Guerilla Book Tour Day 1: A Great Kickoff!

After taking some time to mull it over, I think it would be fair the call Day 1 of the Book Tour a qualified success! Although turnout was small and no one actually bought the book, there is no doubt in my mind that we made one or two Barnes & Noble customers slightly more aware of Book of Ages 30 than they had been previously.

Of course, the day was not without its crises. Lock and I, fresh off our CNNfn interview, stop off at the Union Square Farmer's Market for some hot cider, which is way too hot. Due to an unfortunate lack of communication, we wait outside for Josh as Josh waits inside for us. And then, horror of horrors, there are zero copies of the book in the humor section.

But then, joy! We discover the book prominently displayed on the far side of the "Gifts Under $25" table. (Clearly, someone tipped 'em off about the tour, although I must say the employees did their best to play it coy.) We gather around and prepare to be accosted by hoards of admirers, clutching well-worn copies of Book of Ages 30 in their grimy hands.

When none materialize, we become worried that perhaps — perhaps due to the lack of sinage announcing the event — our fans are failing to recognize their favorite authors. Book of Ages therefore approaches several passerby to ascertain their intentions.

SAMPLE CONVERSATION:
BOA: Are you here for the book signing?
PASSERBY (Surreptitiously palming can of mace): What?
BOA: Are you here for the book signing?
PASSERBY: I'm just browsing.
BOA: Well, would you like us to sign our book?
PASSERBY: I, um—
BOA: It's called Book of Ages, and it's about turning 30.
PASSERBY: I'm not thirty yet.
BOA: If we sign it, you'll probably have to buy it.
PASSERBY: I've still got a few years until I'm 30.
BOA: We're the authors!
(Passerby smiles nervously, edges away.)

At the urging of slower.net, we approach the gift wrap counter and attempt to ascertain whether the BOA 30 has recently been purchased as a present. At first glance, none of the wrappers remembers the book, but after more careful consideration, one nice lady allows that she "thought she remembered wrapping some yesterday."



Special Guest: Eliot of Slower.net
Attendance: 1 (Jesse, who showed up and asked, "Don't you guys owe me a book?")
Books sold: 0
Books signed: 2 (Free copies issued to Jesse and Eliot, signed in street outside to avoid the appearance of theft.)
Photos of shoes taken by Slower.net: 2

We've learned several lessons — about Guerilla Book Tours, the publishing "business," and life in general — from this experience, which we will put into practice at tomorrow's signing. (12:00pm, Barnes & Noble at 3rd Ave/52nd St., humor section)

In other news, while on the set at CNNfn, Lock and I met James Van Der Beek's uncle! Sadly, they haven't talked in a while.