I sold all six copies of Led to the Slaughter I had in the store within 2 hours yesterday.
Like, Wow.
I've figured out the most effective phrasing, the combination of words that best sells the book, which goes something like this:
"I wrote this book..." I say in a mild voice. I lean over and touch it. Sometimes, I'll put it in their hands.
"Oh?" Either zero interest (about 50%) or tiny interest (about 25%) or actual interest.
So if they evince actual interest, we go on. Otherwise, I shut up.
"How cool!" they might say. "You're Duncan McGeary? What's it about?"
"Do you know what the Donner Party was?"
Most people say yes, otherwise I explain. Then I point to the sub-title, the Donner Part Werewolves.
Some customers nearly throw the book back on the shelf, but others are unfazed, so I continue.
"Well, I wrote it as if I discovered the original journals of the Donner Party. You know, they all wrote in journals in those days. So I try to keep is as real as possibly, the real people, the real sequence of events...except, at certain important points, I put in the werewolves (which I treat as natural creatures.)
Customer either 1.) put its back. 2.) starts leafing through it. 3.) Carries on the conversation.
I then offer to sign it.
And then, I stay silent. Waiting. And amazingly, a certain number will put it in front of me and say, "I'll buy it."
So the paradox is -- I can sell my own books when I'm in the store.
But I can't write my books when I'm in the store...
Like, Wow.
I've figured out the most effective phrasing, the combination of words that best sells the book, which goes something like this:
"I wrote this book..." I say in a mild voice. I lean over and touch it. Sometimes, I'll put it in their hands.
"Oh?" Either zero interest (about 50%) or tiny interest (about 25%) or actual interest.
So if they evince actual interest, we go on. Otherwise, I shut up.
"How cool!" they might say. "You're Duncan McGeary? What's it about?"
"Do you know what the Donner Party was?"
Most people say yes, otherwise I explain. Then I point to the sub-title, the Donner Part Werewolves.
Some customers nearly throw the book back on the shelf, but others are unfazed, so I continue.
"Well, I wrote it as if I discovered the original journals of the Donner Party. You know, they all wrote in journals in those days. So I try to keep is as real as possibly, the real people, the real sequence of events...except, at certain important points, I put in the werewolves (which I treat as natural creatures.)
Customer either 1.) put its back. 2.) starts leafing through it. 3.) Carries on the conversation.
I then offer to sign it.
And then, I stay silent. Waiting. And amazingly, a certain number will put it in front of me and say, "I'll buy it."
So the paradox is -- I can sell my own books when I'm in the store.
But I can't write my books when I'm in the store...