With our three-week guest post experiment now over (I think it went pretty well, don’t you?), it’s time to get back on topic — namely, ME!
Ha! Kidding. Except not actually. I think I vaguely mentioned this a month or so ago, but I have in fact scored a book signing at my local Chapters (big Canadian bookstore). In case you’re wondering how such a thing is possible, I shall give you a brief history of how it happened:
A brief history of how it happened …
So the iUniverse package I bought puts 8 copies of my book in a local Chapters store for 8 weeks (I think the 8 weeks will be ending at the start of June). I went into the store on April 1st (first day the books were supposed to be on the shelves), only to discover they weren’t on the shelves. After a half-hour-long search involving several wonderful Chapters employees, we located my book on the shelving manager’s desk — apparently she didn’t know what genre to file the book under, as the back of the book says Young Adult (as it’s supposed to), but it’s listed in their system as Children’s Lit (thank you, iUniverse!). Anyway, it all got figured out, and the book was placed in the teen section. But during this search, I came into contact with one of the floor managers, who was just amazing — when he found out I’d written the book, he asked, without even being prompted, “Well, have you set up a book signing here yet?” And of course I was like, “… um, no. Is that even possible?” And he was all, “Sure! Let me give you the store manager’s email!”
And the rest is history.
So the moral of the story, I guess is either:
- Ask and you shall receive, or
- My local Chapters is unbelievably awesome
Anyway …
So the book signing is happening tomorrow, from 12-4 in the afternoon. My best friend and accomplished photographer Rhiannon Barlow will be on-site to manhandle people over to my table, and also to take pictures and video record the event so that all you lovely people can experience the (hopefully) joys of my book signing. Here’s a picture of the aforementioned BFF/photographer:
So sassy! That’s my new favourite word. I apply it to many things — awesome people, tangy foods, snazzy convertibles, etc. Anyway, she’ll be prepping all sorts of excellent media for me to conglomerate together and share with you next week. Woo!
Back to the signing …
Chapters ordered in an extra 30 copies for the signing, so fingers crossed I manage to convince people to buy at least half of those. One of the big problems is that iUniverse fails at pricing books cheaply, so the book retails in Chapters at $24. For a softcover. Stupid, right? I asked them to lower their prices to a level that actual humans might pay, but no dice. I’m hoping people will be able to overlook that price in favour of supporting a local author, but … only time will tell, I guess.
I expected to be really nervous about the signing, but for some reason I’m cool as a cucumber. Could be because it hasn’t sunk in yet. Perhaps tomorrow morning I will have a mental breakdown. I should schedule that in, just in case. Does 10:13 AM work for everyone?
Anyway, you’ll be hearing all about how the signing went next week, so there’s no point in me blathering on about it now. Have a fantabulous weekend, stay cool, and wish me luck!
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Unrelated media of the day:
Today’s unrelated media features a blast from the past.
Michelle Proulx - Author 
*gathers up all the good luck she can find* *flings it Michelle-wards* Good luck! Wow. You’ll be great. Can’t wait to hear how it all goes.
*good luck cannonball explodes against Michelle’s face, rendering her unconscious and suffusing her with good luck vibes*
Ow! And thank you 🙂 I’m pretty psyched, obviously! I will be wearing a very colourful shirt, so I’m hoping if my book doesn’t attract people, they’ll instead be attracted by the pretty colours and come over anyway.
Have fun at the books signing! 🙂
Thanks 😀 I suspect I shall gibber like a fool and misspell my name, but hopefully no one will notice, lol.
Best of luck tomorrow! I bet you sell more than the 30 🙂
Thanks 🙂 And while I definitely hope that’s the case, I don’t think it’s actually possible, as there are only 30 books in store, lol. But selling out would definitely be awesome. Have a fabulous weekend 🙂
You should have people in blue alien costumes outside to manhandle people into the store and directly to your table. That’s legal, right? And it makes people want to buy books? No? Man, I SUCK at marketing!
I’m super excited for you, though. iUniverse is a big dummy for pricing books that high, but it’s an awesome read, and I hope people will want to support you. They’ll be getting something amazing out of it.
