Article on This September Sun signing from Bulawayo's Chronicle

This September Sun author signs autographs


Entertainment Editor

BRYONY Rheam, the author of the book This September Sun, which was launched in Bulawayo last year, was yesterday at the Indaba Book Cafe signing her book.

Indaba Book Cafe is a bookshop which was recently opened in Bulawayo. A handful of people had the opportunity to meet and ask her questions on her book and have her sign

the books that they would have bought.

The book was published by AmaBooks, a Bulawayo-based publishing house that has

published 23 books in its three years existences - a milestone.

An official from AmaBooks, Jane Morris, said the batch that was being signed was from their

second print run and the book has been well received.

"This is the first time that we have had a second print and the book has been popular among women," she said.

Morris said they initially printed 500 books and they ran out. Each copy costs US$20.

Book signings provide more than just a chance to get signatures.

For authors and bookstores the obvious benefit is that many copies of the book being promoted are sold.

Signings also increase public goodwill and allow authors to connect with their fans. For fans,

signings give them a chance to see and meet a favourite author and to ask them questions.

Book signing is popular because an author's signature increases the value of books for collectors.

The author may add a short message to the reader, called a dedication, to each book, which may be personalised with the recipient's name upon request. A simple author's signature

without a dedication is typically more valuable to collectors.

This September Sun was recently launched in Zambia, where Rheam is now based.