I've got books for this weekend.
No website yet but I'm hoping I'll have a basic framework up in that there interwebs by Friday. I'm trying not to panic.
No bookmarks but I have some postcards with pieces of flash fiction printed on them.
I guess I'll need a pen, maybe two pens, and a card with my name on it.

Anyone got any other ideas? A tambourine? A bullhorn? A couple of Chippendale guys? I know that TT Zuma fella can get by on his charm and charisma, but I figure I'm going to have to work harder than that.

Just bring your accent, and you'll be fine.

Craig: That would be a big plus for Janet, but you got to hook them in first.

And as much as I appreciate the charisma and charm comment Janet, not only do I lack both of those, if I had them it still isn't enough to hook people over to your table. The key is, you have to be aggressive. You have to talk to as many people as you can that are walking in front of your table.

I don't mean whacking them over the head, or shouting at them, but you do have to get their attention. I've sold a lot of books at con's and I've done it the same way everytime. When anyone, and I mean anyone including teens, adults, and grandma's walk by, very politely ask them:

A) Do you like SCARY stoires? or
B) Do you like to be SCARED?

Usually people will will acknowledge you and engage you. If the answer is no, thank them and then move on. If the answer is yes, well then start your pitch. And you will need a pitch. Tell them what you book is about, how it was put together, how it scared other readers. You need to convince them that the book is worth purchasing. Alway's be polite, but always act like a professional (i.e., you know your stuff). And smile a lot, even if nobody is around that you can see.

Make your table look good, and have LOTS of books on it, not just one or two. Use props if you have them (I am not a fan of putting candy on the tables, you wind up spending too much time talking to people who only stopped for the candy). Dress like a professional too, make yourself look like what people imagine author's to look like, you want them to think they are buying a book from someone who takes themselves seriously. And for gosh sake...stand up at the table when you are talking to them.

I've found that it's the adults who have most often bought my books, not the teenagers. Carousel is a mature work, it has lot's of themes that adults can identify with, use that in your sales pitch.

*Whew* Not sure if this helped you or not as I guess it would depend on what kind of convention you are going to. If you are going to a strictly horror novel convention, then customers will come to you I would guess. But if it's a sci-fi, or general book convention you'll have your work cut out for you.

Thanks, Tony! That's great advice.

It's a general book festival on the USC campus - families, kids (definitely not my reader base), all kinds of folk, from what I can gather. Lots of booths. I've been looking at some of the images from last year and some of the booths seem enormous, piles and piles of books. Not sure what ours will be like until I get there. Hopefully we're not tucked in a far corner.

I'll rehearse my pitch. I'll probably get tongue-tied (so much for the accent, eh? ) but oh well. And yes, I'll try and pick on themes that are prevalent in the book. Gah, so much to think about.

You'll do fine Janet. And since you will be with other authors, don't book block (push yours over others if they are looking at someone else's book). Talk up all the books and authors at the table. Your book will come up, and when it does, give that pitch! : )

Also, when you sign remember to somehow work in some kind of pun related to the title of the book you're signing into the blurb that accompanies your signature.

For example, for Carousel you could say "Don't ride the carousel - Janet" although that's kind of lame. But I notice established authors always do it.

I kind of chuckled that out of the HW crew Thad was the only person that did it when he signed my copy of Eulogies II. He wrote "Stay Unblocked" for his story Writer's Block.

_________________
Mike Styczen: As far as I can tell, all of Toronto is on the lookout for some sort of demented leprechaun. If Toronto didn't exist, we'd have to invent it

I'm tempted to write "Never get off the horse. Absolutely god damn right." But I suspect I'd be better off with something like "Enjoy the ride!" maybe.

Loins girded with the above advice, I spent all day on my feet, next to my book, talking and selling. I sold some books! So, thanks, guys!

And now I'm bloody exhausted and I have it all to do again tomorrow.

Yay!!!