As you know, I've been so excited about the release of my newest title - Good Money, which officially drops on May 1st. Since its so close to that date, I thought I'd slink over to Borders and see if it was on the shelves a bit early.
Well when I get there, I run into nearly 500 people . . . literally. People, mostly women, some with babies are EVERYWHERE in the store lined up to have their book autographed! Not by me - but by Kate Gosselin, the author of Eight Little Faces. Now, I've never heard of the book or the author, but obvioulsy I was the only one on this side of the Mississippi who didn't have a clue as to who this woman was, because the rest of the world was snaked around the store, in every aisle, through the kids' section, around the back, through the reference section, up through fiction, and in between every standing book case to get to this author.
I try to tip through the store a different way to catch a peek at Kate, as I venture to the section where my books are. I see an area that is semi cleared out and looks like she just might be seated there, but I cant quite see the table. There is a crowd of women - some with flashing cameras all pointing to this area, signifying that indeed Kate was there - she must have just walked out because all the cameras seemed to start flashing around the same time. Even so - I'm not super interested in Kate, but naturally my curiosity is peaked, as I try to casually walk by the table where I assume she is sitting. That is when I am stopped by . . . I don't know . . . some tall man who abruptly says - "You have to go around the other way." I casually reply with "I'm just trying to get to the other side of the store," but then a police woman - YES A POLICE WOMAN!! Says "You have to go around."
Wow!!! A book signing that requires a police officer????? I simply say "Okay," turn around, and weave through the throng of people to the opposite side of the store and find on the shelf two copies of Good Money! HIP HIP HURRAY!!!!!! There is no one in line because they are all crowded around Kate, or don't want to lose their place in line, so easily I pay for my selection and do the electric slide to get back to the door and outside again - feeling some type of way about what I just witnessed . . . HUNDREDS of readers at a bookstore to support an author.
Now - everytime I have done a book signing, I have had to stop people and convince them to buy my books. Never have I done a signing where people were lined up waiting for me, even on the day that I sold 115 books at one signing. Obviously, I've not learned the secret of great PR! Boy - If I could get people to show up for me like that - I think I'd be doing something!
When I get home - I take the time to look on Amazon for Kate's book. It is 48 pages - mostly photos of her 8 children - very little writing per the reviews - and carries a 1.5 star rating. Wow! What am I doing wrong?