The morning after my first-ever book signing at Barnes and Noble, I’m still trying to process what a tremendous high it was.
My friend and fellow writer Ilima Loomis drove me there and promised never to leave my side in case I felt lonely and rejected. (THANK YOU ILIMA!)
We arrived, and they’d parked me front and center ten feet from the double doors of the store. Wobbly smile in place, I prepared my little table with much stacking and restacking of an intimidatingly high pile of books, new bookmarks, and a big bowl of Halloween candy (that part I was pretty sure people would want.)
I needn’t have worried. It was like throwing a party and not having to do any housecleaning or pickup afterward!
Friends, fans, family and total strangers I’d never heard of who’d read everything I’d written came up in a constant stream of hugs, chats, pictures and lei. I sold every book I had in the store and gave away everything I’d brought to people who begged for the books.
Maybe it’s because I got the word out via social media and print media, that it went so well. Maybe it’s because I waited until I had eleven books out and some folks had heard of me. Maybe it’s because I’d never done one before. All I know is, it’s a wonderful thing to experience, up close and personal, just how much people love the books—and care about me personally, because I wrote them.
I shared in an earlier post about the struggle it’s been to get my books into the giant bookstore, so I won’t belabor that point again…But as a “bucket list” moment in my life, this one was huge and better than I ever dared to dream of. This post is a big THANK YOU to all of you who drove all the way from everywhere on Maui to our island’s one bookstore to support me, and to those new fans who met me for the first time and took a chance on one of my books.
I have learned the meaning of ALOHA in a deep new way and I’ll never forget it.
The manager came up after, commented on how well it went and that they were sold out of my books. He handed me a belated water bottle, and asked me if I’d come do another one in December, before Christmas. “Why, yes,” I said, delirious with happiness and the tuberose scent from the leis I was piled in. “I think I can make time for another one of these.”
(Click on the photos to view and you can scroll through them from side to side.)
What a treat to actually “see”the event and experience it vicariously with you. Congratulations!
Gonna do another one in December… Maybe you’ll be on island!
Congratulations! Huge fan over here in Southern California and I’ll be at your signings here. 🙂
Well maybe I better get one going then! Aloha and thanks!
Congratulations! There is nothing better than an awesome, packed event! Wish I could have been there. You’re an inspiration!
Thanks Kayla, maybe you can make it over here someday!
“I think I can make time for another one of these.” LOL! I’m still chuckling over your last line. What a wonderful day for you! This is the sort of thing that can (and should) happen to writers who are prolific, talented, hard-working, not to mention personable and active with social media. You are all of those things and much more. While the success of this day might come as a pleasant surprise for you, to those of us watching from afar it feels like the inevitable and well deserved results of your efforts. Congratulations!!
Also, I’ve done Christmas signings at local bookstores, including our big box store. The suggestion that a book personally signed by the author makes a unique gift turned out to be almost a guaranteed sale in my experience, so I suggest you get them to stock in LOTS of books for the next one! :o)
Many thanks Andrew!
And yes I love that suggestion!
Thanks for being such a supportive friend. Much aloha!
T
Congratulations! You deserve all of it! You are talented and bring joy to your readers with you stories! Keep ’em coming!
Thank you so much!
Woohoo! Love it! Congratulations, Toby.
What a great event !! Tell your husband hello for me. Mike was so kind to my wife and I back in February, taking us on a whale watching cruise… just the best ! I am looking forward to introducing my wife Naomi to your series of books. Come on over to San Luis Obispo we have a Barnes & Noble here !! Congrats…
Thanks Lance, I will! Look us up again next time you are on Maui. Aloha
What a great experience, Toby! I was so very happy to read this post. Very encouraging!