By Lisa Malice

My First Bouchercon Conference as a Debut Author!

Wow! That pretty much sums up my Bouchercon experience this year in Nashville. The five-day conference that brings together readers and writers passionate about mystery, thrills, and suspense was more exhilarating than I could have hoped for. And for good reason. It was my first conference engaging directly with readers as a published author. It truly was an unforgettable four days.

My game plan for the conference was to get in front of these avid crime-fiction readers not just to entice them to buy my book, but to also build off their connections with other readers in the future.

My first outreach to readers was my silent auction donation designed with a skeleton-theme to highlight the closing scene of act two in Lest She Forget that sets up the story’s thrilling climax. I surrounded the box with promotional signage highlighting my IBPA Award (“Best New Voice in Fiction”), marketing materials, and notice of a “Second Chance” raffle for five bidders to each receive a Ghirardelli chocolate skeleton. Visually, the display was unlike any other auction item, one that invited people to check it out closely, bid to win it or a raffle prize, and take a brochure or bookmark.

My second outreach to readers involved making my marketing brochure available for anyone to take a copy. This 4-page, folded booklet offers readers a wealth of information about me and my book: awards, author blurbs, reader reviews, book formats, my bio and contact info, and the first chapter of Lest She Forget. I set a stack with signage in an alcove where other authors had left their bookmarks and left six on every table for the Debut Authors Breakfast.

My first face-to-face encounters with readers were two back-to-back panel appearances with follow-up book signings. As I offered my thoughts, I felt a keen sense of belonging with my fellow panelists and connection with the audience. There I was, up on the stage, microphone in my face, discussing titles (session 1) and genres (session 2) speaking to readers and authors who seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say. Bouchercon had just started, so I didn’t really expect to sell any books during the follow-up signings. But as it turns out, I impressed four readers with my thoughts enough for them to fork over $20 of their Bouchercon budget for a signed hardback copy of my book.

I felt compelled to check my stack of books regularly to see if Lest She Forget was selling, but it wasn’t. I stood nearby observing the shoppers and noticed people walk by my stack of books without a second look. I approached one reader as she picked up my book and started to read the back cover. It only took a minute chatting for her to decide to buy LEST SHE FORGET and have me sign it.

That encounter suggested that the key to selling books was meeting up with readers, so I made it a point to spend more time in the hospitality room, where I could sit down and talk with folks as they relaxed with a drink and something to eat. These visits always started with me showing interest in them, their Bouchercon experience, what genres they liked to read. If they happen to mention thrillers, then I pitched my book, and gave them brochures. I always asked about book clubs and encouraged people to let me know their thoughts on my book by contacting me through my website. This strategy worked particularly well with the winners of my second chance raffle—four of the five dashed off to the book room to buy a copy of Lest She Forget and returned for me to sign the books (the fifth winner was an author).

Readers weren’t the only people I encountered in the hospitality room. I also met two librarians and two book bloggers – “bookstagrammers” – connections which may lead to exponential growth in sales and readership.

All told, I sold twelve of my twenty copies of Lest She Forget I brought to Bouchercon. With so many books and authors to choose from at a book conference, I consider that a good showing. Moreover, my Amazon sales rankings for the e-book version of Lest She Forget jumped more than 1,000 points—from 1,956 to 873 (Kindle domestic thriller), suggesting that my marketing strategies were effective sales tools. The rankings held strongly in the low 1,000s for the next four weeks.

I’m following up with those I met – newsletters for readers and authors, emails for librarians and book bloggers to further our collaboration. I hope to see continued growth in sales and readership.

If you are an author, what marketing strategies helped you grow readership after your debut? If you are a reader, what draws you to learn more about a debut author and their book?