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Leeds County Books signing – recap and photos

February 10, 2013 Melanie 6 Comments

My book signing for A Shadow in the Past at Leeds County Books on Saturday, Feb 9th didn’t come to be until earlier last week. I was forewarned that Saturdays in the winter in the downtown are dead but I was determined to do it. Sometimes, I’m too stubborn for my own good but in this case it paid off.

I publicized it on my Facebook pages, in the groups I belong to on Facebook, set up an event there (as did the bookstore), followed by an email campaign to catch the people I know that aren’t on social media. But I didn’t stop there, I posted the event on my blog, Snap Brockville, BNTVNews (with the help of Dale Elliott), TV Cogeco, and Courtney, owner of Leeds County Books, got my signing up at Recorder.ca (our local newspaper’s online presence). I even did up posters and had them put up in a few locations around town.

Until I became a published author, I never really thought of myself as the entrepreneurial type. But, when needs must, we do what we have to do. My marketing strategy was take advantage of Valentine’s Day coming up. Romance and intrigue set in Scotland? Who could resist?

leeds-county-books-feb-9-2013 — My table set-up in the bookstore.

You’ll see one of my laminated posters on the table. My novel’s cover image, blurb, and quotes from readers are there for everyone to see. And a coffee cup with a big red heart filled with Hershey’s Kisses. There were even some A Shadow in the Past bookmarks and postcards! How about that tartan table cover? What better accent for a book set in Scotland than tartan?

leeds-county-books-feb-9-2013-2 — Decked out in red as part of the Valentine’s Day look, looking very pleased with myself when I was down to the last book.

In the end, I sold three copies of my novel, A Shadow in the Past, leaving the bookstore down to their last copy. However, I had taken a box of books with me (as a contingency plan) so I left a further ten copies with them.

The icing on the cake was when I was leaving the grocery store with my hubby and we stopped at the floral department (he bought me roses) and during the course of the conversation with the gal (I’ve known her for years), I sold another copy of my book!

How was that for an unexpected result?

Appearances, Authors, Local Authors, Media, Novel covers, Novels, Publicity, Publishing, Reading

A good day at the Bazaar & Bake Sale

November 18, 2012 Melanie 2 Comments

I wasn’t sure what to expect today when we unloaded the car this morning at the Mallorytown Legion. Small village, area artisans and loads of baked goods and other things for competition, plus I had to pay for my table at this event. Mind you, selling one book would more than cover the cost of the table. How hard would it be to sell one book?

My table was on the dance floor directly in front of the stage. It was decided before I arrived that would be the best placement since they were doing face painting on the stage which would attract a younger crowd… and with the younger crowd… parents.

For this event, I made up two additional bits to take with me. I created a two-column, landscape orientation bio – column 1 my photo, column 2 the text. It attracted quite a bit of attention and by times more than my display of books. The other additional page was a copy of my book cover in the upper left, a catchy title and the back cover blurb, and excerpts from three reviews I’ve received (all with the reviewers’ consent – I asked first before I used them). I mean, why not have that at hand? You can see both of these in the first picture – one on either side of my display. However, even though they’ve become part of my repertoire, before they see the light of day again, I’m going to pick up a couple of acrylic photo frames and put them into those so that they stand up rather than lay “flat” on the table. They were still curled from coming “hot off the presses” this morning.

So, how did my day go as far as sales? I’m pleased to day I added another 5 books to my total from Ladies Night on Friday.

My next event is the Christmas Open House where I’ll be at my local independent bookstore, Leeds County Books, on November 29th from 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Appearances, Authors, Book Launch, Brockville, characters, General, Independent Bookstore, Interviews, Local Authors, Media, Novel covers, Novels, Photographs, Publicity, Publishing, Reading, Writing

Another recording for TV…

October 26, 2012 Melanie 16 Comments

It’s been a busy day for me here today at Celtic Connexions. First of all, I’m taking part in Janice Horton’s Spellbindingly Fun Blog Party, celebrating the launch of her new novella How Do You Voodoo? And secondly, because it had been arranged some time ago that I would do a spot for our cable company’s program Reader’s Corner.

The show’s host, Doreen Barnes, and I chatted about my novel, A Shadow in the Past. What made me decide I would write a book? Why I set it where I did? We talked about my characters, Sarah & Robert, the research involved, and what my favourite scene is.

I could give you all the answers now in my blog post, but then you wouldn’t want to watch the program when it comes on next month.

At the end of our interview, I was asked to read a very short (about 30 seconds) passage from my book. So I picked one that I hope will entice you into purchasing your very own copy.

For those of you who are local to Brockville and have cable you’ll be able to watch it on local channel 10. I’ll post the date and air time when I get it, but with so many of my followers being scattered to the four corners of the world, the episode should be shown on their website. TV Cogeco Readers Corner. Once the show goes online, I’ll post the complete link.

Not quite the ear-to-ear grin that I had in Kansas but still looking pretty pleased with myself.