A week and a half ago, I had the privilege of having a book signing at my local Lifeway Bookstore for my newest release, The Engagement Plot.
LOVE me some Lifeway by the way.
And to make it even cooler, I was honored to be signing books along with the fabulous Stormie Omartian, author of such amazing books like Power of a Praying Woman and her newest book, Power of Praying through Fear.
I was slightly starstruck, I’ll be honest. But she was super sweet and we had a good time! We even bought each other’s books! Y’all. This means STORMIE OMARTIAN has a copy of MY BOOK. (A professional author should be much cooler about this. I, however, never have been a fan of the whole professional thing… I’m the mess-of-an-author and fully am okay with that!)
We had a decent turnout, but it is like most authors report. The very large majority of attendees were those who already knew us personally, although a few came due to LIfeway sending out an email to their subscribers about the signing.
So I’m curious, for you readers out there.
What is the favorite book signing you have ever been to? If you can’t narrow it down, you can give a list! I don’t mind!
Or if you have never gone to one, what is the author you would LOVE to go their book signing if they had one in your area?
And extra credit questions: Do you LIKE going to book signings? Would you go to one when you don’t know the author? What do you like/don’t like about them?
Krista Phillips writes inspirational romance with a dash of smiles. She believes a sprinkle of laughter (and a wee bit of chocolate) makes everything a little better! She blogs regularly about life as a wife, mother, follower of Jesus, and mother of a child with a rare congenital heart defect at www.kristaphillips.com. She is represented by Sarah Freese of WordServe Literary.
Hi Krista, how exciting for you- so allowed to think that is cool!! I have never been to a book signing- maybe because the majority of Christian Fiction authors don’t live in Australia?
This site is cool- a way to ‘meet’ authors and fellow readers of good fiction:)
Blessings:)
Hi Krista! Being a high school and college English and German instructor, I have attended book signings at conferences in the US, Germany, and Japan. My most memorable was a college class in Germany in 1996, where the participants interacted with 7 East German authors: still have my autographed editions (even though they were in a house fire in 1997). My favorite author was Erich Loest, who wrote Nikolikirche about the peaceful Candlelight Revolution, which led to the fall of the Berlin Wall. In Japan, as participants of a Fulbright program, we met a Japanese children’s author and received a copy of his book. At the National English conference in Nashville, TN in 2006, I met Ted Kooser Poet Laurette (2004 -2006). Have an autographed edition of his poetry book. A memorable local book signing sponsored by our local bookstore, Forever Books was for Loreen Niewenhuis, who walked around the Great Lakes. Fascinating speaker and story. All the authors were unfamiliar to me. Since being retired, through Facebook and social media most book signings have been on-line. I have received signed edition from at least a dozen authors. Enjoy interacting with authors. Our local bookstore has monthly book signing events, but the space is small and the times have not always been convenient. Looking forward to other readers responses. Thanks for a delightful question. Best wishes.
I haven’t had any authors in our area who I am interested in. Though I have bought books from self publishing authors who set up at markets and purchased a signed book. If it was an author I follow and it wasn’t too far I would go to a book signing.
I would LOVE to go to a book signing, but I’m not aware that there have ever been any in my area. (At least none with Christian fiction authors.) I would absolutely go if I knew the author’s books even if I didn’t know the author personally. I have a few books that I’ve won that are signed by authors which I am super excited about, but getting to actually meet the author would be quite a treat!
We rarely have book signings in our area. There are several authors that if they had a book signing in my area I would definitely attend.
My most memorable book signing was going to Marilyn Quayle’s (her husband was Vice President) for the book Embracing the Serpent. I waited in line FOREVER!! I honestly don’t remember others, but I know I went to several, mostly at Christian book stores. I even went out of the way to a store about 25 minutes from us, but don’t remember whom I was going to see. I would go to a book signing now if I knew the author and liked her books, but it seems like all the ones I see are for authors that I am not interested in. I did drive down to Texas to meet authors at the Crave Him event, which I LOVED!!! If I heard of a book signing for authors (who I love), I would go, if it wasn’t too far. I don’t like the long lines, and I talk easier on paper than in person.
I’ve won signed books and bought signed books. Since I do daycare most book signings haven’t been times I could attend.
My husband and I have attended several author events at Pawley’s Plantation in SC. Great authors, delicious luncheon and wonderful fellowship. We enjoy listening to the authors discuss their books and their lives. Being able to meet the author in person is a very special treat.
