Join The Survivors author Amanda Havard at her next book signings at the Texas Library Association conference this week!
What’s so fun about book signings anyway? Amanda shares with us her perspective as a writer:
Hey Wattpadders. I’m excited to be here today to talk to you about one of my favorite things I get to do as an author: book signings. Book signings are fun for me for a number of reasons. For one, there is nothing better than getting to meet fans of The Survivors (and if you ever happen to be at a signing or event where I am, then please please come say hi and tell me you’re from Wattpad!). But more than that, signings are fun for me because I’ve instilled a few rituals for myself any time I sign or speak at events and the like.
Of course, everyone has rituals. Authors use the same fountain pen they’ve used for the last twenty years or only sign in metallic Sharpie (For me? It’s classic black Sharpie every time). But my rituals go a little further. When I embarked on my journey as an author, I did it thinking about all the small things I enjoy in my regular life to see how I could fit them into my author life. From music that inspires me that I love sharing with readers to my love of impractical shoes to even my indecision on which way to wear my hair, every little thing has found a place in my author life. If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, or if you follow the Survivors on Twitter and Facebook, maybe you’ve seen me use Polyvore to get votes on what shoes to wear to a signing (or on more indecisive days, what to wear to dinner…). Or maybe you’ve seen the Instagram photos of what shoes I’m wearing when I sign, speak, record a song, shoot a video, or anything else. It’s become a bit of a thing, and I love it. I love that people ask me to poke my feet around the table when there’s a tablecloth at an event. I love that I recognize someone from a Facebook comment they left voting on a look as I’m signing her name in a book. Sometimes as an author, you live in an isolated world. I’m lucky because I have you awesome Wattpadders, and so I’m not so isolated. I get to talk to you, hear what you think about the story, get to talk to you in all kinds of places online. But all these silly little rituals, as frivolous as they may seem to some, are a part of the way I get to connect to all of you, as author, as storyteller, and then as a person.
When I was dreaming of being an author, as I know so many of you are, I hadn’t ever thought of things like this. I would, in fact, bet that many authors don’t ever think of things like this, and that’s cool. But for me, it’s been a great tool. I didn’t know what to expect of a book signing or an interview. Maybe I was afraid to think what it was really like in case my expectations were so far off from reality. So I found my own amusement in these kinds of things that are all my own, and that I get to share with all of you who aren’t going to be where I’m going to be. Some book signings are just the dream you imagine. People are waiting for you when you get there, listen to the words you say, and can’t wait to meet you. And some? They won’t be. There will always be a time when you go somewhere and either no one shows up or people don’t care that you’re there signing. It’s true. It’s happened to almost every author at one time or another (I read a blog post from Rick Riordan about showing up to signings no one attended when he first started out that he posted just last week!). But for me, every signing still feels like it’s a big deal, still feels like something to be excited over because I prep in the same way. And in life? The ability to find simple things you can do for yourself that keep you happy in moments that might be disappointing, or things that empower you to feel like your most awesome self in every moment? I’ve found them quite useful.
So when you see me, whether it’s in passing and no one’s at my table or a hundred people are waiting in line, look for the shoes. And in the mean time? Have fun dreaming about the things you’ll do when it’s time for you to hold the pen (or Sharpie) and sign your own book.
Say hi to Amanda at her upcoming book signings this week!
Where: Texas Library Association conference
Wednesday 4/18: 10:15 - 11:00 am (Chafie Press booth 1220);
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm (Author Area)
Thursday, 11:00 am - Noon (Author Area);
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm (Chafie Press booth 1220)
Special Event:
YA Author Tea Wednesday, 12:00 PM - 1:20 PM