The Ups and Downs of the Author’s Life

Tuesday, June 16th, 2009 | Posted by: Andrew Kent

Earlier this week, I was at a major meeting of publishing professionals in Washington, DC. I was giving a talk to 100+ people about 30 minutes before a signing event for my book, “Spam & Eggs: A Johnny Denovo Mystery.”

I had a satchel of books weighing me down to supplement the ones I’d sent ahead of time. Given the free marketing to a captive audience of devoted readers of books, I thought I’d better bring extras.

Too bad the meeting organizers didn’t really plan this too well.

I arrived at the signing to find another author also signing in the spacious storefront, so we were both perched there with our books and pens, expectant and hopeful that the next 45 minutes would be hectic and fun, like all good signings.

We had every right to think it might happen. After all, the signing had been advertised in the program given to 5,000 attendees, pushed online so that I was getting Google News alerts about my own signing from TV station sites in the greater-DC area — and I had just spoken to 100+ people about my book.

My counterpart had given the morning’s keynote, so she was ready for action, as well.

Cue chirping crickets.

Nobody showed up.

Well, I sold three books. It turns out that I out-sold my counterpart by that amount, as well.

What was the problem?

The organizers had scheduled the signings at the same time as major sessions, so the meeting attendees were all in lecture halls. There was nobody on the exhibit floor to come buy autographed copies and meet authors.

It was awful.

That said,  I left about 30 books behind for sale, and many of them probably will sell. It was good exposure. And it probably helped my cause indirectly.

If only it weren’t for those 45 minutes of crickets.

Being an author is full of ups and downs, and often they’re hard to tell apart. While the crickets sang, I made the acquaintance of a very nice bookstore owner in Toronto, met an effusive fan, and was told by an especially gruff personality, “I read it. I liked it. It was very good.”

See what I mean? Even the grouches can bring good tidings.

Ah, the author’s life. I love it!