I have not been to a book signing. I don’t think any christian fiction authors have come to my area. I would love to go to one and would travel to one, if it wasn’t super far away.
I have been to book-signing’s and I enjoy meeting the person who pours their heart and soul into each and every book they write.
BTW, Charles Martin is as good looking in person as he is on the back cover of his books.
I have the picture to prove it.
LOL, Stormie O’Martian – I’d be all fangirly, too!
Wow! How awesome is that?! I’d love to go book signings when available here in my area. Well, I’d go to yours for sure!! So come on down to Memphis! I’d go all fan girl for not only you, but as someone mentioned above Charles Martin, Francine Rivers, Julie Lessman and Terri Blackstock. That’s just to mention a few.
I know a few that live in Australia!! But then again, Australia is a bit place, HAHA! And agreed, I LOVE that we have the Internet now where we can “meet” authors (and where authors can “meet” their readers!!!)
WOW!!! You’ve met a LOT of authors and some REALLY unique ones! That’s AMAZING!!!
Very cool!!! Hopefully one will come close to you soon!!!
yes, signed books are so fun!!! I am blessed to live in an area where there are a LOT of booksignings near by. I’m just south of Nashville, and live in the same count as fab authors like Karen Kingsbury and Tamara Alexander, not to mention the gazillion music stars! Some times I forget how rare that is for others! (it also makes MY book signings a bit meh because who am I went Charlie Daniels is doing a book signing at the B&N too? HAHA)
I feel like we need to find all these “we don’t see booksignings here” areas and go THERE for booksignings!!!! LOL
yeah, I’m not a fan of long lines either! Funny story: My bible study ladies all came right at the beginning of my booksigning because they wanted to make sure I had a “line” of people to see me to make me smile! It totally made my day!!!! So if a Christian fiction author has a line… know that while it might be a pain, they are probably geeking that it is even happening! (or, at least, that is how *I* am anyway, HAHA)
Yeah, a lot of them end up being on Tuesday evenings, although mine have always been on saturday the couple I’ve done!
Love this!!! That sounds so fun!!
Thanks good to know!!! Hope one comes near you soon!!!!
HAHAHAHA!!! Good to know, Janet!!!!!
I totally tried to play it cool. We talked about my kids and her grandkids :-) It was funny, I was there with my chocolate and bookmarks and special pens and was like 20 minutes early just to make sure I had time to set up and take a few breaths before it started… and she came in right on time and just sat down, not prepared at all. Made me realize that all the worrying and fretting and prepping and fearing before hand was probably VERY silly. HAHA
HA! I used to live in Memphis, or just outside of it, funny enough. I’m just south of Nashville now :-)
I’ve met both Terri Blackstock and Julie before! Great women and authors!!
I haven’t gone to any book signings, but I have been known to go to Mount Hermon when the Writer’s Conference is on and hang around their bookstore, hoping to catch sight of some famous author :-) Mount Hermon is the only Christian bookstore near where I live. I suppose there are book signings in San Jose, but driving over the hill to get there is not worth it unless it was someone very special.
Never been to a book signing. Would love to go to one of yours! But not to one with an unfamiliar author.
I went to a class where we got to listen to various authors and then buy autographed books! I love getting autographed books!!
I have mainly been to book signings for Christian fiction authors whose books I was familiar with. It was fun to visit with the authors when the line was very short. Some of them I’d met before. I did take my son to a lecture and then a book signing for an author I’d only read about in the newspaper. I can’t remember who he was but he wrote a book about World War II (I think) that my young son was very interested in. At that one, the line was very long so the interaction with the author was minimal. It was worth it though since it meant a lot to my son.
Hi Krista! How fun to be in Lifeway with Stormie, I would freak out…lol!
No, I’ve never been to a book signing, if I ever did, I wouldn’t care which author honestly! Any one of them I’ve only known through their book would be awesome to meet & chat with :-) Talking about books, I now have yours “The Engagement Plot” I received in the mail the other day. I had won it from Faithfully Bookish blog (Beth Erin)….so thank you!! I love the cute matching bookmark. It’s on my TBR pile that I’ll be working on really soon since my review schedule is not going to be as hectic as is has been since like October! Looking forward to some “fun reads” :-)
My vote would be a huge YAY on book signings and to chat with an author would be the highlight of my day (week, year, ect)!