2026 Oregon Authors at the Lane County Fair!

 

Continuing a tradition that dates over two decades, Oregon authors will be signing their books at the Lane County Fair this year. Twenty authors will be featured over the five days of the fair, from Wednesday, July 22, through Sunday, July 26.

A wide range of genres will be available, guaranteeing you’ll find literature to entertain and inform you. Examples include the cozy quilting mysteries of Arlene Sachitano, charming children’s books by Becky Lanning, a collection of horror stories by Jason Kilgore, Oregon history books by Joe Blakely, young adult fantasy by Alice Bjornstadt, local Native American history by David Lewis, military science fiction by Chris Wade, and so much more.

Authors will be rotating through the tables over five days, so be sure to visit often to experience the breadth of literary talent on display and purchase a book or two. They’ll even sign them for you! Check the schedule below if you want to ensure you meet the author or genre of your choice.

Authors appearing at the fair are:

Wednesday, July 22

11-5: Valarie Anderson (historical non-fiction)

11-7: Alice Bjornstedt (young adult fantasy)

11-7: Joe Blakely (historical non-fiction, novels)

11-5: Angela Kern (urban fantasy, poetry)

11-7: Jason A. Kilgore (fantasy, horror, science fiction, poetry)

11-7: Arlene Sachitano (cozy mystery)

5-7: Sheila Snyder (crafting, quilting)

5-7: Chris Wade (military science fiction)

 

Thursday, July 23

11-5: Gerri Almand (humorous travel memoir)

11-7: Joe Blakely (historical non-fiction, novels)

5-7: Jennifer Chambers (Oregon true crime, Oregon true paranormal)

11-5: Angela Kern (urban fantasy, poetry)

11-7: Jason A. Kilgore (fantasy, horror, science fiction, poetry)

11-3: Cheryl Landes (memoir, travel)

11-7: Arlene Sachitano (cozy mystery)

3-7: Sheila Snyder (crafting, quilting)

5-7: Chris Wade (military science fiction)

 

Friday, July 24

11-5: Gerri Almand (humorous travel memoir)

11-7: Joe Blakely (historical non-fiction, novels)

3-7: Angela Kern (urban fantasy, poetry)

11-7: Jason A. Kilgore (fantasy, horror, science fiction, poetry)

11-3: Cheryl Landes (memoir, travel)

11-7: David Lewis (Native American history)

11-7: Arlene Sachitano (cozy mystery)

5-7: Chris Wade (military science fiction)

 

Saturday, July 25

1-3: Ken Babbs (memoir)

11-7: Joe Blakely (historical non-fiction, novels)

11-7: Jeff Bolkan (adventure novels)

3-7: Angela Keith (young adult contemporary novels)

11-1: Angela Kern (urban fantasy, poetry)

11-7: Jason A. Kilgore (fantasy, horror, science fiction, poetry)

11-7: Sharleen Nelson (time travel novels)

11-3: Donovan Reves (absurdist historical fiction)

11-7: Arlene Sachitano (mystery novels)

3-7: Chris Wade (military science fiction)

 

Sunday, July 26

11-5: Joe Blakely (historical non-fiction, novels)

11-5: Jennifer Chambers (Oregon true crime, Oregon true paranormal)

3-5: Angela Kern (urban fantasy, poetry)

11-5: Jason A. Kilgore (fantasy, horror, science fiction, poetry)

11-3: Cheryl Landes (memoir, travel)

11-5: Becky Lanning (children’s books)

11-5: William Sullivan (Oregon hiking, historical fiction)

Author Questions: What Did You Learn Faster By Doing Instead Of Studying?

 This is an ongoing series of “questions every author avoids answering” (based on this video by Dale L. Roberts) and my answers to them. I recommend every author ask themselves these same questions to better understand themselves and their art.

 

Question:

What did you learn faster by doing instead of studying?

 

The quick answer:

In-person table sales of my books.

