Erik Estabrook tells about his first Booksigning

My First Book Signing

Contributed by

Erik Estabrook www.erikestabrook.com

The experience of my first book signing was valuable one. I find it important to note that many poets will never get known unless you hit media outlets or spots where you can have signings, recitals, etc.

I organized my first book signing at Starbucks in Alexandria, Virginia. I was faced with allot of uncertainty in arranging it.

First the possibility of them laughing me out of the building.

Second the fact that you could undersell.

Third the fact that there could be absolutely no interest.

At my first book signing I was approached by a fellow poet who was traveling the country.She was one of the most important contact I've met to this day.She goes by the name the Midnight Writer, and writes stunning poetry. She blogged about me on her site, and we talked throughout the day.

It was at the signing that I learned valuable salesmanship tools. I found that if you ask them to read your book while drinking their coffee and relaxing you just might have a sale, and if you don't you've still met someone.

The Starbucks coffee signing trained me with sales knowledge, people skills, and in the end it just turned out to be a heck of allot of fun. All and all it is not a successful signing if you don't enjoy yourself, enjoy the atmosphere, and the people around you.

ErikEstabrook.com - Homepage

www.erikestabrook.com

Erik Estabrook's Art and Poetry: personal poetry site of published poet Erik Estabrook.

The Cafe's First Poetry Round Robin

Image by . SantiMB . via Flickr

It is my pleasure to introduce The Midnight Writer's Cafes First Poetry Round Robin. I will begin the poem with the first two lines which I will base on inspiration taken from the picture above.

The rules for this round robin are simple. Ponder the photo above and read the two lines of the poem that I wrote. Add two lines in the comment below along with a link to your site and any comments or suggestions about the round robin or the cafe blog or the photo or the poem. All of this information will be taken into consideration in future round robins.

What are you waiting for? Sprinkle your creative magic dust to the two lines below.

(1) Arching above the confines of my mind run pillars of artfully crafted wood

(2) Whose designs compliment the geometric symmetry below me

Please number your lines in sequence with the ones before your comment, such as (1)(2)(3)(4) and so forth....

This round robin will run until it reaches a sensible completion of the poem. If that is doubtful in my mind, I will put a vote out to the readers to let them decide. There will be prizes and other rules made up as this goes on and you will help contribute to all the action.

Have fun and show us your talent.....

The Midnight Writer

Coffee With The Midnight Writer

Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen!

Welcome to the new cyber space where we can gather together to share our favorite poetry, or listen to a great concert or enjoy some coffee or tea while the local community hosts an event important to the local area.

This is a brand new site where we will have informal talks and enjoy a little sharing while telling our personal stories. The internet is a vast electronic sea filled with thousands of sites online that are clicked on and clicked off at such a rapid pace. Seldom does anyone stop for awhile to read a good book together, or play chess, or view a good theatrical performance together. Even more rare is the occasion to sit together and just talk.

Since I began my quest as a freelance writer I have spent months by my husbands side in coffee shops around the United States. I formed a very fond relationship with these public cafes and learned to really appreciate the fine service they provide to their communities. Cafes bring people together to share a light breakfast or brunch, some coffee or tea and conversation. Sometimes it is just about being in the presence of others while reading that favorite book on a Saturday afternoon, that helps to combat the loneliness and isolation people feel in a disconnected society.

Cafes or Coffee Shops, whichever you prefer to call them, are the community rooms of the 21st Century. Welcome to our little social place in the cyber sphere. Stop by for a warm cup of brew and share your story with us, or recite your favorite poem. We'll be waiting for you with a comfy chair and a friendly greeting.

The Midnight Writer
Photo Gent
and all our friends at Mountain Spirit Productions