Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Overheard At A Booksigning

Of my books on the signing table.
"Are these complimentary?"

Of the topic of filicide.
"I can't read this. I read The Lovely Bones and I hated it."

Of my pitch that it's about a man trying to understand his wife by way of understanding the family secrets and ancestors in her family.
"Oh, we all have black sheep in our family. My brother's wife just left him and he's now realizing it had something to do with her mother."

Of my description of the book to a kind old man.
"Sounds good. Let me go ask my wife."

Of my offer to sign a book for a woman.
"Oh, are you the author?"

Of my introduction to the next person who approached my table, "Hi, I'm the author Karen Harrington."
"Hello the author Karen Harrington."

Of the mints on my signing table.
"What are these for?"

Of the puzzle on my signing table.
"Why did you cut up your cover like that?"

Of the woman who ran over to my table with her hubby and told me her name was Jane.
Hubby: "If I read this, will I understand my wife better?"

Me: Huh Huh. Maybe. Here's a bookmark." (She leaves. Returns 10 mintues later.)
"OMG! My husband's name is Tom!" (See, the couple in my book are named Jane and Tom.)

Of my accidental penning "Very best pictures" (Doh! Should have written WISHES)
Me: "Oh, I'm so sorry. We were talking about pictures, and, well, ha ha…well, if I become famous, one day this will be very valuable."


INTERESTING STATS
Signings: 3
Books sold: 43
Ratio of male/female purchasers: 30%/70%

-
www.karenharringtonbooks.com

4 comments:

Cheryl Tardif said...

This is so funny, Karen! Trust me, it'll keep happening. Some days I have to just shake my head...so I don't strangle someone. lol

Things I've heard while doing a signing, while dressed professionally and standing behind a table with a banner across the front that reads, "Meet bestselling author Cheryl Kaye Tardif".

*Can you tell me where to find the book: Political Warfare and Toxicology...blah..blah
(because I so obviously look like not only a bookstore employee but an intellectual...hmmmm)

*Where's the washroom?
(go outside, walk about 5 blocks, then pick a house...)

*What are you selling here?
(my book...? I'll throw in a free bookmark.)

*Can you give me a discount on this cookbook?
(do you have an iRewards card? If so, I'll give you 10% off.)

*Where's the bus terminal?
(Hmmm...I'm inside a mall...my guess is...OUTSIDE...?)

*What's your name?
(uh, let me check that big sign in front of my table.)

*Will the author be coming in to sign books?
(yup, she'll be here all day)

*Your sign is crooked.
(Thank you. Do you want a free bookmark to go with the book you're going to buy off my table?)

*Can you watch my bag for a few minutes?
(got anything interesting in there? Chocolate maybe?)

*Does your book have....you know...lots of...sex...in it?
(Not Whale Song, but my other two have enough to heat things up. Why, did you want more sex?)

*So Divine Intervention is about psychic government agents. Are you psychic?
(I knew you were going to ask me that.)

P.S. Thanks, Karen. I'm going to blog about this now...and I'll link to your blog for more, if you'll link to mine...hehehe

Cheryl Kaye Tardif,
bestselling author and patience expert :)

Karen Harrington said...

C -

Your comments are too funny. I keep waiting for the bathroom comment, but I haven't gotten it...yet. It's only a matter of time, I'm sure.

K

Linda Merlino said...

Linduh here...I am cracking up over these comments. Laughed so hard I put my first response on the wrong post...
bacio...Linda

Beth Fehlbaum, Author said...

No book signings for me yet, but I did attend one Author Forum where the lady pushing her books at the table in front of me ended every sentence with, "..but that was BEFORE the head injury..."

AND, my oldest daughter works at a Borders, and, until she did, she actually considered having children. Now, after two years at Borders? Well, at least I have two other daughters who might have kids someday... as long as they don't go to work in a bookstore any time soon....

Beth Fehlbaum, author
Courage in Patience, a story of hope for those who have endured abuse
http://courageinpatience.blogspot.com
Chapter 1 is online!