How To Have Fun While Selling Your Books, and Step Into Another Persona - by SC Skillman
Recently I was at the UK Games Expo on the Author Stand. The Birmingham NEC was alive with enthusiastic games creators and players … and a small but power-packed team of authors.
The books on display covered a delightful range of genres: YA fantasy, psychological thrillers, paranormal suspense, self-help writing books, adventure, scifi and historical fantasy and time travel. As one of our author team said a number of times to potential buyers: "We aim to cater for all your reading needs!"
The work of three authors and one magazine editor was represented: one of those authors was the organiser of the Expo, and two others were ACW members. And the magazine editor... well, he spent most of the time strolling round the Expo with a helium balloon advertising his magazine.
The Games Expo, held at the Birmingham NEC each year, has a great atmosphere and is buzzing with excitement plus the enjoyment of seeing lots of people wandering around in fabulous "cosplay" outfits. And one of those was on our Author Stand.
Yes, on day 1 he appeared as himself. On day 2 he slipped into the persona of a jolly musketeer and on day 3 he became Professor Snape, occasionally taking time off from the Author Stand to wander round frightening little children dressed in Hogwarts school uniform....
Here are a few pictures to arouse your curiosity and I will allow you to guess who the author was behind the disguise.
It was fun, it stirred up a lot of interest, and yes, a lot of book-signing was done too.
So there you are. If appropriate to the event - and I stress that of course - why not take upon yourself another persona? If may give you the confidence to step out and accost people and drag them to your book display... and ultimately send some more happy readers out of the event with new books clutched under their arms, leaving a happy author behind them.
SC Skillman
psychological, paranormal, mystery fiction
author of Mystical Circles, A Passionate Spirit, Perilous Path
The work of three authors and one magazine editor was represented: one of those authors was the organiser of the Expo, and two others were ACW members. And the magazine editor... well, he spent most of the time strolling round the Expo with a helium balloon advertising his magazine.
The Games Expo, held at the Birmingham NEC each year, has a great atmosphere and is buzzing with excitement plus the enjoyment of seeing lots of people wandering around in fabulous "cosplay" outfits. And one of those was on our Author Stand.
Yes, on day 1 he appeared as himself. On day 2 he slipped into the persona of a jolly musketeer and on day 3 he became Professor Snape, occasionally taking time off from the Author Stand to wander round frightening little children dressed in Hogwarts school uniform....
Here are a few pictures to arouse your curiosity and I will allow you to guess who the author was behind the disguise.
It was fun, it stirred up a lot of interest, and yes, a lot of book-signing was done too.
So there you are. If appropriate to the event - and I stress that of course - why not take upon yourself another persona? If may give you the confidence to step out and accost people and drag them to your book display... and ultimately send some more happy readers out of the event with new books clutched under their arms, leaving a happy author behind them.
SC Skillman
psychological, paranormal, mystery fiction
author of Mystical Circles, A Passionate Spirit, Perilous Path
Thank you so much for this write-up, Sheila, and you're right - it was great fun. I'm really thrilled that I could share the Author Stand with you. On a serious note, the task of trying to sell books can become seriously dispiriting if we don't try really hard to enjoy ourselves in the process.
ReplyDeleteThat's true. And "having fun" is all about connecting with people, having interesting conversations, networking with others, and making sure it's a positive experience in addition to book sales!
DeleteI'm hoping you're already thinking about your outfits for next year, Sheila.
ReplyDeleteTrouble is, Fran, I can't think what outfit I'd wear that relates to my books. I quite fancy being a gothic sorceress. A long black lace dress for starters and a black wig might do the trick...
ReplyDeleteWhat great photographs!! You make us all wish we were there too. Well done, Sheila and Philip!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nikki. And you can always book to come for a day if you'd like - from 29th to 31st May 2020 at Birmingham's N.E.C. :-)
ReplyDelete