My First Author Signing: A Tell-All

I’ve done tons of events—book festivals, comic cons, craft fairs. I know how to set up a table, give my pitch, and sell in person. But when I was the main attraction? I was a wreck, y’all.

This post is NOT a tutorial on how to host a book signing—there are plenty of those out on the net. Instead, this is my tell-all-behind-the-scenes look at how my first-ever book signing went.

An Idea Emerges

I went to my local Barnes & Noble, as one does, and was pleased to see my author friend B.L. Mostyn there with copies of her debut novel, Heroes of Another Age. After gushing over her book’s gorgeous cover, snagging some bookmarks, and wishing her luck for the day, an idea started forming in my head.

Chat, I was locked in.

I had been wanting to plan something to mark the launch of my upcoming Puzzling Escapes book. I could do another online launch party like we did for Starship Blunder but was wanting something in-person. However, a launch party would need a venue—hopefully outside of my house—along with snacks/food/beverages, some form of entertainment (maybe a puzzle demo?), and a big stack of books to sell. I’d need to plan and pay for everything myself as well as handle sales transactions during the event.

It sounded like a big headache.

However… I could do a signing at a bookstore. My local B&N has a café, so I wouldn’t need to worry about snacks. Plus, the store would handle ordering books and processing sales. At a signing, people are welcome to come and go as they please, so I wouldn’t need to prepare anything or do a reading. (On that note, how does one do a reading for a puzzle book?)

After mulling it over, I decided to reach out to Mostyn and get her thoughts.

Dear B.L. Mostyn,

I want to copy you and plan a signing too. Please show me the way.

Love, Beth Martin^*

She quickly replied, saying,

DO IT!^*

^* This is not our actual email exchange; I’m just summarizing for pacing and humor.

We exchanged a few more emails, where Mostyn gave me helpful information and encouragement, convincing me that a signing would be easy to set up and totally chill.

But I would not chill.

Getting on the Schedule

After getting more encouragement from other author friends during our weekly writing sessions at a coffee house, I stormed into my local B&N with the one-page summary Parragon had put together of the Puzzling Escapes series, a business card, a couple bookmarks, and a puzzle pamphlet which I had forced my D&D group to test play the previous week.

I walked up to the register, where there were a couple of staff and introduced myself as an author and asked who I should talk to about the possibility of scheduling an author signing.

Any initial hesitation on the staff’s behalf melted quickly as I began talking about my books. Even though I try to be a humble person, you have to admit, the Puzzling Escapes series is really cool. The assistant manager snapped pictures of my stuff to show the manager and gave me the email for the person I needed to contact to set up the signing.

My author friend quickly replied, saying, “DO IT!”

I agonized over the wording of that email, and once it was perfect, I hit send. Then all I had to do was wait.

Naturally, I began freaking out as the days went by and I hadn’t received a reply. I began formulating backup plans in case B&N decided not to host me. I could ask a coffee shop to host something. Maybe I could plan an event at an escape room place. I could book a different bookstore. I meticulously listed out my plan B, C, and D just in case.

When enough time had passed, I emailed my local B&N again, hoping they just needed a nudge and hadn’t completely forgotten about me. The very next day, I got a message back stating they’d be happy to host my signing.

Phew!

No One Will Come

Recently, a woman’s post about no one showing up to her book signing at a local teashop went viral on TikTok and X. She’s not the first to have this happen, and certainly won’t be the last.

I told myself that no matter what happened, I would host the best book signing I could.

I’ve been to a few bookish parties, and I know that it’s completely up to the author to drive interest in the event. This is part of why I was afraid to host a solo book signing. The venue and my publisher might promote the event a little bit, but if no one came, I could only blame myself.

Even famous and prolific authors have held signings to lackluster turnouts, so I wasn’t taking any chances. As soon as the date and time were confirmed, I spread the word like my life depended on it. I told everyone I knew to come say hi. They didn’t even have to buy a book—just stop by, take a picture, and gush with me for a moment.

I promoted the event on social media and announced it through my newsletter. I rallied my friends, asked my writing critique group for help, and hopped onto Discord to share the news with my online writing crew. If this thing flopped, it wouldn’t be for lack of trying.

