Book Signing Superstar

DATE: Saturday, September 21, 2024

TIME: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

LOCATION: Mesa Chamber of Commerce | 165 N Centennial Way, #208, Mesa, AZ 85201*

*you must register prior to the event. No onsite registrations will be available.

Premium Member Price: $29.00

Non-Member Price: $49.00

Please Note: there is limited seating at this event, so sign up early.

How to look like a professional author even if it is your first event ever.

From small library events to major U.S. book festivals to huge anime cons, award-winning young adult author Sara Fujimura has signed books at all of them. Though she is now a hybrid author, you may be surprised that many of Fujimura’s biggest signings happened BEFORE she was traditionally published with Tor Teen.

This workshop covers how to land book signings, especially if your book has been out for more than a year. Participants will also learn how to set up a simple but effective signing table with components that will all easily fit in one piece of carry-on luggage. Fujimura discusses what to do when your signing is a complete failure (it happens!) and how to course-correct afterward. A take-home worksheet ensures that authors show up at their events with all the necessary components. It also helps authors clarify their why for each event, collect important metrics, and offers tips on how to level up their book signing game. Grab your sunglasses and a Sharpie. It’s time to meet your fans!

WORKSHOP BREAKDOWN:

Hour #1, we’ll cover:

· How to land book signings, especially if your book has been out for more than a year.

· The different types of book signing events that you’ll do as a professional author and how to prepare for them.

· How to build out a simple but effective booth. What to keep in your basic boothing box.

· Leveling up your boothing game with some new tips and tricks.

· “Either you win or you learn.” Post-event evaluations that will help you fine-tune your strategies and increase your ROI.

Hour #2, we’ll have:

· Contestants competing in the Book Booth Bonanza*

· A chance to learn from others how to up your boothing skills

· A mini mastermind session about creative marketing ideas to make your booth stand out

· Q&A Time

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 *Would you like to be one of our contestants in the Book Booth Bonanza? Participation in the Book Booth Bonanza will be limited. More details coming soon.

RULES AND GUIDELINES FOR THE BOOK BOOTH BONANZA:

1. Everything you want to display on your table MUST fit in a 3-foot space (half a standard table).
2. Everything you want to display on your table MUST fit in either a standard piece of carry-on luggage or a plastic box of similar proportions. No banners. No additional items may come out of your purse/bag/backpack.
3. You only need to bring ONE copy of your book(s) to display.
4. You will only have TEN minutes to set up your table.
5. Please bring your carry-on luggage or plastic box with you to the beginning of the event. You will not have time to go back out to your car to get it.
6. Have fun! Let your creativity and authentic voice shine through. Make your booth as eye-catching as possible.
7. Practice your pitch. Keep it super short, introductory, and less than 60 seconds. For example: “Hi, I’m Sara Fujimura. I write for teens and the young at heart. I have three contemporary YA books and one historical fiction novel set in 1918. I write sweet—not spicy—romances. What’s your favorite trope?”
8. Two winners will be crowned. One for “Best Total Package” and one for “Best Pitch.” There will be prizes as well as bragging rights. 

WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING TO THIS EVENT?

· Your favorite writing equipment to take notes

· Some of your promotional materials (bookmarks, postcards, stickers, etc.) to share and inspire other participants

· A collaborative spirit

OPTIONAL: A compact version of your awesome book signing table to compete in the Book Booth Bonanza competition

Sara Fujimura (Foo-gee-moo-rah) is the American half of her bicultural Japanese-American family and spends about a month each year in Japan. She started as a journalist, so it is no surprise that Sara’s young adult books contain a lot of facts to go along with the fiction. Whether you want to know about Japan (TANABATA WISH), the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 (BREATHE), what it’s like to be an Olympic-caliber skater (EVERY REASON WE SHOULDN’T), or how unscripted television works (FAKING REALITY), Sara takes readers on swoony journeys to unusual places. She is a creative writing teacher and literacy advocate who is excited to support the next generation of authors. If you go to anime cons, you may also see Sara as her alter ego, The Obento Lady. She is an active member of SCBWI and the Chicago-North Romance Writers. EVERY REASON WE SHOULDN’T was named an NPR Best Book of 2020. Sara is represented by Ann Rose of the Tobias Literary Agency.

https://www.sarafujimura.com/