 

The long answer:

I had published books, but few were selling. I had some reasonable sales on Amazon, but I knew there were plenty of readers out there who would be eager to read my books if only they knew about them. But getting your book in front of potential readers online is incredibly difficult. There is so much competition for their attention, and so many millions and millions of books, that it seems like a Herculean task just to get the cover in front of them, much less tell them what it’s about.

Before I did in-person sales, I would try loads of social media posts across all of my social media platforms. I tried Facebook ads. I tried Amazon ads. I even ran an ad that showed on the screen at my local movie theater (yes, really).

My publisher, too, was selling very few of the books they represent.

So I had to take action and go out, in person, to talk to readers.

There’s no guide for how to do this. There’s no self-help book for authors that I’ve ever seen that discusses this topic. No one mentors you on these things. [if you’d like some advice, read to the bottom and follow the links]

I had seen authors at events, smiling at people and talking about their books, which were neatly arranged on the table in front of them – at festivals and fairs as people milled about eating ice cream or listening to live music or perusing art stalls - at author fairs where there were dozens of authors and too much to take in at once – and at bookstores.

So I started talking to them. Introduced myself as an author. Asked them how to sign up for the next event. Asked them where and when other events were, and who organized them.

And then I got my first event, doing a reading at a local bookstore during a monthly “street art walk” in a nearby town. Then I was able to get a table at a yearly author event.

Slowly, event by event, I built up a rapport with other authors, signed up for more events, until my weekends were filling up with them. I eventually even purchased a little camper so that I could extend my range to do events around the state and even into other states without having to pay for hotel rooms (which would eat up all of my meager profits), taking my efforts to a whole other level.

And, more importantly, I “learned by doing” slowly, figuring out how best to display my books, what accessories to bring, which book pitches worked for which kinds of customers, being able to pick out who my likely customers would be, and how to just put on my sales face and speaking tone.

It helps to be a “people person,” of course. But let’s face it, if you aren’t out there engaging readers, you aren’t going to sell many of your books. And that’s the point, right? You want your hard work to be appreciated. You want to share your inspiration. You want to have other people escape into the worlds you created or learn the knowledge you wish to share with your words.

Last year I sold 516 books at in-person events, which for me is a lot, and way more than I sold online or with my publisher. You can do it too.

HERE is my advice on how you, too, can find events to do in-person sales for your books, sign up, and what to bring.

HERE is my advice on what to do, and what not to do, while selling your books at those tables.

To learn more about what events I’m doing this year, click HERE (the page will be updated throughout the year as events are added and confirmed). That list will give you a good idea of the range of events that maybe you could find, too.

So get out there. Engage your readers. Build your fan base. There are people who crave what you write, you just need to find them first.

 

 

Cheers and happy reading!

A Recap Of My Writing Journey In 2025

 

Thank you!

As we put a close to 2025 and welcome the new year, I first want to thank all of you, my most loyal readers, for supporting me. You are the breath beneath my wings, my muse, the ink in my pen. Thank you.

2025 was a busy year!
Back in January, I finished the first draft of The Parable of Sam, a "biblical horror" novel (as my publisher, GladEye Press, is calling the genre). It will be released in the fall of 2026 with the full works: a release party, bookstore tour, press releases, and ARC readers (people who will read a pdf copy before the book is released, for free, with the promise to post a review on Amazon and Goodreads after it releases). Would any of you like to be ARC readers? If so, let me know and I'll sign you up!

Lately I've written some new short stories, and I've started book 3 of my fantasy series, the Heartstone Series. The working title is Lord of Silk and Steel. I'm so excited to work on this series again, and I know many of you have been clamoring for it.

This year also saw a huge ramp-up of my in-person author table sales at events: street fairs, festivals, book fairs, and bookstore events. I even purchased a camper van so I could extend my range for these events across Washington and Oregon! This year I had a whopping 21 events over 41 days for around 319 hours! I drove over 6300 miles for these events, too. Time well spent! The longest was an 8-day stretch at the Oregon State Fair. I LOVE these events, as I get to meet readers face-to-face, get them excited about my books, and sell my books to them. I met many of you at these events, in fact! I would gladly do more, if I could. I sold 516 books at these events. So many new readers. Yay! Stay tuned for events coming up in 2026.

