Hello, beautiful readers! Welcome to Day 5 of the Calling All Grandmas Blog Tour with Harriet Hodgson! Harriet is a fabulous woman who cares greatly about the well-being of others. As part of this tour she is giving away a couple of Amazon gift cards simply for leaving a comment below.
GIVEAWAY: (2) $5 Amazon gift cards
Here is a piece from Harriet about autographing books. Enjoy!
Autographing
Books Isn’t About a Signature
Autographed books sell better than those that aren’t.
When I’m asked to autograph books I accept gladly. Being asked to autograph
books is flattering, but that isn’t what autograph sessions are about. Rather,
they are an opportunity to gather information and learn what people like, don’t
like, need, and want.
What have I learned in my 43-year career?
Thick books can scare people.
Many people don’t have the time to spend on a book that examines a topic in
detail. I write books that are about 240 pages long, including the resource
list and index. Some books are much shorter.
The cover can make or break a sale. Most
of my books have photos on the covers and they extend, or bleed, to the edges of
the book. I looked at more than 2,000 photos before I chose a cover for one of
my books.
A casual approach works best. Many
people think authors are going to pressure them. To avoid this trap, I ask
people where they’re from and joke with them. This usually gets a conversation
going.
Autographing is about listening.
People have stories to tell, and I listen to them. Some stories are heartbreaking,
some make me laugh, and some make me think. Talking with readers is fun.
Please keep these ideas in mind the next time you
autograph a book. Amidst the hustle and bustle, amidst the conversation, you
may find an idea for your first book or a sequel.
Thank you, Harriet, for sharing these tips with us. I'm curious if any of you have ever gotten an autographed book. What was your experience with the author like?
Please take a moment to check out The Grandma Force by Harriet Hodgson:
Book Blurb:
Becoming the grandmother of twins changed Harriet Hodgson and altered her life course. According to Hodgson, we live in a fast-paced, complex time, a time when too many grandchildren are victims of bullying, Internet scams, and sexual abuse. Hodgson believes that grandmothers are needed today more than any other time in history.
“Grandmas can’t be passive,” she declares. “Every grandma has the power to protect and guide her grandchildren and needs to tap this power.”
This narrative weaves Hodgson’s personal story with research findings. It’s packed with ideas for helping grandchildren. Hodgson’s age, child development degree, life experience, teaching experience, witness to history, and extensive research converge to make this an inspiring read. Working individually and together, grandmas are changing the world.
“The Grandma Force is about the power of love and the power of one,” Hodgson says. “One-by-one, grandmas are standing up for grandchildren and creating a hopeful future for them.”
Author Bio:
Harriet Hodgson has been making books since she was eight
years old. In her 43-year career as a freelancer, she has written 44 books and
thousands of print/internet articles. Major publishers, such as Warner Books,
John Wiley & Sons, and Hazelden, have published her work. Harriet loves
writing so much she writes in her sleep.
Social Media Links:
Purchase Links:
To follow along with the rest of the tour, please visit the author's tour page on the 4WillsPublishing site. If you'd like to book your own blog tour and have your book promoted in similar grand fashion, please click HERE. Thanks for supporting this author and her work!
While I am not a Grandmother, I am intrigued by this book. I am all for supporting the idea of people recognizing their roles in the loving care of this world, which includes the world inside of ourselves.
ReplyDeleteCaring for others is a universal value, and I'm sure this book focuses on that. I appreciate you stopping by, Annette. :-)
DeleteYvette, thanks so much for hosting Harriet today!
ReplyDeleteIt's my pleasure! :-)
DeleteHi Harriet. I just purchased my copy of The Grandma Force just now. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteYvette, I think this might appear twice as I thought it went through before. Hopefully it won't. LOL!
Hi, Shirley! It just came through once. Thanks for supporting Harriet! :-)
DeleteThank you, Yvette, for sharing the blog tour for Harriett Hodgson. As a grandmother myself, I've seen a change in this generation, much of it brought about by social media. It's nice to see Harriet show how to make an impact.
ReplyDeleteEvery generation has shifted because of the technology introduced during its time. Luckily, we have people like Harriet to remind us of what is important. Thanks for supporting Harriet on this tour, Linnea. :-)
DeleteHi Lady Harriet, Hi Yvette,
ReplyDeleteLady Harriet, I could sing a song about listening to other people. I've found that out doing concerts here in Europe. After a concert, people crowd around me because they just want to talk to me and I have learned to listen. I've also discovered that they want to touch me, to see if I am real. I had to learn to get used to that and have given many hugs when I saw they were needed.
Thank you my dear Yvette also for hosting Lady Harriet today. Sorry, I'm late but when the post went up, I was sleeping.
Wishing both of you ladies a lovely weekend.
Shalom aleichem
Your presence is always welcome on my blog, Pat! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your experience. :-)
DeleteHi Yvette, what a lovely post. This book is a shout out to grans that support their families is meaningful ways. Great post from Harriet. She is inspiring.
ReplyDeleteShe is very inspiring. Thanks for stopping by, Rox! :-)
DeleteGrandparents can have a vital role in the well-being of their grandchildren - physically, mentally, and, even more so, emotionally. This sounds like a wonderful book full of ideas and encouragement for these powerful relationships. Thanks so much for sharing Harriet's book, Yvette, and many congrats to Harriet. :-)
ReplyDeleteI never had a close relationship with my grandmas, but I am beyond grateful that my mother is so close to my son. It makes a world of difference. Thanks for sharing your thoughts today, Diana! :-)
DeleteHarriet is such an inspiration! Thank you for supporting her today!!
ReplyDeleteIt's my pleasure. She's a wonderful lady. I'm happy you stopped by to support her, Jan. :-)
DeleteThanks for supporting Harriet. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's my pleasure. Thanks for lending your support as well, Mark. :-)
DeleteHi Harriet, these are very good tips for books and marketing. Thank you for sharing them. Hi Yvette, thanks for hosting Harriet's tour.
ReplyDeleteSo happy you came by today, Robbie! Happy birthday! :-)
Delete