchard House? That would be a fun connection to LMA.
I agree with the other posters. Food is a must. Everyone likes food.
Have you thought about doing blog tours as well as readings? Michelle Moran says this is very popular and more historical fiction authors are taking this route. In fact Robin Maxwell tried it for her latest book O’ Juliet. She also had contest to get her readers excited.
If you are determined to do the author visits, I would also try libraries as well as small book stores(you probably know this). Bring food, be upbeat and try to stay positive. Could you try to get the audience involved? What about visuals during the book talk?
I have so many ideas, but probably none of them are useful
First, come to LA! Barring that, I read an article recently, somewhere, about an authors five rules for a successful reading. One was that he would pick a scene with dialogue and then ask a member of the audience to read the other part. He bought gift certificates to the bookstore and gave one to the reader. His advice was to make it participatory as much as possible.
Can’t wait for the book. I was talking about it at a bookstore I visited recently and the bookseller said that she had an ARC and enjoyed it, yahoo!!!
Hey Kelly
I’m your cousin. I know, I know, when you are in our family that doesn’t exactly narrow things down much! OK, your Dad is my 1st cousin, I’m your Dad’s Aunt Rosie’s daughter. My mom is your Grandfather Al’s sister. (Still with me?) This makes us 2nd cousins. Anyway an email about your book made its way to me. I live in Chicago, too! My bibliophile 9 year old daughter wants to be an author when she grows up, and would be thrilled to meet a member of the family who is a real author. So we’re coming to your book signing in April. Please email me at margaret.welch@rcn.com
I have only just finished your book. It’s wonderful! I got up in the middle of the night to make a cup of tea and read the last few pages. I’ve been stealing away to read chapters when I can this week. It’s so great to have a book on hand that calls to me like this one did. Thrilling, delicious story telling with such great historical details and such a knowing sense about Louisa May Alcott’s character that I’m completely taken in and believe it all. I’m now ready to race out tomorrow and get a copy of Little Women at the library. But first I need to loan your book to a friend so there’s someone close by to share the excitement with.
Author readings? I’m always interested in how a book comes into being. The story behind the publishing process — and the design process, since I’m a designer. I went to a really fun author’s talk where alternate versions of the cover design were shown (passed around the audience!) and discussed, as well as the fancied-up package that was created by the publisher to get the attention of reviewers and book buyers. And I wasn’t the only one who relished the chance to see all of those ideas-in-progress, especially knowing how the final cover turned out.
By the way, I love the cover for your book. Who is the designer?
(I work at a library which is how I had a chance to read an advance copy.)
Evelyn, I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the book! I’m not sure of the designer’s name; I believe she was a freelance designer hired by Putnam. I’ll try to find out! Which library are you from?
You want people to buy your book, not just listen to you and eat cookies. People who will buy your book are interested (or can be interested) in Louisa. Talk about your interest in her, have pictures of places you’ve visited for research, tell good stories about her and about your experiences writing the book. Funny or amusing stories are good, because that gets people to smile, and frowning people don’t buy books.
If YOU are interesting, people will want to buy your book even if they don’t know or care much about Louisa. If they don’t like you, they won’t.
IMO reading from your book isn’t a big help – everyone can open the book and look at it/read a bit on their own so why listen to you read it?
I’ve got it on order and can’t wait because I’ve heard it is so good! Good Luck!