ve your autograph? Will you sign backlist copies? Be clear with your protocol and you'll reduce repeated questions.

4) Engage your audience. Smile at us. Laugh with us. Humor us. Make us feel like never wanting to leave you. Give us all of you so we can shout it to all our friends.

5) Ride in style. If you want to make a lasting impression for your fans, your entrance at the bookstore should be memorable. Allow a chauffeur to open the door for you. Don't be bashful. Remember, you are the celebrity everyone came to see.

If your book is about the military, arrive in a camouflaged Hummer. If it's about prosp

It was 7 o'clock on a Wednesday evening at Borders. The fans gathered in the rear for a chance to experience their celebrity author. She came in without music, fanfare or a formal greeting. The announcer directed the first group to line up on one side. Lucky number one in line received the first door prize and the hoopla began.

After submitting your book proposal and signing with a book publisher, it's time to promote your book. Besides media appearances, joint venture deals, online and offline marketing campaigns, niche industry and association distribution channels, and seminar promotions—you'll want to connect with your public at a local book signing.

Depending on your topic and professional reputation, these may involve half-day events. They may seem like work, but they allow the public to fall in love with you in person. And take home more of your life-changing resources.

How to host a dynamic book signing...

1) Create the proper ambiance. The tablecloth should balance with your book cover graphics. The backdrop could be mobile shelves containing your books face forward and spiced with balloons and other decorations.

You may want to bring a bucket of candy for children, random door prizes, and complimentary promo items. A banner hung behind you will draw more attention from onlookers. And posters of you hung inside the bookstore and displayed on the front windows can add to the excitement.

2) Work with support staff. The local bookstore may provide a runner to prepare each book's actual message for you to write. They may position a staff member in front of the line to enforce the who's-up-next rule. And they may provide the public address announcer, a ticket administrator, and others for general assistance.

The local radio station may provide their personal event staff. They may bring radio personalities and studio staff waiting in the wings to assist either you or your fans. They may have a go-to person who directs traffic, announces the rules, and takes photographs. And if you write on a controversial topic, they may provide security to deter hecklers and double as escorts.

3) State your protocol. One simple solution is to have it printed on the numbered tickets passed out to all participants. List the size of each group allowed in line. State whether photos are allowed—and if using flash is permissible.

Will you sign an unlimited amount of books? Do they have to order your latest book (from the host store) to receive your autograph? Will you sign backlist copies? Be clear with your protocol and you'll reduce repeated questions.

4) Engage your audience. Smile at us. Laugh with us. Humor us. Make us feel like never wanting to leave you. Give us all of you so we can shout it to all our friends.

5) Ride in style. If you want to make a lasting impression for your fans, your entrance at the bookstore should be memorable. Allow a chauffeur to open the door for you. Don't be bashful. Remember, you are the celebrity everyone came to see.

If your book is about the military, arrive in a camouflaged Hummer. If it's about prosp

h your public at a local book signing.

Depending on your topic and professional reputation, these may involve half-day events. They may seem like work, but they allow the public to fall in love with you in person. And take home more of your life-changing resources.

How to host a dynamic book signing...

1) Create the proper ambiance. The tablecloth should balance with your book cover graphics. The backdrop could be mobile shelves containing your books face forward and spiced with balloons and other decorations.

You may want to bring a bucket of candy for children, random door prizes, and complimentary promo items. A banner hung behind you will draw more attention from onlookers. And posters of you hung inside the bookstore and displayed on the front windows can add to the excitement.

2) Work with support staff. The local bookstore may provide a runner to prepare each book's actual message for you to write. They may position a staff member in front of the line to enforce the who's-up-next rule. And they may provide the public address announcer, a ticket administrator, and others for general assistance.

The local radio station may provide their personal event staff. They may bring radio personalities and studio staff waiting in the wings to assist either you or your fans. They may have a go-to person who directs traffic, announces the rules, and takes photographs. And if you write on a controversial topic, they may provide security to deter hecklers and double as escorts.

3) State your protocol. One simple solution is to have it printed on the numbered tickets passed out to all participants. List the size of each group allowed in line. State whether photos are allowed—and if using flash is permissible.

Will you sign an unlimited amount of books? Do they have to order your latest book (from the host store) to receive your autograph? Will you sign backlist copies? Be clear with your protocol and you'll reduce repeated questions.

4) Engage your audience. Smile at us. Laugh with us. Humor us. Make us feel like never wanting to leave you. Give us all of you so we can shout it to all our friends.

