Posts Tagged ‘Book Signing’

Dr. Ben Carson Visits Ambassador Book Signing

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Our sincere thanks to Presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson for taking the time to visit with Ambassador author Chuck Doan recently during his book signing of his newly released memoir Sand in Their Eyes. In his official statement released this week Dr. Carson said, “We must not depart from our goals to restore what God and our Founders intended for this exceptional nation.

Ben CarsonAs a refugee from Vietnam Chuck Doan came to America because it truly was a place that offered a freedom he couldn’t experience in Vietnam. As a teenager in the 1980s Doan embarked on a two-year journey to escape communist Vietnam. Facing imprisonment, starvation and extreme poverty, Chuck and his family must escape communist Vietnam or die in the attempt. His new book “Sand in Their Eyes” is the incredible true story of his search for freedom.

Packed in a tiny boat, hoping to escape Vietnam Chuck and his family battled starvation, dehydration and crippling fear night after night. “No food. No water. Just salt. That’s all we had left: Sand in Their Eyesthe breath in our lungs and the salt on our skin,” writes Chuck.

Finally they encountered some fishermen who gave them food and water, but would not take them to the safety of Thailand because the country was no longer welcoming refugees. Even after their tiny boat made it to the shore of Thailand, armed officers forced them back out into the water leaving them with only one option: sink their boat and swim back to shore in the dead of night.

Incredible Turnout at Barnes and Noble Signing

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Thank you to everyone who turned out for the Grace in the Middle book signing, held at Barnes and Noble in Greenville, South Carolina last weekend. Author Wendy Duke was joined by her daughter Savannah to share her heart behind the book and to sign copies for dozens of people who turned out to meet the pair. In an effort to offer support to other families facing similar struggles at Shriners Hospital, Wendy encouraged shoppers to ‘buy one, give one.’ Readers would keep a copy of the book and also purchase another for a family who may find encouragement in the Duke Family’s story by reading a donated copy of Grace in the Middle. “Many, many thanks for the support and generosity from those who came and those who called in to donate,” Wendy wrote on Facebook. “The store sold out of books, and FIFTY BOOKS were donated to families at Shriners Hospital. Fifty families we’ll be able to encourage. I’m entirely overwhelmed.”

If you’d like your own copy of Grace in the Middle, CLICK HERE.

Grace in the Middle Signing 2 Grace in the Middle Signing 3 Grace in the Middle Signing

Beyond the Manuscript: How to organize a successful signing (week 5)

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Beyond the ManuscriptOver the span of six weeks Ambassador COO Tim Lowry will be sharing a series he calls “Beyond the Manuscript.” Whether you’re a new or seasoned author we hope you’ll find this material helpful:

 

For many authors a book signing is high moment in their career as a writer, they get to interact with family, friends and supporters and see the excitement and response first hand from those buying their book. With this in mind you want your signing event to be great!

Signing events are a big deal. If you have a good event managers will want you back and short list you for future events. The work you put in is invaluable.

Select a Time and Location

The first step is obvious, you will want to select a popular local retail store, preferably working with the manager and retail partner you’ve already connected with. When selecting dates keep your area in mind. Certain nights in certain regions or during certain times of year are not good. Think mid-week meetings, football season, local high school games. These are small details that can have a great impact on turnout.

 

Start Promoting

When a date is selected you want to start event promotion, there are many steps you can take to make your signing a success. Being strategic and paying attention to the detail are a big part of it.

  1. You will want to use the tools you have established. Create a Facebook event, invite all your followers. Make it open to public and encourage fans to share.
  2. Email your contact list, perhaps you already have a eNewsletter you send out, use this list and notify them of your event. If you don’t have an eNewsletter look into signing up for a service like MailChimp.This is a great service that allows you to professionally send and manage your email marketing and will avoid you’re email from being blacklisted or becoming associated with spam. Your eNewsletter is a great way to keep you front and center with your fans.
  3. Go old school and produce flyers or handouts, a good publisher will coordinate with you on this. Distribute them at church, among friends, leave copies at the bookstore. Some stores are open to using a quality flyer as a bag stuffer. Create an event poster, put them up at the store (with the manager’s permission), at coffee houses, church, give copies to friends and ask them to further distribute at the places they frequent.
  4. Reach out to your media list, see if the local paper will interview you and promote the event or perhaps you can get on a local breakfast show the day of your event. Use your well-developed pitch. Alternatively coordinate with your publisher to assist you in your media outreach efforts.
  5. While preparing the ground locally add your event to local event calendars. Many newspapers, cities and local news stations will have event calendars for free on their websites.

