I promise I'll lock the sledgehammers up in the basement before you arrive, if you come to do one here. ;)

Seriously, though, having done Tupperware parties (and loathed them with a scalding passion, all, what, eight of them that I did), I would say that the potential for uncomfortable silence is probably worse in a private home setting than in a store. There's an element of impersonality which would be lacking in a home, and which might lessen the feelings of embarrassment if nobody showed up, or if nobody bought any books. That's probably just my social misfit side (which is, hey, pretty much all of me, what can I say) talking, though.

I host a summer reading series at a local bistro where authors, musicians and dancers come together. These people exchange numbers, hopefully bond together. I give them feedback and pass on my attendees contact information to add to their mailing list. I also pass on those interested in purchasing the book and to those that would like to purchase this month I will set up an online store so that these products can be housed at one place-my place. So far I've found that if you create a different avenue to reach readers, they will come, disguised in chocolate cheesecake. :)

Dee -- so what is your attendance like? And do the authors who come to read/sign write fiction, or non fiction, or do you get a mix?

Last February I invited the author of the book of short stories that my book club had read to attend our meeting. Not a reading and not a talk, but a conversation ranged around that particular book and it's topics, and then her body of work and writing books in general. We didn't know she was bringing some of her books, but several members were delighted to buy them. It was truly a win-win. Of course, it helped that I knew the author from way back, and that she was vacationing in our area at the time. She told me later that she loves meeting with small groups (like book clubs), and that the feedback helps her immensely.

As a librarian, especially as one who has been a public librarian, may I suggest a library? It would still be possible to bring books and sell them, I am sure. Here in Australia (not sure about America) lots of libraries have book clubs attached, and a large population of people who are avid readers, right there. Also the public libraries serve as community centres, in a sense, and have notice boards to advertise all sorts of local activities, so the word spreads to a large number of the people who will be most interested. We have hosted author readings before, and they have been booked solid in no time at all (removing your worries about attendance).

The readings I go to are usually in bars or occasionally coffeehouses--I think the logic there is that if the reading sucks, at least people can drink so it's not a total loss. (Not that most of the readings haven't been pretty good, but I am highly selective and also exhausted most of the time, so these two factors combine to keep me from going to a lot of readings).