tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3400941913056855101.post4320918528473367564..comments2023-10-16T06:19:57.746-05:00Comments on A J Hawke: Author As Seller, How are you doing?A J Hawkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04648994755202423226noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3400941913056855101.post-7753265411485224472013-09-08T21:24:58.944-05:002013-09-08T21:24:58.944-05:00Eliza, that is awesome. And it reminded me how my ...Eliza, that is awesome. And it reminded me how my son does this to me, haha. Whenever the topic of me being a writer comes up, I'm all like "Yeah so I write this and this and this type stuff" and he'll take over, talking about my book and what people say who read it. I start blushing sometimes and want to say "I swear, I do not tell him to say this stuff!" lol. Angela Ackermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808259088625142389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3400941913056855101.post-5863132065116284442013-09-08T13:11:38.934-05:002013-09-08T13:11:38.934-05:00Eliza,
You have the answer, balance and Wisdom. I ...Eliza,<br />You have the answer, balance and Wisdom. I would also throw in common sense, which isn't so common sometimes.A J Hawkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04648994755202423226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3400941913056855101.post-17712153873083166442013-09-08T08:39:07.458-05:002013-09-08T08:39:07.458-05:00wow. Great observations!
I went to BEA, as a read...wow. Great observations!<br /><br />I went to BEA, as a reader, and while waiting on line to get a signed book, I started a conversation with the girl next to me. We talked about books we liked, video games, the expo, but I never brought up my book...thanks to my super outgoing sis-in-law, SHE brought up me and my book. The girl looked a little shocked because we'd been talking about my genreEliza Tiltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00765731038856226730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3400941913056855101.post-84250335267570300292013-09-07T22:24:23.259-05:002013-09-07T22:24:23.259-05:00Elaine, you sound like a real pro! Yes the smile i...Elaine, you sound like a real pro! Yes the smile is super important. I agree to that while people are reading via ereaders more, we all still love the weight of it in our hands. If you watch people at a book table, most touch the books, even if they don't buy. the weight of a book is likely tied to memory and all the great reads in the past. Angela Ackermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808259088625142389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3400941913056855101.post-64189511879019051032013-09-07T12:39:49.686-05:002013-09-07T12:39:49.686-05:00These are excellent observations of interactions. ...These are excellent observations of interactions. Someone else mentioned a warm smile—that can go a long way to invite conversation. My best sales occur when I bring book marks that have all the info about my book or books, including where they can purchase it elsewhere, like Amazon. Lots of folks like e-readers, but many still want to hold a paperback. I use my book marks as an ice breaker—I Elaine Marie Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10433520113422863255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3400941913056855101.post-29160189818775816622013-09-07T09:23:51.805-05:002013-09-07T09:23:51.805-05:00Kathleen
As you say, when an author is awkward or...Kathleen<br /><br />As you say, when an author is awkward or uncomfortable when talking about their book, this can be a turn off, leading the potential reader to wonder if it's poorly written. This is why in our attempts to not be pushy, we can't go too far the other way either. Somehow we have to find comfortable middle ground where we show confidence in our work, yet don't plug it Angela Ackermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808259088625142389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3400941913056855101.post-32469376258440989312013-09-07T08:25:33.319-05:002013-09-07T08:25:33.319-05:00Kathleen, 'that awkward self-promotion' ca...Kathleen, 'that awkward self-promotion' can be a real turn off, but I think it is usually more a symptom of not knowing how to promote one's books, rather than intentional. Unfortunately, I must have missed that class in Author Preparedness School and it is one reason I appreciated Angela's article on the topic.A J Hawkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04648994755202423226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3400941913056855101.post-11419360902941658442013-09-07T00:24:35.030-05:002013-09-07T00:24:35.030-05:00I might try a new book if the author and I had som...I might try a new book if the author and I had something in common without that awkward self-promotion laid on too thick. If it was set in my home state, for example, or about my favorite time period. I like your model of striking up indirect questions with the browser. that is where a seller might pick up cues and make that invaluable connection. Great post.Kathleen L. Maherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04832392802575583491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3400941913056855101.post-30092856696553179122013-09-06T16:36:42.477-05:002013-09-06T16:36:42.477-05:00And that's fine Crystal! Clearly the relations...And that's fine Crystal! Clearly the relationship is the important thing. The other thing too I was thinking about is how with everyone having smart phones and such is how often I saw people buy digital copies. In fact I did this after serving on a panel with another author. I really liked her and liked her story about her publishing path, her story was interesting and she was knowledgeable, Angela Ackermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808259088625142389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3400941913056855101.post-47238533676440695312013-09-06T15:11:24.445-05:002013-09-06T15:11:24.445-05:00A warm smile goes a long way in telling people the...A warm smile goes a long way in telling people they're welcomed and they matter to you in a nice way. I'd love to win a copy of your book and read your take on selling.