Copies Come in the Mail

Nothing hits quite like the first time you see an actual print copy of your new book. Although I knew what The Haunted House Mystery would look like, I had a hard time imagining all the elements put together. Seeing the books for the first time, with the spiral binding, tabbed dividers, and gorgeous artwork, was so special.

I immediately emailed Parragon to gush about how gorgeous the books were. I also mentioned that I set up a signing soon after the launch. A whirlwind of awesome followed that—they put out a gorgeous book trailer, one of the staff reached out to B&N to help organize details for the signing and ensure the store ordered enough books, and their local rep contacted other bookstores willing to host signings. It felt like me and my book were actually a big deal, and I couldn’t wait until the book launch.

The Other Author

Everything was finally coming together. My first traditional book launch was approaching, and I had planned a launch event, posted about it on my social media, shared it in my newsletter, and bought a banner and bookmarks specifically for the event.

Chat, I was locked in.

I got an email from my Parragon liaison. Another author would be doing a signing at the same place, day, and time as me. Was I cool with that?

Absolutely not.

After crying to my hubby, friends, writing group, and Chat GPT, I responded asking that they pretty please move the other event. I didn’t want to be a diva, but this book had been SEVEN YEARS in the making, and I wanted my one day.

Rationally, I knew it wouldn’t be a problem. Both authors could simultaneously hold signings. In fact, it could be a good thing! People who came in for the other author might also be interested in my book, and vice versa.

If no one came, I could only blame myself.

I told myself that no matter what happened, I would host the best book signing I could. I made sure to order plenty of business cards and bookmarks, printed out cute signs for my table, ordered new tablecloths, and put together an outfit that balanced spooky haunted vibes with I’m totally a pro author.

The Day Comes

I asked another amazing author friend of mine, J.L. Birchwood, to help me set up. I didn’t need help setting up (which she keenly pointed out while still agreeing to come), but I knew I’d be a ball of nerves, and she’s the kind of person who gets things done and would keep me on track.

We arrived way too early and ended up killing time for a few hours before we could actually set up my table. I enjoyed chatting about all things writing and reading, and then we grabbed a quick bite for lunch before returning to Barnes & Noble to decorate my signing table. There, another talented author, Melisa Peterson Lewis, met us and offered her help as well.

As we set out bookmarks and fairy lights on top of the dark blue tablecloth, the B&N staff wheeled out the copies of my book they had ordered. I had heard tales of other authors selling out the ten copies of their novel they brought to a signing. Apparently, the bookstore staff had been confident that they would sell more than ten copies of my book, and I stared in a mixture of horror and delight at the huge stack of 50+ copies of my haunted house-themed puzzle book.

I was in for a really good day... or a very bad one.

It’s Go Time!

My friends and I hadn’t quite finished setting up when a crowd of people began flocking to my display at the front of the bookstore. I still needed to take pictures of my pristine setup and post on social media! But more pressing was the line of excited people who wanted me to sign a copy of my new book.

See, it turns out, when you host a signing that lasts from 1 PM until… some other time… and you know a lot of punctual people, quite a few of them will show up at 1 PM on the dot. It was such a rush chatting with that first wave of readers, signing book after book, making sure to thank every individual for coming while still keeping the line of book-lovers moving.

Most of the event, I was too busy chatting with bookstore customers, gushing about my book, and greeting my many friends who showed up to worry about hard selling my book, achieving a certain number of sales, or the other author doing a signing event elsewhere in the store. As I talked to people about how I crafted a puzzle book which included hints and solutions to ensure that readers never got stuck, I saw bookstore patrons flip through copies of my book, tackling the puzzles while lounging in the café. The pile of books the store provided for my signing quickly dwindled until only a dozen or so copies remained.

There’s one thing I know for sure: I’m not done.

By 5 pm, I was pretty damn tired and ready to wrap up. Some of my friends and members of my writing group helped me pack up my cute banner and stuff my remaining bookmarks and the fairy lights into my tote. We migrated to the Mexican restaurant next door, where many margaritas were consumed.

