Real-Life Examples of Memorable Book Events
In the last post, we talked about finding partners who can help make your book signing or book launch truly memorable. Not sure how to make that work? Well, I have some real-life stories to share.
Partnering with a nonprofit
Earlier this year I attended a grand opening for a new facility that provides early intervention for children with disabilities. In addition to a ribbon-cutting ceremony, some testimonial speeches from parents and educators and tasty refreshments, part of the event included a book signing.
The book was Azure House, a children’s book written by Lisa J. Becker and illustrated by Karen Light. Neither Lisa nor Karen had a specific connection with the facility – other than the fact that they shared the same marketing agency who put the two together. The facility benefitted by having an interesting addition to their grand opening and the book benefitted by getting in front on the right audience of readers.
Hosting your own event
The story of Murder in the Museum, written by Karen Shughart, takes place on the shores of Lake Ontario, so that’s where Karen held her book launch. She worked with the Sodus Bay Heights Golf Club to provide appetizers for her guests and let them buy their own preferred drinks.
While Karen’s book launch was mainly for invited guests, other patrons of the club wandered in to see what the fun was all about and she sold more than 40 books that night!
Finding an unusual venue
My first books are about the 1830s in Illinois history and I was put in contact with the Autumn Pioneer Festival in Boone County, Illinois. The festival is full of tinkers and weavers and other folks who practice the old crafts. It attracts people from all over who are interested in history.
Everyone who exhibits during the festival must where period appropriate clothing and decorate their display accordingly. Few other people had books to sell and yes, I donned pioneer clothing to do so. I attended the Pioneer Festival for a few years, but it was a three-day commitment that I eventually had to give up. If it was a one-day event, I would absolutely do it again.
Professional event-planning
Jackie Camacho-Ruiz runs a successful marketing company and she knows her stuff. She is also the author of a bunch of well-received books. When Jackie held a book launch for her book Inspiring Latina, she welcomed over 600 guests. 600! And they paid $10 per ticket to attend!
As a pro, she checked off a number of important marketing items, starting with the fact that she invited 26 fellow Latinas to contribute to the book. Each of them, of course, brought their own friends and families to the launch.
The evening was advertised to have an emcee, a well-known TV news anchor, and was sponsored by the likes of Verizon, Prudential and the National Association of Women Business Owners. Many local businesses were also sponsors and the book launch doubled as a business networking event.
What an author’s book signing or book launch looks like is limited only by their imagination and the effort they want to expend. We would all love to hear about really neat book events, so feel free to share and inspire someone else!