By Steve Hopkins
‘If you ever want to see a career-low point’
An author who was shunned at her book signing and cried “all the way home” has won the support and encouragement of thousands on the internet.
Suzanne Young tweeted an image of three rows of empty chairs in an empty bookstore last week, captioning the image: “If you ever want to see a career low point, this is it.
“Crying my entire way home.”
If you ever want to see a career low point, this is it. Crying my entire way home. pic.twitter.com/aQ8LDMi8H5
— Suzanne Young (@suzanne_young) March 29, 2023
Young was promoting her new book, In Nightfall, a creepy vampire horror novel, at First Draft Book Bar in Phoenix, Arizona, but no one showed up.
Young is the New York Times bestselling author of the Program novel series.
Her tweet has seen by 7.7 million people and garnered hundreds of encouraging responses, and tales of similar experiences.
Michael Northrop, a bestselling graphic novel author, tweeted: “It stings, but it’s a blip.”
Author Lija Fisher wrote: “I was at an event with two other authors, nobody came, so we photoshopped in an adoring crowd.”
Young later responded saying she didn’t know how “common this was until now”, and reiterating how “ashamed” she was by the no-show.
She added the outpouring of support “has been incredible” and that she wanted to “show up for all of you from now on”.
Genuinely, I didn't know how common this was until now. I was so ashamed to post this picture, so ashamed. But this outpouring of support has been incredible. I want to hug and show up for all of you from now on. THANK YOU. Thank you for sharing.
— Suzanne Young (@suzanne_young) March 29, 2023
It stings, but it's a blip! I almost never think of this one anymore (unless someone says "Boulder"?). pic.twitter.com/lN6DAjRO3z
— Michael Northrop (@mdnorthrop) March 29, 2023
We all been there.
I did a 3 hour book signing at Waterstones UK’s biggest book store.
2 people came up and bought a copy.
?
— ????Brad Burton (@BradBurton) March 30, 2023
And it’s not an industry exclusive thing either, I’m a musician and still vividly remember playing to one paying customer at a show in Norwich lol. It happens to us all! Glad to see it hasn’t rattled you, best of luck on your future endeavours ! ?
— Lucas (@Lucaswoodland) March 30, 2023
Irish Times journalist Roisín Ingle said of Youn’s initial tweet and the response to it: “This is one of those beautiful cases of someone expressing vulnerability and everything turning around for them.”
In December, authors such as Margaret Atwood and Neil Gaiman shared their own humbling moments in a Twitter thread, after fantasy author Chelsea Banning tweeted: “Only 2 people came to my author signing yesterday, so I was pretty bummed about it. Especially as 37 people responded ‘going’ to the event. Kind of upset, honestly, and a little embarrassed.”
Gaiman tweeted in reply: “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.”
And Atwood added: “I did a signing to which nobody came, except a guy who wanted to buy some Scotch tape and thought I was the help.”
