So. The LATimes Bookfest 2008.

I started the hourlong signing at 12:30 with a good line of readers. As per usual, I was sketching in the books, and even though I'm faster now (a couple of minutes, tops) at the end of the hour, I STILL had a line but my friend Sonya Sones was scheduled for the table. So I simply moved to stand at the side of the booth, in the shade, and stood there drawing and signing - for nearly four more hours. No breaks. No lull in the line. We sold a ton of books, and my publisher reps were thrilled and the booksellers were thrilled and just the act of drawing in the books kept attracting more buyers.

I signed the books they had left for Sunday sales (and my rep even emailed me after, to see if I could come BACK on Sunday - but I was already out of LA), and the last four book sales were to Neal Shusterman and Cornelia Funke. (Making this fanboy of both look very good to THEIR reps.)

I had a meeting in Scottsdale on the way home, and suggested we meet at the Desert Ridge Barnes & Noble. While I was waiting for my colleagues, I started signing stock - and a line formed, and my meeting was delayed because when they showed up I had a small crowd of people buying books. I was there two hours, and we sold two-thirds of their stock. The manager was very happy. If they aren't our top B&N, they have to be in the top group. He ordered a pile more books on the spot. And THEN I came home.

I am still slightly puzzled/delighted how I rated such a nice, um, room at the hotel - but am no longer feeling even slightly guilty about ordering the creme brulee. (Maybe a little guilty about the $9 cashews from the minibar - but, y'know, it's cashews. In the room.) Saturday was a very, very good day.

So. Regarding the realities of publishing: you are always on stage. Especially when you're actually on stage. It is, to borrow a Disney Company philosophy, an attitude of performance, not merely a job. I wasn't there in LA just to sign autographs - I was there representing both my own career and the reputation of my publisher - and I owed both my best possible performance.

The interesting side effect to a popular performance is that there are other authors there who note they don't draw the same level of attention. Some (I heart you, Sonya) are very diplomatic and philosophical about it; others radiated some seriously negative vibes. I can't apologize for the way they felt - we were all there to promote and sell books - but it's something that each author has to learn to adapt to. For me, it was a lesson I learned in comics.

My friend/mentor Dave Sim was the one who instructed me to sketch in the books. If the guy next to you has a hundred people lined up for HIM, and you have FIVE, you can stretch it out by doing drawings for the five. But here's the secret: drawing in the books gives you a chance to connect with the readers. And so it's ALWAYS a good signing, whether I have five or fifty people attend. And that's the key: the buzz that follows is that every event is a successful event.

If the readers are happy, they'll buy more books. And if you focus on the few that show up to the little events, then eventually, the few become many, who will all continue to support your work.