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The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

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Home » booksigning

booksigning

Weirdest Book-Signing Experience

By Steve Laubeon June 3, 2024
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I came across today’s rather strange photo and thought it a good metaphor for the weird things that can and have happened at an author’s book-signing.

Over the years, I’ve either stood in line, organized, facilitated, or observed hundreds of author book-signings. Everything from popular celebrities to a local self-published author trying to make a mark.

Every once in a while, some fun things that have happened:

  • Author was asked to sign a teenager’s model airplane … on the wing.
  • Fan showed off a tattoo on their leg … of the author’s book-cover design.
  • I stood in line for over two hours (in 1987) to have Edith Schaeffer sign her new book The Art of Life. I always wanted to meet her. It took two hours to get to the front of the line because Edith drew a full-page piece of art inside each book and talked with each person for at least five minutes. Suffice it to say, that was highly unusual!
  • I watched a fan hand an author their Kindle and ask them to sign the back of the device.
  • Author, sitting behind a table full of books, being asked, “Do you work here?” (or me being asked, sotto voce, “Are you the author’s handler?”).
  • I was assigned to help the bestselling author Barbara Johnson with her book-signing at a major convention. When she and I got to the booth, I noticed the line of her fans went around the corner of the exhibit hall. She said, “Let’s go look and see how many are waiting.” We turned the corner, and the line extended the length of the building. At least 250 people. She gasped, turned to me, and said, “Let’s get busy.” She must have signed at least 300 books in that one hour.

I want to hear your stories. Without embarrassing anyone, tell us about your most unusual experience at a book-signing. It can be either as a fan standing in line, an author receiving an odd request, or an organizer.

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Category: Career, MarketingTag: booksigning, Marketing

Reason #2 – Top 3 Reasons Authors Don’t Get Asked to the Prom (or Invited to ICRS)

By Karen Ballon June 12, 2013
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Good thoughts and discussion on last week’s blog. Thanks for your honest input. Before we continue, I want to clear up what seems to be a misunderstanding of the purpose behind my blog last week. I’m not expressing my opinion of ICRS or of its value for authors. One only has to look at what is being offered there (explained so well by Curtis Riskey, president of CBA, in the comment section of last …

Read moreReason #2 – Top 3 Reasons Authors Don’t Get Asked to the Prom (or Invited to ICRS)
Category: Book Business, ICRS, KarenTag: booksigning, CBA, ICRS

Top 3 Reasons Authors Don’t Get Asked to the Prom (or Invited to ICRS) – Reason #1

By Karen Ballon June 5, 2013
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It’s just around the corner. That time of year when publishers, retailers, agents and yes, some authors, descend upon a select conference center (this year in St. Louis in late June) to attend the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS).

ICRS. The trade show formerly known as CBA (Christian Booksellers Association). Where publishers gather with their editorial, sales, & marketing folks …

Read moreTop 3 Reasons Authors Don’t Get Asked to the Prom (or Invited to ICRS) – Reason #1
Category: Book Business, Conferences, ICRS, KarenTag: booksigning, conventions, ICRS, Marketing

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