Author signings can be wonderful events, but they are certainly not the easiest ones to plan. I always involve my sales representatives in the planning of how many books should be brought in for a signing. Most publishers have a division in their company that handles author relations, and they can be very helpful in making your event a success.

The sales representative can usually provide you with a deal on the books because they are for a book-signing event. Details can vary from publisher to publisher, but they should provide an extra discount and special terms. Also, they may provide point-of-purchase (P.O.P.) materials such as posters, bag stuffers, stickers or other merchandising product.

One way to keep the cash flowing is to have a well-publicized event. Give the author prominent positioning in the store, advertise and have a large display of the book in the store before the event. The more people who come to the event, the more likely it is you'll make up the money you put into it. And be sure to keep the books on hand for several weeks after the signing for residual sales.

Use the proper procedure for returning books after an author signing, and keep accurate records. Create a file with all the information on each of the signings you do so you can keep an eye out for any patterns. Having these details readily available will enable you to make better decisions about your next book signing.

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