Signing Stock

[Copy Editor]

Another good reason to sign stock copies everywhere and anywhere you can is that bookstores can't return them so they'll count as sales.

[Cathy C]

Only in the case of hardback. They'll still strip paperback and trade softcovers without a second thought.

But it does make them push the books a little more by giving them a higher visibility on the shelves or tables or seasonal displays (when possible.)

I do recommend calling the store first if it's a small press, before you show up. Often, even if they wouldn't normally carry the title, if you're local, they'll order a few of them JUST SO you can sign them. Most stores like to promote local authors. But if you're from out of the area, it'll be more difficult, unless you consign them--meaning you carry the books with you in the car and sign an agreement (which usually provides that you're offering the book to them at a wholesale price--often 40% of retail price.) Then, they take a cut of the retail price and give you the rest. You wind up making just about what your regular royalty would be if you had to purchase the copy from the publisher, but you won't see any money until/unless the book sells.

Hope that helps!

[R. Thomas Hogg]

Cathy & June -- Great help, thanks!

I have a few more questions:

Do folks usually carry a bunch of copies with them as they go to visit stores for consignment reasons? Do big chains (B&N, Borders) usually take books on consignment?

Cheers,
R. Thomas Hogg

[Joe Moore]

Indies might take stock on consignment, but the chains don't. But having a supply with you is a good idea. Many times, my co-writer Lynn Sholes and I have done a signing where the store sold out of stock. We give them 15-20 copies from our own stock and they replace them for us on their next order.

Joe

[Cathy C]

That's not quite true. Even the chains have the ability to take on consigned books, but mostly in the "local authors" section. We were able to get our POD mystery anthology in pretty much every chain we approached. But if we were out of the area--no go.

Yes, I do normally carry copies of our books, even though they're mass market with a major publisher. We've discovered over the years that quite often "mistakes were made." It can be that the manager who set up the signing didn't communicate with the staff member who ORDERS books, or they didn't arrive in time, or only one or two came in. Once, a store ordered the right title by a different author. Even in a chain situation, they'll sometimes (if it was the store's fault) "trade" books with you on the signing date . . . meaning they'll take the books you have and then later replace them with books they've ordered through their warehouse. Sometimes, it'll save an advertised signing that might have otherwise been cancelled. But I seldom bring them into the store until/unless there's a problem.