7 essentials for your book signing event

Part 1: Author Shirley Crowder shares with us how to plan with a purpose to make your book signing or launch event a great success

by Shirley Crowder

Friends check out books at one of Shirley Crowder’s recent signings.

Hosting a book signing is more than just a promotional event—it’s a chance to connect, minister, and celebrate your journey of writing. As a Christ-following author, your book signing can be a powerful moment of impact. It’s an opportunity to share your testimony, encourage others in their faith, and build meaningful relationships with readers who are seeking hope, truth, and inspiration. Through prayerful preparation and intentional engagement, your event can reflect the heart of your message and glorify God in every detail from the conversations you have to the stories you share.

Here are seven essential tips to help you plan and host a meaningful and successful event.

1. Define Your Purpose and Goals

Before diving into logistics, clarify what you want to achieve. Are you aiming to boost book sales, share your testimony, build community, or raise awareness of your brand? Align your goals with both spiritual and practical outcomes. For Christian authors, this might include creating space for prayer, sharing the Gospel, or encouraging attendees in their faith journey. When your “why” is clear, every other decision (venue, budget, schedule) falls into place more easily.

2. Choose the Right Venue

Your venue sets the tone. Consider spaces that reflect your message and audience: churches, bookstores, libraries, community centers, or even parks. Think about accessibility, atmosphere, and logistics. Visit potential venues in advance and choose a date that allows time for preparation and book delivery. A cozy bookstore may invite personal conversations, while a church fellowship hall may provide space for larger crowds and moments of worship.

Authors Sharon Atwood and Karen Allen promote their books at a writing conference.

3. Budget with Purpose

Create a realistic budget that prioritizes what matters most. Include costs for venue rental, promotional materials, refreshments, and decor. Be resourceful by using digital promotion, DIY decorations, and seek partnerships with local businesses or churches. Focus on investments that enhance the attendee experience and reflect your message. Remember, simplicity done with excellence can be more impactful than extravagance without focus.

4. Promote with Intention

Start promoting early. Use social media, email newsletters, church bulletins, and community boards. Share behind-the-scenes content, quotes from your book, and countdowns to build excitement. Create a hashtag for your event and encourage attendees to share their experience online. Don’t overlook personal invitations like phone calls or handwritten notes that can communicate care and encourage people to attend.

5. Infuse Faith into the Event

Let your faith shine through every aspect of the event. Begin and end with prayer. Share scripture and personal testimonies. Consider incorporating worship music or a short devotional. Make space for intentional conversations that minister to attendees and reflect the heart of your book. Even small touches—like scripture cards at each table—can remind guests that your ultimate purpose is to point them toward Christ.

6. Engage Your Audience

Make your event interactive and memorable. Host a Q&A session, read excerpts from your book, and offer personalized signings. Create a welcoming atmosphere where attendees feel seen and valued. Provide resources like prayer journals or Bible study guides that complement your book’s message. You might also invite attendees to share their own stories, creating a sense of community that extends beyond the event itself.

Valerie Luesse signs copies of your novels.

7. Follow Up and Stay Connected

After the event, continue the conversation. Send thank-you emails, share photos and highlights on social media, and invite attendees to leave reviews. Collect contact information to keep readers informed about future books or events. Your follow-up can turn a one-time event into lasting relationships. Think of it as the beginning of discipleship through your writing ministry.

Final Encouragement

Your book signing is more than a marketing opportunity. It is a ministry moment. With prayerful planning, clear goals, and a heart to serve, you can create an event that blesses others and glorifies God. Remember Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” Approach your event with this mindset, and God can use it to encourage, inspire, and change lives. Let each detail—from the invitations to the final prayer—be a reflection of your calling and a testimony to His faithfulness and grace throughout your writing journey.

Shirley Crowder’s most recent books are displayed at a recent author event.

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Shirley Crowder was born in a mission guest house under the shade of a mango tree in Nigeria, West Africa where her parents served as missionaries. She is passionate about disciple-making, which is conducted through writing, biblical counseling, teaching Bible studies, teaching/speaking at conferences, and music. She is published as an author and co-author of nineteen books. Learn about her books on her Author Page. And follow her on Facebook.