Famous Writers Make It Right When Barely Anyone Shows Up To New Author's Signing.

It turns out, misery really does love company!

Chelsea Banning is a librarian who spent the past 15 years toiling away on her first fantasy novel. She was thrilled when it got published, but her first book signing event to promote “Of Crowns and Legends” turned out to be an epic fail. Almost 40 people had said they’d attend, but only two showed up at the Ohio bookstore.

Author Chelsea Banning wearing a crown. — Twitter

Chelsea told NPR that the disappointing turnout, “felt like the last straw” after all those years of work. She was so discouraged that she took to Twitter to voice her feelings.

“Only 2 people came to my author signing yesterday, so I was pretty bummed about it,”she tweeted. “Especially as 37 people responded ‘going’ to the event. Kind of upset, honestly, and a little embarrassed.”

To her surprise, the tweet went viral. Not only that, but some of the most famous authors in the world chimed in to commiserate and share their own stories of similarly lonely book signings they’d endured in their careers.

1. Legendary Neil Gaiman was among the first to empathize with Chelsea.

Neil Gaiman tweet says,
"Terry Pratchett and I did a signing in Manhattan for Good Omens that nobody came to at all. So you are two up on us." — Twitter

2. When Margaret Atwood shows up to comment, you know your tweet has “arrived.”

Margaret Atwood tweet says, "Join the club. I did a signing to which Nobody came, except a guy who wanted to buy some Scotch tape and thought I was the help. :)" — Twitter

3. Even the uber-popular Jodi Picoult has a story about this topic.

Jodi Picoult tweet says "I have sat lonely at a signing table many times only to have someone approach…and ask me where the bathroom is." — Twitter

4. Min Jin Lee has also been there, done that.

Min Jin Lee tweet says "I did a book reading where only my husband’s cousin showed up. One person. I’ll never forget that reading." — Twitter

5. Jenny Colgan’s story sounds like something out of one of her romantic comedies.

Jenny Colgan tweet says "I has to sit at a signing table once in Stansted Airport. For TWO HOURS. Nobody came to buy a book but a zillion people came to ask me their gate numbers. In the end I just memorised the gate numbers and helped them out. Do not be downhearted. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" — Twitter

6. “Wild” author Cheryl Strayed offered these kind words to the newbie author.

7. Bob Ortega once had to pay for the privilege of getting hugely upstaged.

Bob Ortega tweet says "Arrived once for a signing at Harrod’s, thrilled at the long line outside the book section – only to find they were all there for Monica Lewinsky, who was doing a signing at the same time. Sold zero books. Then Harrod’s made me pay a pound to use the restroom." — Twitter

8. Mark Harris knows what it’s like to spend years working on something, only to have no one appreciate it.

9. John Brubaker once got upstaged by a dog. It was a really cute dog, but still.

John Brubaker tweet says "I once did a book signing at a book festival where I was mobbed by a group of who I thought were fans. Turned out the service dog belonging to the author at the table next to me was laying in front of my table sleeping. They were all lining up to pet him. Nobody bought my book." — Twitter

10. Joanne Harris got a chilly reception in Scotland.

Joanne Harris tweet says "I once did an event for CHOCOLAT in Glasgow, where the only person who turned up was an old man who had come in out of the rain." — Twitter

11. Robin Hobb made lemonade from the lemons he was handed.

12. Someone only came to Rick Reilly’s book signing for the free snacks.

Rick Reilly tweet says "I had a signing in Minneapolis once. There were 200 chairs, a vat of lemonade and 500 cookies. ONE guy showed up. he sat in the first chair in front of me. when I was done with my little spiel, he actually raised his hand. His question was, "Can we eat these cookies now?" — Twitter

13. Oops, they forgot to tell Dr. Brian Goldman not to come.

Dr Brian Goldman tweet says "Hey there, congratulations on getting a novel published. Just six weeks ago, I sat in the green room of a writers’ festival for a half hour before someone noticed and told me the event had been cancelled b/c no one bought a ticket. Have faith!" — Twitter

14. This person didn’t come to meet Gareth L. Powell at all.

Gareth L Powell tweet says I did a signing in Cambridge and only one person showed up. He didn't buy a book; he just wanted to tell someone that he'd had a dream about being a wizard. — Twitter

15. Hugo Rifkind realized that sometimes, people only say something to be nice.

Hugo RIfkind tweet says "I once chaired a thing with Terry Wogan & Sebastian Faulks. Afterwards, I sat betwn them, to sign my book of columns. Huge queue. Both sold 100s. I sold 0. Eventually Wogan patted my shoulder and said the same had once happened to him. "Really?" I said, gratefully. "No," he said. — Twitter

Oof, some of these experiences are soul-crushing, to be sure! Yet each of these writers kept on writing, and kept on offering up their creative gifts to the world. We hope these words of encouragement help anyone struggling to keep putting their work out there to find the strength they need to soldier on!

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Famous Writers Make It Right When Barely Anyone Shows Up To New Author’s Signing.

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