Small towns make for good signings

I took part Saturday in the second annual author signing at the Manchester Coffee County Public Library in the small town of Manchester, TN, around 70 miles south of Nashville. I was one of twenty-four authors, including five from my Sisters in Crime Chapter in Nashville. It was a cold, blustery day, but a nice crowd of readers came out.

I sold enough books to make the trip worthwhile. What was more interesting, one of the librarians told me a lot of their patrons work at Arnold Air Force Base nearby. She had been telling them about my books, which feature retired Air Force Lt. Col. Greg McKenzie. The library is buying all of the books and expects them to circulate well.

I had a similar experience at this signing to one I had the previous Saturday at the Trousdale County Historical Society. A couple of older men told me all about a famous unsolved murder in the area. Apparently people in small towns take pride in their murderous pasts.

Both signings went well. These types of appearances have several advantages. You get to tell lots of new people about your books, and you can go there and get back home in one day. That makes them less expensive.