Swan or headless chicken...?

I mentioned recently that an author is like a swan, seemingly all is quiet and serene, but under the surface there's a lot going on - well I'm beginning to wonder if it isn't more headless chicken than swan, with more stuff to get through than I can realistically get done in the day...

Oh well, I can have a sit down at the fairs over the weekend:

Poppleton Tithe Barn on Saturday and Yorkshire Heart Vine Yard on Sunday.

Must go now - and try not to run around in circles...

Christmas countdown in October...?

OK I know it's still October - but I'm already on a countdown to my first Christmas fair of the season...

On November 1st I'll be in Wetherby at the town hall. There's an exciting list of other traders and crafters, which always makes for a fun day - and there'll coffee and cake - what more could you want?

In my little corner of the fair I'll have books and sheep, possibly a few cats (not real ones - they'll be staying at home), and some of my new quiet / busy books, talking of which... I feel another one coming on.

I wonder what I can come up with this afternoon...?  something festive maybe...

Book signing this weekend

It's book signing time again - time to load up a selection of books, not to mention the little flock of sheep that have now become part of deal. Lets hope the birds of prey who're also going to be at the fair, don't spot them and try to carry one off, they're not to scale after all, so might be just the right size for a bird to carry off...

                                   
                                          

Book signing near York - knitting needles at the ready...

I've got a book signing at the weekend - time to get the knitting needles out...

That's right, that's what I said - knitting needles - you see I just like to make things hard for myself.

Not only do I write, illustrate and self publish my books - by the end of 2013 I was looking for a gimmick to add to my table at fairs. My imagination went around in a few circles and came up with the idea of knitting sheep - the characters from my bestseller But I'm Not Sleepy. The sheep caught the imagination of young and young at heart - who wouldn't want to take home a knitted sheep after all?

I have been toying with a design for a knitted cat to link with Basil and the Flappy Thing, but so far I've only produced a knitted head which is bigger than life size,  so I'm not sure where I'm going with that one...

I've heard of an author who takes his cat to book signings, and his cat sits happily on the table next to him, but I can't see that working our for me. I think there would be a riot, especially as there will be birds of prey at the same fair as my forthcoming book signing.

OK, what' am I supposed to do with this?

Top tips for a successful Book signing

I've now booked my first book signing of the year - 4th May at Long Marston near York. it seems a long way off, but I'm sure the time will fly by.

From early beginnings when I set of out nervously wondering how to attract peoples attention, and relied heavily on my promotional book marks to hand out and break the ice, I now set out with confidence and have fun at these events. It's just a matter of getting out there and and seeing what works. But in general a simple smile and saying Hi to people will break the ice.

Top tips for a successful book signing: 

• Set out an attractive display, filling the available space.
• Have promotional book marks to hand out free - they're a good ice breaker, people like a freebie, and it's a good way to hand out your contact details.
• Use book stands - even though people usually pick books up off a pile, the ones on the stand can be seen better from a distance to draw people over. 
• Smile and say Hi - most people will return the greeting, some will stop to talk and look at your book.
• Tell people what you are doing - even with a book signing notice on your table, not everyone will be clear that you are the author.
• Have bags on offer, unless your signing is in a book shop where the shop will use their own.
• Take more than one pen with you.
• Have a float tin to give change.
• Spread the word about your book signing on social media.
• Enjoy the event and encourage people to pick the books up and look through them. After all you're proud of your books and want people to see them.
• Have a suitable table cloth.
• Try a gimmick - when I added knitted sheep - the characters from one of my books, they proved very popular and certainly attracted attention and comment.