Book Signings and Events

Rev. Larry Lee Coggins is a shining example of how to be your own publicist. The proactive Xulon author of Meditations has been hard at work promoting his book-posting articles on his bulletin board at work; sending out copies of his press release, brochures, and letters to pastors in his hometown of Sanford, North Carolina; and advertising via word of mouth. He also received extra publicity when his book was reviewed by Susan Farrington in the Sanford Herald, a paper whose circulation covers a 40-mile radius. The article helped drum up interest in his book partially due to the image of the book's front cover, which adorned the page of the article. "Everyone who sees the book raves about the great work the graphics [designer] did on the cover," Coggins says. He also reports that Meditations' sales on Amazon.com are very strong. The author recently held a book signing and hopes to promote the book in his home church. Additionally, Coggins attended an arts and crafts day for his homeowners' association, where he set up a booth, and he is scheduling another book signing in one of the Borders stores in Northern Virginia.

The Kalamazoo Air Zoo, an aviation history museum in Kalamazoo, Michigan, recently invited Andrew Layton, author of Eagles' Wings: An Uncommon Story of World War II, to participate in a book signing and discussion. The book's subjects, Air Force veterans Jack Curtis and Larry Jenkins, told their wartime stories to a crowd of about 110 people before a successful book signing took place. Reports Layton, "We sold about 40 copies that night. However, we signed many other books that people had purchased ahead of time at the Air Zoo's gift shop. Altogether, they have sold about 100 copies from the Air Zoo alone since July. Our book continues to enjoy great success overall, having sold a total of nearly 1,500 copies since its release in late June." Layton also appeared at Barnes & Noble in Battle Creek for a book signing and received a follow-up newspaper article about the Air Zoo appearance titled "Prisoners of War Share Stories" in the Battle Creek Enquirer.

Bernie Lutchman, author of Two Minute Warning, was honored when Conference in Colorado Springs asked "a nobody like me to speak to them about a book!" The author held several workshops in the main quarters of Focus on the Family. Although Lutchman was there last year for this same conference as a regular attendee, this year he enjoyed seeing things from the other side of the podium. Powerful worship music added to the presence of God at Focus' Chapelteria and, the appearance was a success, says Lutchman. He adds, "Xulon did a great job on the cover [of my book]. It is so striking that [it] is the first thing folks comment upon! Thanks!"