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Blogs by Elaine Olelo Masters
Great Group at the Book Talk 10/15/2015 1:05:48 PM
Used what I've learned about getting my books into readers' hands. This week, I gave a book talk (with costumes, skit, reading, q&a,) at the Praise Generation group at Grace Covenant Christian Church in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Great group of people! I watched the clock, timing my presentation to finish about noon, but the leader suggested about 11:20 that I wrap it up and continue November 11. I'd talked about my adventures in Thailand's tribal villages, and my book WHAT THE WITCH DOCTOR TAUGHT ME sold awesomely.
On November 11, I'll continue the talk, that time about making friends and teaching English in Bangladesh, and hope my book, MINGLING WITH MUSLIMS sells just as well.
I've learned a couple of things through the years about how to encourage people to buy my books.
1. Offer something free: in this case, an entertaining presentation about tribal people who were unfamiliar to my audience.
2. Give a purpose beyond buying the author's groceries. This time, profits were to go to a Bangladeshi Christian family that had their furnishings destroyed by terrorists a couple of weeks before. Praise Generation people had already prayed for the family the previous week.
3. Have a copy of the book in front of each person, and refer to things in it occasionally. They will read the back cover out of curiosity. Yes!
4. Pass out your business card to each person, in case they'd like to order a "personally autographed copy" of your book after they get home.
5. Remind them that books make great gifts!
6. Ask a person to take the purchasers' money and put it in a box or bag.
7. Have another person give small sheets of paper for the buyers to write the name(s) of who they want to dedicate the book to so you won't make spelling mistakes in the book.
8. Have a distinctive ink color so your signature will stand out. (I used a purple ink pen this time.)
9. Thank them for buying your book!
10. Enjoy your readers! Smile!