Conclusion

So, what did I learn from my launch event book signing?

First off, I have amazing friends and an S-tier writing group. I was really counting on them to help make my event a success, and they went above and beyond to support me.

As for the things in my control:

Write the best god damn book you can.

Pour your heart and soul into it, and edit the shit out of it until it’s something you can be truly proud of.

This whole author journey thing has been exactly that: a journey. If I’m only known for my puzzle books and not my quirky anthologies and thought-provoking fiction, I’m okay with that. But there’s one thing I know for sure: I’m not done. In fact, to quote Backman-Turner Overdrive,

“You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet.”

Puzzling Escapes: The Haunted House Mystery Trailer

I am so excited to share this! Parragon created an official book trailer for Puzzling Escapes: The Haunted House Mystery, and it’s AMAZING. The book is amazing too, so definitely give the trailer a watch!

You can get your own copy of the book on July 1st. If you love escape rooms, haunted houses, or solving puzzles that test your brain power, then you’re going to love this spooky adventure!

Or, if you’re willing to wait a few days, then come meet me in person! I’ll be signing books at Columbia Barnes & Noble on July 12. Stop by, grab your copy, and say hi! I’ll have some fun extras at the table, too, including Puzzling Escapes bookmarks.

Thanks for being part of this wild (and haunted) ride. I can’t wait for you to get your hands on this book!

New Short Story: A Delicate Deception

I’m thrilled to share my newest short story with you! “A Delicate Deception” is a dramatic take on the fake-wedding-date trope with a sharp emotional edge.

Mark is a broken man—but it’s not just because of his disability. It’s how his family treats him.

Determined to prove his worth, Mark recruits the perfect date for his cousin’s wedding: Amelia. She’s beautiful, confident, and loves weddings. She’s also married with kids, but agrees to pretend she and Mark are a couple for the day. As the reception unfolds and their ruse unravels, Amelia begins to see the truth: Mark hasn’t only tried to deceive his family—he’s deceived her, too.

Download the “A Delicate Deception” Ebook Now!

Behind the Deception

There’s something strange about American weddings. The emphasis on pairing off can be downright oppressive. I’ve read countless r/relationships threads where the “plus one” dilemma leads to intense family drama. Inspired to write my own twist on the fake-date trope, I wanted my story to cut deeper than mere social awkwardness or rom-com hijinks.

Mark isn’t hard to love because of his condition.
He’s hard to love because he’s kind of an asshole.

At first, I wanted to write a sci-fi story: a robot would be the ultimate fake date. Unfortunately, the futuristic setting didn’t quite work. The story gained more nuance and emotional weight once I reimagined Amelia as a real woman with her own life, priorities, and flaws.

Delicate Representation

The central idea I wanted to explore in “A Delicate Deception” was a disabled person experiencing conflict that had nothing to do with their disability. I wanted to present Mark’s struggles with empathy without indulging in pity.

Mark’s disability is based on a real and rare genetic disorder that causes fragile skin, frequent bruising, and painful complications. I don’t name the condition in the story because I didn’t want curious readers to put the story down to Google it. However, I did watch several documentaries to get the details right. I wrote Mark as able enough to live semi-independently, but he struggles to hold a steady job and maintain relationships.

But here’s the thing: Mark isn’t hard to love because of his condition. He’s hard to love because he’s kind of an asshole.

Some Things Take Time

This story sat on my computer for a while. I brought it to my writing group more than once, and it went through more revision rounds than I usually do.

An earlier version had Mark and Amelia as true crime podcasters, but that led readers to expect a murder. I was not about to sidetrack the entire story to include a violent crime, so I had the characters get passionate over video games instead.

The ending was especially tricky. I flip-flopped on how much fallout there should be and whether Mark would learn anything from the folly. In the end, I wrote a conclusion that felt honest for these characters—and I hope it hits you in the heart the same way it hit me.

Ready to read?

Get “A Delicate Deception”

I hope you enjoy this new short story—and feel free to let me know what you think!