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3400941913056855101.post-46064575004923678432013-09-06T14:22:54.130-05:002013-09-06T14:22:54.130-05:00Fascinating to see your take on sellers from the o...Fascinating to see your take on sellers from the other side of the table, Angela. I tend to avoid the desperate ones myself, but have lasting good impressions of the more person-oriented merchants and may end up buying their book because of the personal connection they've made.Eleanorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04671899653158663965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3400941913056855101.post-84056179414697457562013-09-06T14:14:06.211-05:002013-09-06T14:14:06.211-05:00I may be unique in this regard, but I never buy th...I may be unique in this regard, but I never buy things face to face. I research and purchase later. SO, as a buyer, the most effective way to get me to purchase your book is to exchange information, have a pleasant conversation, and sell YOU. As a seller, I tend to be the savvy seller who makes recommendations based on people's interests.<br /><br />Great post!Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3400941913056855101.post-76880025511317006282013-09-06T13:48:37.740-05:002013-09-06T13:48:37.740-05:00Danica I agree--there is nothing more of a turn of...Danica I agree--there is nothing more of a turn off than a pushy seller. There were a few people at the conference who wrote similar things to what I wrote, but they were so pushy I didn't buy their books. then there were three new people I'd never met before who were so nice and genuine, I wanted to find out more about what they wrote, so i bought their books even though it's not Angela Ackermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808259088625142389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3400941913056855101.post-15218263576369675012013-09-06T13:19:32.592-05:002013-09-06T13:19:32.592-05:00Hi Caroline--congrats on your debut!
I wasn'...Hi Caroline--congrats on your debut! <br /><br />I wasn't in change of my table so there was no candy, but many other tables did and I absolutely would do this too. Some people had candy in a bowl next to business cards while others had Hershey kisses taped on a business card. if it were me, I would do the former, because attaching the card might make people opt to not take the candy. Having Angela Ackermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808259088625142389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3400941913056855101.post-23627561691296470252013-09-06T13:15:21.729-05:002013-09-06T13:15:21.729-05:00Great advice!! I have been wondering how to do thi...Great advice!! I have been wondering how to do this since my first book will be out soon(ish).<br /><br />I really hate all the things you listed as being characteristic of being a pushy seller. I'll give a new book a try if I really like the person who wrote it, or if someone whose reading tastes I trust recommend it. Danicahttp://www.danicafavorite.com/journal/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3400941913056855101.post-55776055098849577992013-09-06T12:54:16.339-05:002013-09-06T12:54:16.339-05:00Good question, Caroline. I've never offered ca...Good question, Caroline. I've never offered candy but I have offered a drawing for a book, just not the book I'm promoting. People do tend to stop and seem a little more open to dialogue.<br /><br />I'm with you Gail, I too want to be more savvy and other conscious.A J Hawkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04648994755202423226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3400941913056855101.post-90709316205773880592013-09-06T12:50:51.899-05:002013-09-06T12:50:51.899-05:00Maggie, When I originally read this post it was al...Maggie, When I originally read this post it was almost moments of deju vue. I also have experienced much of it. What worries me is whether I have been so intent on selling my book that I failed to listen to the potential buyer. <br />I also wonder about the benefit of a book signing, especially with so many readers going to downloads and ordering online.A J Hawkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04648994755202423226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3400941913056855101.post-29838601148100923392013-09-06T12:47:27.993-05:002013-09-06T12:47:27.993-05:00This is quite an eye-opener, I would like to turn ...This is quite an eye-opener, I would like to turn from nervous to savvy at the selling table. :)Gail Sattlerhttp://www.gailsattler.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3400941913056855101.post-68654593071265276872013-09-06T12:30:31.355-05:002013-09-06T12:30:31.355-05:00Oh, my, I've had nearly everyone of things hap...Oh, my, I've had nearly everyone of things happen at my book signing. :) Some walk past and pretend that you've smiled at them when they entered the bookstore. I naturally enjoy talking to readers and authors but sometimes it's hard to engage some people, no matter what my effort. Book signings can be hard work or fun. But I've driven to the other side of town and it takes a huge Maggie Brendanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12504768511744320460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3400941913056855101.post-15046743220306515722013-09-06T12:28:18.761-05:002013-09-06T12:28:18.761-05:00Great advice, especially since my debut novel is u...Great advice, especially since my debut novel is up for preorder now. It's easy to feel overwhelmed and I certainly appreciate all the advice I can get! Thanks, Angela!<br /><br />Q: do you offer candy and other things (free) to interested visitors at your table?Carolinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08765332646987825952noreply@blogger.com