Book promotion – giving out business cards on the subway

I was editing my manuscript as I traveled on the subway, as I usually am lately. And when it was getting to my stop, I put my manuscript away in my backpack–and the young guy (maybe 20) sitting beside me took out his earbuds, and asked if it was a novel that i was editing. I said yes, it was. He asked which novel, and I said it wasn’t published yet. Then he asked if I was a writer, and without even gulping or hesitating, I said yes. I took my book reviewer business card out of my wallet, and handed it to him, and said that if he wanted to he could check out my website and see some of my books.

I was brave. I actually networked…when I thought I couldn’t! (I used to be too shy to talk to people, never mind network.) And the young man seemed pleased about it.

Part of me felt like i was lying when I told him he could check out my books, but I do have two of my books mentioned on my site. It’s just that they’re not published yet. But they are coming out–the first one in 4 months (Sept), the second in 2010–and I AM a writer. So…I think it was neat that I had the confidence to do that. That’s new. And it felt good.

If you’re a writer, do you ever do that? Give people cards with your website or book–and not just at writer conferences? If you do, when do you do it?

If you’re a reader–how would you feel if an author gave you a card with their website info? Would it depend on the situation? The conversation? The author?

May 4th, 2009