This one simple trick to sell books really works!

Last weekend I took the 90 minute drive to Winston-Salem for my second time as a Con-Gregate guest. Unlike 2022, I went to the expense of buying a sale table in “author’s alley” where I could display my books and sell directly to con-goers. A reasonable price but I was still nervous: what if I’d just wasted the money? What if I didn’t sell anything?

Still, I’ve got to admit even that had been the case, it’s really cool to see my books spread out like this:

Looking at that display, I feel like a real author. Which I am, but working day to day, getting rejections from this market or that, wondering if I’m just fooling myself, it’s easy to feel like I’m not. But I really have published quite a bit, haven’t I? In case you’re wondering, the stage-left side is my McFarland books, the rest is the product of Behold the Book, my publishing business (which is just me with a business name, but it still feels cool).

As soon as people started coming by, my old bookselling instincts (ten years at Waldenbooks) kicked in. Watch the people. Make eye contact if they turn my way. Then say “Want to buy a book?” or “I can see you have no books in your hands. I can help with that.” Get them over, answer their questions, get them to pick up a book and look at it … all the little things that make closing the sale more likely. The end result was that I cleared more than $150, paying for the table, the two books I bought from friends and my meals (if you’re in Winston-Salem, I highly recommend Washington Perk and Brothers Pizza across the street). I sold a copy of The Wizard of Oz Catalog——and The Aliens Are Here, both from McFarland. I also sold at least one copy of every one of Behold the Book’s books, with Sex for Dinner, Death for Breakfast the winner (four copies) —— and three copies of Undead Sexist Cliches (also available as an ebook)I also did several panels, got to catch up with multiple authors I know (though sitting and selling books reduced my hanging-out time) and generally had a fantastic time (not having to deal with injured Wisp didn’t hurt). But selling copies of my books was far and away the highpoint. This is the last con I have this year but I’m thinking of what I can do next year. Business cards would be good; a couple of people who didn’t buy books asked for them but I had none. I’d also like to figure out how I can balance socializing with selling.

My writing colleague Naveed Mooed was there with me and willing to cover but he had obligations and panels to attend too. Bringing someone along whose prime directive is to cover the table would be good but I don’t have anyone (it’s not TYG’s kind of event). And I am probably better at selling my wares than most people I could bring would be, and that makes a difference. Nobody as yet is going to go “Fraser Sherman has a table! Let’s go buy!” so it takes that extra effort to seal the deal.

I would like to say that after I got home my week was equally productive, but not quite. It was, however, better than the rest of July. I reworked Oh the Places You’ll Go but I’m not sure whether I’ve fixed the problems or simply created new ones (I’ll blog about this sometime soon); this may reflect that thanks to Wisp I’m still way behind on sleep and my judgment’s impaired. It says a lot that last night I fell asleep petting her and whatever I was doing in my sleep annoyed her enough she gave me a play bite to remove my hand. Yesterday and today I got little creative stuff done — but still, even discounting the weekend this was the first time this month I managed to put in a full week of writing. Yay! Hopefully we’ll do better next week.

#SFWApro. All rights to images remain with current holders; Undead Sexist Cliches cover by Kemp Ward.