Suzanna Enoch, Julia London, Sabrina Jeffries and Karen Hawkins
Wednesday kicked off the first official day of RWA (Romance Writers of America). It always starts with Librarian Day. One of my favorites because I always wanted to be a librarian, so I love talking to them. There were workshops on Connecting Romance Readers and Authors at the Library, Focus on Historical Romance, and Blast from the Past. One interesting comment was the librarian who noted that her senior readers were complaining about the lack of large print erotica. The luncheon featured a speech by Kerrilyn Sparks. The librarians received swag bags and a visit to the goody room where they could collect lots of great books and other items donated by authors. Everyone left smiling and excited to bring back some great ideas to their libraries.
Sabrina Jeffries hosted one of the many parties held during RWA. She was promoting her Christmas book and the place was all decorated for Christmas. Sabrina even had special Sabrina Martinis. Advanced Reading Copies of the books were given away as very coveted prizes. The party was filled with bloggers, librarians, booksellers and readers.
Sabrina Martinis
Sabrina Jeffries
The absolute highlight of the day was the Literacy Signing. This event is free and open to the public. RWA’s “Readers for Life” Literacy Autographing features hundreds of romance authors signing copies of their novels. Proceeds from book sales go to ProLiteracy Worldwide. The room was huge, so there was plenty of space to move around. RWA tried something new this year. Avon Publishing sponsored the event so when you walked in the aisle was called Avon Alley and their authors lined both sides.
Courtney Milan on the cover of the German Love Letters magazine with it's editor
Jeanne Adams
Jennifer Ashley
Jill Sorenson
Joanna Bourne
Unfortunately for the readers, the authors were not arranged in alphabetical order this year so it was extremely difficult to locate authors. They did pass out maps, but the print was so small it was extremely difficult to read. The readers I spoke with were upset and frustrated. They would find one author they were looking for only to discover that the next one was located on the other side of the room and the third back where they started. I know I didn’t get to see everyone I wanted because I couldn’t find them. I hope RWA reconsiders doing it in alphabetical order again next year. On the plus side, several authors were happy to sit next to people they don’t normally sit by. But, this event is really about the readers, not the authors. Regardless, I saw many happy readers clutching books signed by their favorite authors.
One final observation on the signing. It was scheduled for 5-8 p.m. By 7 p.m., there were more than a few authors who had left already. As a reader, this upsets me. Even if you sell out of books, I think it’s common courtesy to stay. The readers that come expect the authors to be there the scheduled time. Some cannot make it at 5 p.m. due to work or other obligations. If there are no more books to sign, authors should consider doing what Joanna Bourne was doing. She was handing out signed book plates and stayed until the very end smiling, greeting her readers and posing for pictures. Once again, this event is for the readers folks. Authors pay a lot to come to this conference, so make the most of it. Kudos and a big thank you to all the authors who were there to meet the readers until the signing officially ended.
More about RWA all week.
Bottom Line: Readers are why authors do what they do.
Oh, man. Look at all the terrific authors I missed seeing… What a wonderful event.
About what you mentioned, about an author leaving before the end of the signing event. I think it’s a very good point. I heard an author say that once – “I sold all my books. I’m not going to sit around here”. If I were (am) a reader looking for a particular author who couldn’t be bothered to wait for someone like me, someone who would buy the book elsewhere to put that signed bookplate in, then I’m most likely not going to buy the book at all. Or any others by that author, ever. Is another hour in Margaritaville worth any future sales or fans one might garner? It’s something an author should consider.
I would be so disappointed if one of my fav authors left before I had the chance to meet them. At such a huge event, with so many authors, it’s not easy to move from one to the other quickly. We want to chat a bit with someone we admire and anticipated meeting. I certainly hope word travels on this one!
Aloha, Barbara! The Librarian’s Day was fabulous – I have many notes to give to the base library where I volunteer. I concur with your recommendations for the Literacy Event … as a volunteer, I took pictures before the event started.
The attitude of an author like Joanna, who stayed through the end even though her books sold out, shows that she can connect with fans and is probably more successful because of it. Readers notice those things and it affects whether they will purchase an author’s next book. My buying habits have been directly impacted by how an author treats signing events and their attitude to fans — mostly in positive ways but a few negative; the negative ones means I no longer buy their books. Sad but true!
Sounds like a great event! I hope I can go next year in Atlanta!
Barbara—wish I could have joined you this time. I miss seeing everyone. And, yes, I also rely on the alphabet to help me stop and visit with everyone I’m looking forward to seeing. Your frustration is understandable. Joan
It was a blast to see you during RWA. This was my first time signing and I enjoyed seeing everyone. Nora Roberts was across from me and I just pretended that her line was mine. It was great to see all the book fans there.
Great coverage, Barbara. Love seeing some of my fave authors like Joanne Bourne and Jeanne Adams. I can only speak for myself when it comes to being an author at a signing. I never leave a signing early and have in fact stayed an hour or more afterwards when Sherrilyn Kenyon and I sign together due to the turnout. We always say we’ll stay until everyone’s books are signed. As a voracious reader, I try to do what I would want an author to do for me. I enjoy meeting readers and always carry plenty of extra material to sign for any who just show up to visit whether they buy a book or not. I love meeting readers in person. That was good of so many to stay the entire time.
Hi Barbara! It was great to meet you and I appreciate your voicing the sentiment that many of us shared. I was crushed to finally reach the table where a couple of my favorite authors were supposed to be signing and discovering that they had already left. I had not wanted to stand in the very long lines while I was hunting for several other authors in that arcane arrangement but it was very disappointing to walk all of the way back to the other side of the room and discover that I had missed out. It was even more frustrating to be one of the many volunteers who helped clean up afterwards and missed attending some of the evening events because the clean-up was so poorly organized that most of us were starving and exhausted by the time we had finished.
Congratulations again on your award and I look forward to reading your observations about the rest of the week.
I stayed until the bitter end at the literacy for life signing and one of my long time readers finally found me about one minute before the end! She was so pleased to see me that it made my night.
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