5) Ride in style. If you want to make a lasting impression for your fans, your entrance at the bookstore should be memorable. Allow a chauffeur to open the door for you. Don't be bashful. Remember, you are the celebrity everyone came to see.

If your book is about the military, arrive in a camouflaged Hummer. If it's about prosp

y promo items. A banner hung behind you will draw more attention from onlookers. And posters of you hung inside the bookstore and displayed on the front windows can add to the excitement.

2) Work with support staff. The local bookstore may provide a runner to prepare each book's actual message for you to write. They may position a staff member in front of the line to enforce the who's-up-next rule. And they may provide the public address announcer, a ticket administrator, and others for general assistance.

The local radio station may provide their personal event staff. They may bring radio personalities and studio staff waiting in the wings to assist either you or your fans. They may have a go-to person who directs traffic, announces the rules, and takes photographs. And if you write on a controversial topic, they may provide security to deter hecklers and double as escorts.

3) State your protocol. One simple solution is to have it printed on the numbered tickets passed out to all participants. List the size of each group allowed in line. State whether photos are allowed—and if using flash is permissible.

Will you sign an unlimited amount of books? Do they have to order your latest book (from the host store) to receive your autograph? Will you sign backlist copies? Be clear with your protocol and you'll reduce repeated questions.

4) Engage your audience. Smile at us. Laugh with us. Humor us. Make us feel like never wanting to leave you. Give us all of you so we can shout it to all our friends.

5) Ride in style. If you want to make a lasting impression for your fans, your entrance at the bookstore should be memorable. Allow a chauffeur to open the door for you. Don't be bashful. Remember, you are the celebrity everyone came to see.

If your book is about the military, arrive in a camouflaged Hummer. If it's about prosp

dio staff waiting in the wings to assist either you or your fans. They may have a go-to person who directs traffic, announces the rules, and takes photographs. And if you write on a controversial topic, they may provide security to deter hecklers and double as escorts.

3) State your protocol. One simple solution is to have it printed on the numbered tickets passed out to all participants. List the size of each group allowed in line. State whether photos are allowed—and if using flash is permissible.

Will you sign an unlimited amount of books? Do they have to order your latest book (from the host store) to receive your autograph? Will you sign backlist copies? Be clear with your protocol and you'll reduce repeated questions.

4) Engage your audience. Smile at us. Laugh with us. Humor us. Make us feel like never wanting to leave you. Give us all of you so we can shout it to all our friends.

5) Ride in style. If you want to make a lasting impression for your fans, your entrance at the bookstore should be memorable. Allow a chauffeur to open the door for you. Don't be bashful. Remember, you are the celebrity everyone came to see.

If your book is about the military, arrive in a camouflaged Hummer. If it's about prosp

ve your autograph? Will you sign backlist copies? Be clear with your protocol and you'll reduce repeated questions.

4) Engage your audience. Smile at us. Laugh with us. Humor us. Make us feel like never wanting to leave you. Give us all of you so we can shout it to all our friends.

5) Ride in style. If you want to make a lasting impression for your fans, your entrance at the bookstore should be memorable. Allow a chauffeur to open the door for you. Don't be bashful. Remember, you are the celebrity everyone came to see.

If your book is about the military, arrive in a camouflaged Hummer. If it's about prosperity, a nice stretch limo will do. Or if it's a western, then horses with a covered wagon may be the ticket.

6) Dress appropriately. Your attire will say a lot about you. So dress as professionally as you can for your topic. This may include wearing make-up or jewelry.

If your topic is on poverty in America, then wearing a sharp business suit may not be suitable. If you're a performer writing about life as a nightclub dancer, dressing in your work outfit may not be appropriate. Dressing congruently with your topic adds to your credibility. Going overboard to test the borders of decency can destroy it.

7) Capture names. This an oversight committed by many published authors. If you're an author, then you are in business. Businesses need to make money to survive. And one under-utilized method many successful authors are cashing in on is building a list.

You can easily do this by holding a raffle. Since you are the star, fans love to possess some memorabilia you own. Maybe it's a teddy bear, a grammar school lunchbox, or the clothes you wore at your high school prom. Have us fill out a card with name, e-mail, phone number, and shipping address. See, that was easy!

The prime directives for your book signing are selling books, resources, and allowing your fans to fall deeper in love with you. They will want to take a little part of you home with them. Create this magic and you will have adoring fans for life.

Tommy Yan helps business owners and entrepreneurs make more money through direct response marketing. He publishes Tommy's Tease weekly e-zine to inspire people to succeed in business and personal growth. Get your free subscription today at www.TommyYan.com.