Last week, I attended the Book Expo, a three day event that is basically like the “Super Bowl” for the publishing industry. It was the first time in ten years that the Expo was held in Washington, DC and it was a great opportunity for me to see what it was like. Overwhelming is one perfect description.

Imagine trying to make your way through hundreds of booths with over 25,000 other book industry people. I found it exhilarating, but one day was enough for me. I returned home loaded down with free books, promotional items (like bags, bookmarks, calendars, pens etc…), advance reading copies, catalogs and much more.

Aside from all the free things, I had the privilege of meeting several authors who where conducting book signings. While I am pleased to announce that I had some delightful encounters, there was one that still echoes in my mind as a true nightmare!

As an author, I am sympathetic to other authors who may not be ‘a public relations dream’; however, here are five things I think an author should not do at a book signing:

1. Make fun of the name of the “reader” requesting an autograph. My real name is foreign, and since this particular author could not pronounce it (for reasons I still don’t understand), she decided to ridicule it. This did not endear her to me.

2. Frown. Smiling is free. An author should spread it as much as possible.

3. Look like a stranger. I know glamour shots erase wrinkles, fine lines, sun-spots, pimples, etc… but, an author should at least TRY to look like her promotional photograph. Or better yet, don’t take glamour shots at all, dress nice and smile for the camera. You can’t go wrong.

4. Ignore potential readers. An author should be engaging. Let me give you an example. I met a delightful author who came up to me and chatted with me for a few moments before signing my book. Her energy was up and she smiled throughout. My nightmare author just sat in her chair, with her hands folded and stared at me as though I were a homeless person who had just invaded her house. Which one do you think I enjoyed the most?

5. Put ego before the reader. Okay, as an author I understand that it can be a lonely business. However, I know that I do not exist in a bubble. I have books on the shelves because there are readers willing to buy them. I do not take that miracle for granted. I do not consider readers as peasants in my kingdom but rather as distant kindred spirits (with some nuts in the mix, but that’s to be expected). All authors should remember that readers got them there. Lose one, and you can lose them all.

Okay that’s my simple advice to any authors out there. Have you ever met an author you liked who in person proved to be a disappointment? Or can you share a memorable book signing experience, either good or bad?