 

The Key to Success

We have put each of these elements into play for many events. As a case study lets take the title Healing Hearts. Earlier this year we had a major launch, we reached out to key regional magazines months in advance, we got an interview and it was circulated to 300,000 readers in a Dallas based publication. We held interviews with local affiliates of national stations. We created a Facebook event inviting hundred of followers. The author sent out emails and mailings to 500+ contacts and announced it among his contacts and at his church. Barnes and Noble advertised the signing on their website and in-store with posters. Our publicist was on the ground in Dallas to assist with media and sales. The event came around and we sold several hundred books and the event ran seven hours making it one of the largest events in this history of this specific Barnes and Noble store. Much work was put into this. The author worked extremely hard coordinating his personal promotional elements and we as a publishing house worked to tie the event and media together. Our efforts combine to make a great event. The volume of sales for this event may have been the exception rather than the rule however we have seen strong sales over and over when the above steps are put into action.

I share this to encourage you. Put in the hard work.

Also, don’t be afraid to be creative with your promotions.

 

Getting Creative with Promotion

Consider having a blog tour running up to the big event. Each blogger can post a review, link to the title and announce the event through their blog posts. You can then share each post daily through your social media in the run up to the event.

Ask the store (if an indie) to host a Google+ Hangout with you. This can be used to promote the event and store. For an indie store this can be a great way for them to get followers to their social media, they may even be willing to offer a gift card as a prize. Remember that stores are also looking for ways to get attention and if you show you care about getting them exposure they will appreciate it. A lead into a signing such as this also provides you with a media angel.

You also can be thinking of what kind of giveaway you can offer. It could be something as simple as giving away a handful of signed copies through your site in the run up to the signing or a free ebook for the first 10-25 sales at your event. This can be something to partner with your publisher on. Have the buyers email their book receipt from the event to the publisher and eReader type. The publisher could provide a download code.

 

Final Prep

With the big event about 10 days out, you’ll want to ensure stock is on hand. This seems like something you shouldn’t need to worry about however even the best stores can make a slip up and we find ourselves overnighting books. Avoid surprises, check up on the stock or have your publisher do this. It is also worthwhile having a plan in place seeing extra stock accessible should you sell out.

Finally, this is the one party you don’t want to be late for arrive 10-15 minutes early.

I’d love to hear about your first signing, what did you learn from it?

Book Signing Event for Declutter Now

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delcutter nowLindon Gareis and Sherry Gareis will hold a book signing event at the Spokane, Washington Lifeway store to promote their new book Declutter Now!. Lindon and Sherry Gareis, founders of Action Plan Ministries, debut their writing career with Declutter Now!, a book for REAL people dealing with REAL life! Discover the tremendous joy possible when living a decluttered life for Christ.

Who: Lindon and Sherry Gareis

What: A Declutter Now! Book Signing

Where: Lifeway, Heritage Village, 9310 N Division St, Spokane, WA, 99218

When: 12/15/2012, 1 pm. – 3 pm

 

Holiday Book Signing Events for The Christmas Donkey

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Christmas Donkey Cover‘Tis the season for The Christmas Donkey! Author Donna Thornton will hold book signing events in four different cities to promote her children’s book The Christmas Donkey.

 

Greenville, SC

Where: Mast General Store, 111 N. Main Street, Greenville, SC 29601

When: 12/9/2012, 12 pm. – 4 pm

12/22/2012, 11 am. – 4 pm

 

Columbia, SC

Where: Mast General, 1601 Main St, Columbia, SC 29201

When: 12/8/2012, 12 pm. – 4 pm

 

Asheville, NC

Where: Mast General, 15 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801

When: 12/1/2012, 12 pm. – 4 pm

 

Hendersonville, NC

Where: Mast General, 527 North Main Street, Hendersonville, NC

When: 12/23/2012, 12 pm. – 4 pm.

 

 

 

Book Signing Event for The Twelve Gifts of Life

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The Twelve Gifts of LifeCindy Champnella will hold a book signing event at the Bloomfield, Michigan Barnes & Noble to promote her new book The Twelve Gifts of Life.

 Who: Cindy Champnella

What: The Twelve Gifts of Life Book Signing

Where: Barnes & Noble, 6800 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield, MI 48322

When: 12/4/2012, 6 pm. – 8 pm

 

 

Don’t miss out on the latest Ambassador International news!

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In today’s world, it’s hard not to be involved in at least one social media website. At Ambassador International, as a Christian publisher trying to magnify the Lord through the written word, we want to make sure we reach everyone! We are located on some of the top social media websites. Make sure you check out our pages to get the latest book information, helpful writing tips, giveaways, and much more!

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Our number one source for finding information on our book giveaways! An astounding 1 in 5 people in the entire world on Facebook! Write on our wall and give us your latest thoughts!

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In 140 characters or less, we tweet the latest details on book giveaways, author information, and ideas for Christian living. Providing inspiration in a couple sentences or less!

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A new addition to our media outlets, we love to have Google Hangouts with our authors! This is a great way to connect one-on-one with your favorite authors and ask them questions!

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Are you addicted to pinning? We have boards to provide inspiration with Christian living, links to book reviews, what our authors are up to, decorating with books and more! We love to share writing tips!

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Check out our YouTube channel for book trailers, author interviews, and tips for publishing your own books. More videos to come!