Have you decided how you’re going to sign? “Goo luck to ya, Roxie” perhaps? Except maybe with your own name… Man, I SUCK at autographs!
Haha I think you think you suck more than you actually do 🙂 If that made sense, lol.
Blue alien manhandling plan = not as crazy as you think. Literally yesterday my mom came up with the following plan: Have someone dress all in black with a gas mask (aka Varrin), run into the store waving a gun, and abduct me. And I was like … mom, that has a name — that’s called terrorism. We would literally incite a city-wide panic. She’s not convinced that’s the case, but … yeah, definitely not a good idea, lol.
iUniverse is indeed a big dummy. Well said! As for what I’ll sign … I’ve been recently going with “Reach for the stars!”, which I think is all right. Not brilliant, but it’ll do, lol. Thanks for the luck — I suspect I’ll need it 🙂
It’s thematically and genre appropriate! And I did think of having people act out an action sequence in-store, but I came to the same conclusion as you did. Might freak people out a bit. 😉
Reblogged this on The ObamaCrat.Com™ and commented:
Friday is fast becoming book day!!! Thank you Ms. Michelle for sharing your book signing day with us.
Good luck Michelle! Hope you sell out!
Thanks! Fingers crossed 🙂
Congrats on the book signing. It is a big step and something to be very proud of. Sure it will be a great time 🙂
I hope so!!! Even if I don’t sell a single book, it should definitely be a great experience 🙂
That’s a great way to look at it. You are doing something that you love 🙂 Would love to read and even possibly work together on something.
Really well done on the signing and GOOD LUCK!! Can’t wait to hear how it goes – bizarre about the pricing though. It’s your book, surely you can decide how much to sell it for..!!? Maybe take some sort of torture device with you to apply pressure to those customers looking unwilling to part with their cash. Oh, would that be illegal? Drat.!
Hahaha I’m pretty sure Chapters would frown on torture. Unless I’m very sneaky about it … 😀
I can’t decide how much the book sells for because it’s not self-published, it’s “vanity” published, so I technically have a publishing house that’s calling the shots, even though I’m paying them, lol. Needless to say I’ve learned my lesson, and will be doing proper self-publishing in the future!
Oh yes, I read about vanity publishing and was warned never to do it. Guess you can seriously relate to that now! 🙂
Wonderful! Best wishes. Have lots of fun and enjoy yourself. You have accomplished much 🙂
Thanks 🙂 Tune in next week to see if I survived, lol.
Have a wonderful time and relax and enjoy it! Best of luck 😀
Thanks 🙂 And in exciting news, I have acquired a shiny new blazer to wear tomorrow so I don’t turn into a popsicle while sitting stationary at my little book table.
Well, you KNOW I’m excited as Mexican Jumping Beans for you!! ^^ I wish that I could go! I would totally be all over that. And it’s so nice of your friend to do the pics and things for you–I look forward to what she comes up with. And to reading the post!! A week is simply too long!
Anyway, have fun with it, and here–have all the luck. 😉
Yeah, Rhiannon’s a sweetheart, no doubt. I actually screwed up — we went shopping on Thursday to find me a shirt for the signing, and I found this really cool, floaty white shirt — but Rhiannon talked me out of getting it because it would look bad in pictures. And I was like “What does that matter? Who’s going to be taking pictures?” And she was like “… um, ME?” Bad Michelle! Sometimes I have the cranial capacity of an underwater llama.
Many thanks for the luck 🙂 At this point I actually care less about selling the books for my own sake, and more because the Chapters people were nice enough to order in 30 copies, and I don’t want to let them down, lol.
xDD Eh, friends are friends because even when you occasionally act like a knuckle-head, they’ll steer you straight in the right direction and only roll their eyes at you. x) (What shirt did you end up getting?! =D)
Yeahhh, I know what you mean! I’m always motivated less by myself and more by not wanting to let others down… >_> Haven’t decided if that is good or bad yet! But I’m sure it’ll be great. ^^ (And if not, you can blame it on the ridiculous iUniverse pricing. BLAME IUNIVERSE FOR EVERYTHING.
