Staging

Every time I do a signing, and this will be number 4 for me, I make sure that I'm the one doing the staging as well. I do this because I'm usually the one that's been heading the whole thing, and logically am the one that knows the most about the book. Staging for signings is nothing new but over the past 5 years and due in large part to Harry Potter, it has become more and more accepted and expected by fans, especially those of the Sci-Fi and Fantasy genre.

Staging for Legend of the FireFish is going to be extremely important because the signing falls on the busiest day of the week, Saturday. It will be in direct competition with all the items on sale in the catalog and people shopping for First Communion, Confirmation, and Mother's Day. Which is why on Friday night, after I get off work I will be setting up for the signing. I''ll be ''off the clock'' and doing things on my own time, but that's really the only way to get it done, otherwise I'll be far far too busy to set up and be rushed on Saturday and that's no way to start an event.

I have pulled together all the props I will be using for Legend of the FireFish and have already mocked up the setup here at home. And it looked darned good too. Here's what I have:

1) Flecked white canvas for the table cover accented by the neatest looking warm blue calico fabric that really looks like water in the Caribbean.

2) Two metal lamps that are very nautical in nature

3) Two wooden boxes with metal hinges and metal key flaps on the front that are ''distressed''

4) Wooden ships wheel roughly two feet in diameter for the wall behind the table

5) Dark calico cloth that has a maritime map print on it made into a ''chart book''

6) Whimsical garden ''fish'' statue made of plastic that looks very much like the art from the 1800's and fits in with the feel of the book perfectly

7) Brass Captain's inkwell

8) Pair of brass anchor bookends

9)Assorted swords and daggers for wall behind the table borrowed from pastor-friend.

Tomorrow, I'll try and put up pictures of the individual items.