For a different slant on book signings, take a look
at what Authors4Charity is about. A Tennessee based organization;
Authors4Charity is for writers all over the United States both published and unpublished. What sets us apart from the normal book
signings are; we're donating a portion of our sales to a
charity. The charity as well as the author wins.
These book signings are not always held at
bookstores like they had in the past, but in coffee and gift shops,
department stores, shopping malls, grocery stores, veterinarians, hotels,
auto dealerships, bookstores and many other places. There isn’t any
place that is off limit to these authors, wherever people are, that’s
where you might find an event being held.
These authors are doing more than just signing books
however. At some of these
events, some holding up to 3 different authors at one time, raffles are
held using donated items from local merchants.
This makes a highly entertaining event for everyone involved.
And, all the money raised goes to the charity of choice.
This is also what is different with Authors4Charity that brings a
new slant on book signings and the places they are being held at.
For a few of these events, music was played by
local musicians, readings of poetry as well as other books, and raffles
were held. There are freebies at these signings as well that each author
has on their table such as bookmarks, cards, candy, recipes, writing tips
and many other things to draw the customer to the tables.
As well
as the fun of doing a book signing, one of the best things about it is
helping those who desperately need help. And these authors are doing that
with the donations they are raising by this worthwhile organization.
People who wouldn’t normally find themselves in bookstores or
libraries are given the opportunity to meet people of the literary world
at locations out of the main stream.
Many children meet authors for the first, and perhaps only, time in
their life. Some of these children may even grow into authors as a
result.
Authors4Charity was started by Shirley Dicks in 1994. An author of twelve books herself. Shirley was born and
raised in Concord, NH but moved to the south in the late seventies.
She has been on most of the talk shows, and the BBC did a
documentary on her life story. She is a speaker as well as an author of
non-fiction and has spoken at many schools and colleges, especially to the
teens about the danger of violence.
Along
with her books, Shirley produced a VHS and DVD called, The
Choice Is Yours. on Tennessee’s death row. It’s
an anti violence video for the kids from fourth grade up to high school
and she speaks to many of the classes watching the video.
Members of Authors4Charity are free to arrange
separate signings for themselves, or join with other authors for group
signings, as long as each signing is dedicated to a charity.
Because these signings are called events, the person who
coordinates each one chooses the charity as well as the place it is to be
held. Upon joining, members
will be issued an official Authors4Charity membership card to present to
the representatives of the charity of their choice. This confirmation will
give the charitable organizations the opportunity to provide authors with
printed materials about the charity to use at their signings.
Authors4Charity
members have many benefits and also receive a monthly
newsletter
Authors4Charity
is an organization dedicated to helping charitable causes through the
efforts of members conducting book signings and donating a portion of the
receipts to approved charities. Book signings are done
under the name of Authors 4 Charity and conform to the
rules set forth by the organization.
