By Athena Dean

Over the years I’ve heard of writers going to great lengths to become a successful author. While some of the stories are borderline comical, others make me cringe. I’ve also known authors who have discovered great professional ways to support their local stores. Authors should build relationships with local booksellers and become a resource to them, not become someone they want to cross the street to avoid!

Here are eight guidelines to help you make friends with your local bookstore staff.

1.  Introduce Yourself

If you don’t already know the folks at your local Christian store, stop by and introduce yourself. Let them know about your book, and that you’d love to make yourself available for a signing or special event. Don’t take a lot of their time, be brief and to the point.

2.  Don’t Be Overzealous

Don’t call or stop by more than once every few weeks to ask how your book is selling. Your zeal can come across as nagging if you’re not careful.

3.  Don’t Push Them to Hand-Sell Your Book

Don’t ask the sales staff at your local bookstore to hand-sell your book or recommend you to local church leaders. That kind of suggestion is best coming from them as a result of their excitement about your message.

4.  Don’t Assume They’ll Read Your Book

Don’t constantly ask if each staff member has read your book yet. If they want to, they will read it, and if they are sold on it, you’ll be the first to know.

5.  Don’t Push Your Book on Store Customers

When you are in the store and there are other customers browsing, don’t try to talk them into buying your book. Nothing will alienate the staff more than this kind of behavior.

6.  Send Friends to the Store

Do send people in to buy your book. If your local Christian store is going to stock your book, then support them in return by sending customers in to buy your book.

7.  Help Promote Your Book Signing

Should they set a book signing for you, find out what their goals might be and see how you might help meet them. To help advertise the event provide the store with bag stuffers and posters prior to your signing?

8.  Make Your Book Signing an Event to Remember

If possible, develop a festive theme or workshop event that you can provide your local booksellers to build around your book signing. This gives them a special event to offer, rather than a simple book signing. Customers look for an experience. Think of creative ways you can turn a book signing into a unique happening for those who attend.

Athena Dean is a Solutions Advisor for the Pleasant Word division. She works with new authors who need to test the market for their book using custom print-on-demand technology.