Successful Book Signing Tips from Aunt Eunice

   I hesitated when my niece, the almost-famous author, Sharon Leaf, came over the other day and begged me to accompany her to her next book signing.  To be honest, I have my hands full helping Betty White with her book promotion, but after rearranging my schedule, I agreed and dived in.

   "Here, memorize this," I said as I handed Sharon my personal pamphlet, How to Have A Successful Book Signing in Twenty Easy Lessons.  

   The next day as we entered Mama Belle's Bookshop I gave last-minute instructions. "First of all, darlin', you have to know your audience."

   "Oh, that's easy," Sharon replied, smiling.  "Women of all ages."

   I shook my head as I stacked thirty-five books on her table.  "That's way too general, but we'll talk about that later.  Here, I made these flyers; now walk the store and hand them out ... and smile."

   Sharon came back to her book table five minutes later wearing a frown.

   "What happened?"

   "I walked over to a large group of women who were grabbing up a book off the best-seller shelf."

   "Very good. Then what?"

   "I gave each of them my flyer."

   "Wonderful! What was their response?"

   A gorgeous blonde held up her gray-toned paperback and asked, 'Is your book anything like this one?'  I quickly answered, 'Oh, it's much more adventurous!'"

   I smiled at my niece.  "You go, girl!"  

   "But Aunt Eunice, they totally ignored me and kept grabbing that best-seller book."

   A moment later I asked, "By the way, what was  the book's title?"

   I could tell by the blank look on Sharon's face that she didn't know.  "Ugh, well, it had a gray cover and the title was something like Fifty Shades of ... ugh, the Day, something like that."

   Then I frowned.  "Oh, dear; I don't think that's the audience you're aiming for."  Then when I saw twenty women of all shapes and sizes making their way to Sharon's book table, I added, "Well, perhaps it is."

   I placed a pen in Sharon's hand and said, "Get ready, darlin', you might make it to the best-seller list after all!"  

   I knew at that moment that Sharon has a lot to learn about book signings, but I ask you, who's  better to teach her than her Aunt Eunice?

   Until next time, keep smearin' that Vaseline on your face!

www.sharonleaf.com