Quote:
Originally Posted by Freeshadow
BMB: wouldn't offering autographed (or dedicated) copies of ebooks via your own site be an idea? Just a shot in the dark - I don't know how strong the fanbase loyalty in your genre is.
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I do sell copies of ebooks via my own site (see signature line for BMB store; it's the first line.) and I autograph any print copy upon request (I don't charge extra for it, but it usually costs me more because if the book is sent to me to sign, I have to send it back. That is not a big deal and unless I suddenly have thousands of requests, it's very doable and I'm honored to do be asked.)
Signings are unpaid, although the author gets royalties from the sale. Many authors do provide the books for the bookstore (yes, even traditional authors have to sometimes bring them. The store buys the books from the author in that case, and then resells them to the public.) Libraries also do signings this way (either buying the books from the publisher or the author and reselling them). Libraries and bookstores sometimes prefer buying the books right from the author because they then don't have to send any back. They sell whatever gets sold and the author then takes away the rest (minus a book or two for the store to keep in stock.) Even in the case where the retailer buys too many, authors will sometimes buy the extra stock because they know the books will be stripped of covers and "returned." (Retailers never actually ship books back--they discard them and get "credit" for other purchases.)
The bigger the name, the less the author has to be involved. For large signings the publishers handle all the details and will usually cover travel, meals and other expenses. The vast majority of traditional authors have to pay most of their travel expenses (they don't have to pay for the books, but if they want to take along extra books in case the store doesn't get any in or they need extra, this comes out of their pocket initially.) It is common for signings to be arranged, but the books don't show up or there aren't enough of them, etc. Many authors keep a stock "in the trunk" in case the books don't arrive. Sometimes it's the retailer (they forget to order), sometimes the publisher doesn't get them sent, etc.
Obviously self-published authors cover all costs for signings. Many bookstores won't do a signing for self-published authors because they don't have the "draw" necessary. It helps if we get together with another writer and do a dual signing. These are often the most successful, even for trad authors.