Video Game Review: Blue Prince

I love a good puzzle adventure, whether it’s an escape room, board game, video game, or puzzle book. My husband purchased and played the video game Blue Prince for an hour before mentioning the title to me. He compared it to the game Myst, which is a guaranteed way to get me to give the game a shot.

A Game Like Myst? I’M IN!

Since my computer is a Mac, I had to steal time at my husband’s PC setup in order to play the game, and after getting a feel for the mechanics, I dragged him into the gameplay. A few days later, we made it to the end credits together.

In Blue Prince, you play as a boy named Simon. Your uncle has just passed and bequeathed his unique estate of Mt. Holly to you. However, wanting you to earn his title of Baron, he has set up an elaborate puzzle hunt you must solve in order to find the 46th room and gain ownership of the mansion.

The Mysterious Mt. Holly

Mt. Holly isn’t an ordinary mansion: every morning, the rooms are an unknown grid, and only as you open doors do you “draft” the room on the other side. Each time you draft a new room, you choose among three different options, slowly putting together the blueprint for the mansion for the day. The initial puzzle is clear: arrange the rooms so you can traverse the length of the mansion and make it to the location of the hidden 46th room.

Of course, there are other puzzles present throughout the mansion. You need to find keys to open doors and gems to draft better rooms. Certain tools scattered around the mansion will help you find more items, and a couple of the rooms, including the parlor, have unique puzzles to solve every day. Certain rooms synergize with other rooms, allowing you to crack safes and draft super-rare rooms.

While struggling early in the game, I did some research on Reddit, and other players swore that this game is an absolute gem—they discovered new and unique things about the mansion every day! Meanwhile, the random-number gods were frowning upon me, making it so that my rooms never lined up nicely, and I had to keep restarting the day because I met yet another dead end. 

You’ll Want to Take Notes

It was particularly frustrating when some of the larger puzzles that required many rooms and diligent notes over several in-game days to solve produced a hidden message akin to, “Don’t forget to drink your Ovaltine!” So many times, I’d uncover a well-hidden clue that revealed the location of a permanent upgrade—an upgrade that I had already unlocked while stumbling through Mt. Holly trying to make progress. There ended up being several puzzles like this, where I had already found the item the solution meant to uncover.

Meanwhile, the random-number gods were frowning upon me...

However, this meant that by the time I had all the permanent upgrades, I could plow through the mansion and do basically whatever I pleased, finally finding the last room and completing the game.

Of course, like any good puzzle game, there are more mysteries to solve. I still haven’t unlocked the entire story of the game, so although some of the details surrounding Simon’s mother’s disappearance have been revealed, where she went and what happened to make her flee remain unknown.

A Quick Gripe About Video Games in Particular

This is a big difference I’ve noticed between video games and other media. In a book or film, all of the information is presented to you, and you simple go through and experience the whole story. For escape rooms—physical, book, and board game—you can find the clues and unlock the puzzles in any order, but all the puzzles must be solved, and the whole room gets unlocked and discovered. However, in video games, hundreds of similar puzzles can be generated, letting the player discover only one path through the game to make it to the ending, leaving much of the story unexplored.

Although I love the thrill of solving the puzzles, I want the full story too! I wish I had infinite time to go to war with the random-number-generator and tackle every last little riddle in Blue Prince, but I don’t think that’ll happen. Thankfully, there’s a big enough community around the game that I should be able to find a guide that reveals the rest of the story.

I love discovering the mechanics behind an incredibly challenging logic puzzle, even if I wasn’t able to solve it myself, and I also want to unveil the entire story without relying on others to figure everything out for me. That’s why I make sure the Puzzling Escapes books have explanations for all the puzzles and guide readers when they get stuck, so they can always uncover the mysteries behind the story.

Learn more about Puzzling Escapes!

This issue—not being able to see the full story behind the game until you complete every single challenge—is pretty typical for video games, so I won’t fault Blue Prince for doing it as well.

Overall, Blue Prince is a fabulous game full of wonder and puzzle-solving fun. Most likely, you won’t have my terrible luck and will progress smoothly through the game. And if you do have wretched luck like me, always draft the observatory—that room has some sweet perks!