P.L. STUART’S FIRST BOOK SIGNING & WHY BOOK SIGNINGS ARE AWESOME!

Welcome to my blog post for July!
 
One of the things I am most grateful for is having my first two books in The Drowned Kingdom Saga - A Drowned Kingdom, and The Last of the Atalanteans - stocked on the shelves of Indigo, Canada's leading bookstore. https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/?link-usage=Header%3A%20indigo-logo
 
It is a huge honour for me! I cannot completely describe the overwhelming feeling of pride and joy, walking into the fantasy section of select Southern Ontario stores, and seeing my books featured next to the likes of some of my most beloved fantasy authors, such as Janny Wurts, John Gwynne, N.K Jemisin, and the like. 
 
There are numerous benefits to having my works carried by Indigo stores. Among those benefits are the opportunity to do physical in-store book signings!
 
Book signings are typically hosted by libraries or physical book stores, places where customers can walk in and browse book titles to their heart's content. 
 
At book signings, the author of one of the books which is carried by the library or book-store attends for a specific time period, and autographs copies of any customers' books who approach and request that the author sign their copy. 
 
The author sometimes also signs items such as photographs or bookmarks from the readers, and the author may sometimes bring promotional material to be signed such as clothing, stationery, or posters, all to be given away to the audience. After all, everybody loves a little swag! 
 
As we all know, it was a difficult past few years on many fronts, where we battled the global pandemic, and lost many face-to-face activities. One of those activities lost was the ability for writers and readers to participate in physical book signings!
 
With book signings, authors have the incredible opportunity to engage in person, where the reader can pose questions to the author, provide direct feedback to authors about their work, receive a special copy of the books they want, signed by the author himself, and generally have fun!
 
Book signings are a joyous event, where readers and authors leave happy and inspired, feeling in a very positive mood for the interactions. It's exciting to speak to your favourite author, or learn about a new potential favourite author that you might never have heard about, until you saw their book signing advertised, or simply encountered them on a trip to the bookstore! 
 
And who wouldn't treasure a personalized book, with a dedication to the specific reader, signed by the author, in the flesh?
 
For authors, whether a seasoned and more established writer, or someone like me who is a newer author, book signings are definitely worth your time. It provides authors with the chance to have readers get to know a bit about an author as a person, hear what you have to say about your own books, introduce your books to new readers, and increase your overall brand awareness. 
 
This exceptional marketing opportunity can potentially help boost sales generically, along with any books actually sold as a direct result of the book signing. Perhaps most importantly, speaking to people directly who are interested in your work is particularly satisfying, and a feeling like no other. The privilege of being able to meet someone who has spent their hard earned time and money to want to purchase and read your book, and value meeting the person behind the book, is something that is priceless. It will potentially earn you, as a writer, a lifelong reader, who going forward wants to read your work not just because they enjoy your writing, but because they have made a personal connection with the author. 
 
I had the pleasure to participate in a book launch for The Last of the Atalanteans at the amazing Imperial City Brewhouse in Sarnia, Ontario, https://www.imperialcitybrew.com/  where I was able to meet some fantastic people, have stimulating conversations with those who also bought my book! It was very rewarding, I had a blast, and I was very enthusiastic to be able to do something like that again. 
 
Now I can happily announce my first official book signing, taking place at Indigo Windsor, 3100 Howard Ave, Windsor, ON N8X 3Y8, at Devonshire Mall, on Saturday July 23, 2022, from 1pm to 3pm Eastern Standard Time! 
 
If you are in the area, please stop by, say hi, and check out all the incredible books Indigo has to offer, including those from The Drowned Kingdom Saga!
 
I will have copies of A Drowned Kingdom, and The Last of the Atalanteans on hand to be signed, just for you!
 
See you there!
 
Please feel free to comment on this and future blogs and I will be sure to get back to you. Chat soon!