WHO U CALLIN A KNUCKLEHEAD??? HUH???
Insanity aside, I ended up with a purple/red/black floral creation. Rhiannon took a bunch of pictures and video, so you’ll be able to see it eventually 😀
Ooooh, sounds pretty! :)) I’ll be on pins and needles until then, for sure!
Ooh, I can’t wait to hear how your signing goes. Good luck today! Don’t stress too much. 😀
And I can sympathize with you about book prices. Even Lulu charges a lot of money for paperbacks. =[ I recently found a new publisher that sells books at the same price as any regular paperback you find in stores, and I’m prepping to sign up with them. Here’s hoping it doesn’t backfire on me. xD
I’ve got “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” on repeat, so I think I’m good 🙂 Thanks for the luck! Yeah, there are some crazy high POD prices out there. Apparently Createspace is pretty good — and what publisher are you maybe signing with? We’re talking full-on traditional publisher?
That would be Lightning Source. Apparently many publishing houses use it, but if you sign up with it, you act as your own publisher. 🙂 It has a lot of perks, and allows you to choose matte covers and cream pages (which is something I’ve been looking for!), plus… a 300 page book would only cost around $7, which I think is utterly fantastic.
It’s not free like Lulu (you have to pay $135 per book and get your own ISBNs), but I think it’s a lot cheaper than iUniverse, no?
Hahaha yes. Everything is cheaper than iUniverse. A Ferrari is cheaper than iUniverse. I did look into Lightning Source, because they do hardcover books, which is really cool. Keep us updated on how it goes with Lightning Source so I don’t have to do the research myself 😀
Will do! I’m planning to take a page out of your book and chronicle my “adventures” with Lightning Source. 😀 So… here’s hoping this doesn’t end up a fiasco!
Good luck with the signing, Michelle! Bring a spare pen. 😉
I’d come to the signing except there is this rather large ocean in the way which takes considerable time to cross. Sadly I’ll have to pass. Then again, it’s nearly summer there, right? …
Thanks 🙂 And excellent idea! I haven’t packed anything up yet, I really need to get on that. Hopefully I actually own pens …
Don’t worry about the ocean. I’ve set a cold-fusion power rocket blimp to pick you up. It will arrive around whenever cold-fusion technology is invented. Keep a lookout!
Also, ha 😛 Isn’t global warming supposed to heat things up, not cool them down? It was almost 0 last night. Get your act together, mother nature!
It’s been getting down to zero most mornings here lately.
As for cold fusion, there are some interesting conspiracy theories that say it was successfully proven several decades ago but the patents were bought up by the oil companies and funnily enough never applied.
If the CFR blimp shows up I’ll be sure to bring a pen with me to, just in case! 😉
Good luck with your book signing! I hope they all get snapped up 🙂
Thanks!!! I sold about 17 copies (half of those were to my friends though, lol). More on the signing when I get my act together and write a proper post about it.
Tip: Have a bowl of candy at your table and people will come right over. Good luck! 😀
Ahhh! I knew I forgot something. Yeah, I did have trouble attracting people. Next time 🙂
Best wishes on your book signing!
Thanks so much 🙂
I hope the book signing went well!
It did! I sold about 17 books, and gave out a few hundred bookmarks — not bad for a few hours work! And I discovered that the Chapters staff are unbelievably friendly — they kept stopping by my table to chat and give me advice, it was really cool of them 🙂
That’s AWESOME! Congratulations! 🙂
Good job! And good song too 😉
Thanks 🙂 And thanks 🙂
So where exactly was this book signing happening? I have the sense that I could have been there, though that might just be “support your local authors remorse” talking 😉
It happened in London, Ontario. Is that anywhere close to where you are?
Doh! Not anymore. I used to live in Ottawa. Though I suspected we were fellow Canucks, I had no idea we were at opposite ends of the country 😉
Opposite ends … implying you are somewhere on the west coast. Hmmmm. Vancouver?
Close, Victoria, or just 30 minutes north of it to be exact.