Guest Post with Devyn Dawson & eBook Giveaway!

Book Signing by Devyn Dawson 

Recently (yesterday, when I wrote this, but 2 weeks ago when you read it) I worked at Nicholas Sparks' book signing in New Bern, NC. If you’re a young adult, you might not know who he is. He wrote the books The Notebook, Dear John and some others that I’m losing on the top of my head. Sure, I could cheat and google it, but it doesn’t really matter. Fact is, he is incredibly successful and he literally makes women over 45 swoon over him. Seriously, they do. 

 I work part time at a big-name bookstore that was hosting the event. My job was to work the front of the line…basically I was the line commander. I was the person that had to take their book and put it on the table for him to sign. The big wigs from our company were there; his publisher was there, media, and 3000 fans. His books were to be opened and stacked opened to the page he would sign. 

I must say, his fans are loyal and they know every single aspect of his life. He lives within a mile of my house and I know very little about him. I don’t read his books. These were the rules for the signing: 

 1. He doesn’t like to be crowded in - he likes to give each person a moment to talk to him. 

 2. He was only signing the new book The Best of Me and that was it for books. 

The second rule was to be strictly enforced. Okay, try telling that to an over 60 year old person that has stood in line over 4 hours and they are “his biggest fan” - it isn’t well received. I was glared at, fussed at, I had people want to ask his assistant, they wanted to bargain, they knew someone that knew someone that had theirs signed. I heard it all. Finally they would purse their lips together and stomp over to him and point their friggin finger at me saying I said he wouldn’t sign the book. What the H? He would finally agree to sign ONE of their other books too. So the person found it their personal responsibility to come and tell me. Like I care! It didn’t matter, because someone would hear about it and put me through it when it was their turn. 

 I’m an Indie author, I write books for young adults, I like supernatural stuff and I rely on bloggers and word of mouth to help me promote my book. I don’t have big wigs; well I have a big wig but not big wigs working for me. I answer all of my own emails, I write my own blogs, I have giveaways and I don’t have 3000 fans beating down doors to get to my books. I will say I learned why women love him, he was very gracious to every single person that came over to him. He laughed, he told stories, he listened to women as they told him how much a book was loved. He took minimal breaks, no longer than 5 minutes and he smiled and posed for every single picture that was taken. I will take that with me as I begin my adventure with my books. I will remember to smile for every picture and listen to every person, I’ll bend the rules and I’ll sit there until the last person has come through the line. 

I had a signing recently - it was at a used book store, Indie Rock Place. It was in a college town on football day and I was there during the game. I saw 6 people, no one did a picture and no one knew who I was. Oddly enough I had 20 downloads of my book that night - so maybe 20 new people know who I am. Today I’d like to make a fan out of you! 

 If you’d like to hear more about my book The Legacy of Kilkenny, please stop by my website www.devyndawson.com and like me of Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Devyn-Dawson/145383098868553 

My book trailer - http://youtu.be/dchkwF1Jb8E

If you'd like to win an eBook copy of The Legacy of Kilkenny, leave a comment and your email address on this post. The contest runs from 10/17-10/20. Our winner will be announced on 10/21. The winner's email will be sent to the tour hosting company for prize delivery.