I've also started advertising my author services (services for other authors or would-be authors), including helping them with the conception stage, formatting books for self-publication, book cover design, Amazon ad generation, writing book blurbs, creating Amazon author pages, and more. To date I've helped four authors with these things. Most recently I helped Corvallis author Judy York with formatting her first book for Kindle and print (including her original essays, color paintings, and poetry), creating covers for each version, creating an Amazon author page for her, and uploading the books with meta data. Her book is now live and selling. Are you an author or aspiring author who could use my services? If so, let me know. Here's information for my services from my webpage, and here's my Fiverr account if you'd rather book me there.

And I continue doing other things that professional authors like myself need to do, such as writing these newsletters, blogging, attending and critiquing for my writer's group, attending workshops, dealing with marketing and ads, doing readings, editing and revising, and the endless need to attend to my many social media pages. I even had a book club that I did for a while. And, of course, I need to find time to read other people's books (as Stephen King has said, "If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.").

Though I got laid off from my dayjob as a scientist back at the end of July, and haven't yet secured a new job, it has given me time to focus on all of these author activities. I'm thankful for that. But it doesn't pay all the bill (yet). Some day! So I'm looking for a new job right now and trying to make ends meet. I'm thankful that all of you are supporters!

Have a very prosperous new year, and happy reading!

A Tale Of Two Authors Selling Their Books

This is a tale of two authors. One sold a lot of books at an author event, the other sold almost none. What was the difference? Read on….

In a prior post, I shared how you, as an author, could find and take part in author fairs. But simply being at the event and having a table isn’t enough. You have to engage the readers in a way that is effective. Otherwise, they won’t buy your books and you’ve just wasted your time (and any fees that the event may cost).

I just finished an author event, eight days straight at the Oregon State Fair, as part of the Oregon Authors tables, and I’m happy to say that it went extremely well. I sold double the number of books I thought I would! So much, in fact, that I had to put in an emergency order for more author copies to sell for further events, having sold out of two of my five book titles. One day I sold 32 copies.

But there was another author at that same event who didn’t do so well. For the sake of anonymity, let’s call him “Bob.”

Why didn’t Bob do well? Like me, he specializes in speculative fiction, with three science fiction books, so we had much the same audience. Despite that, the same day I sold 32 copies, he sold zero.

So I took a moment to watch Bob as he sold his books, and I saw that he was doing everything wrong.

Here are some important pointers that I recommend, when you are an author doing in-person table sales, comparing and contrasting me with Bob:

Be attentive. When I’m at the table and potential customers are walking by, I’m watching for potential customers. I’m not doing something on my phone. I’m not having conversations with other authors. I’m ready to engage. Bob, on the other hand, was often looking down at his cell phone or just zoning out.

Be engaging. When a potential reader is close to the table and seems interested, or is wearing a tee shirt or something that has science fiction or fantasy themes, I meet their eyes and talk with them. “Hi!” I’ll say, “Do you like to read scifi or fantasy?” Bob, on the other hand, simply sat there as people walked by, waiting for them to talk first.

Be courteous and fun. Remember, a potential reader sees you as a source of entertainment. If you aren’t courteous or entertaining to them, they’ll move along to someone who is. When a reader comes to my table, I’m animated. I smile. I have big hand gestures. I laugh if there’s a funny bit about a book, or I get wide eyed at the exciting bits. And I don’t hawk my books from across the room, talk too loudly or too softly, or call out to people while they are in the middle of a conversation. Bob was courteous, I’ll give him that, but in a stuffy way, with none of the animation. It was as if he were selling them a vacuum cleaner or accounting software or something.

Dress the part. This event was a fair. People were there for excitement. I dressed in colorful shorts and short sleeve tee shirts. Another author, who sells swashbuckling naval adventure novels, actually dressed in pirate attire. Some festivals are even “louder,” such as the Eugene Pride Celebration, where it’s expected to wear rainbow colors and LGBTQ pins or flags. If the event were a more formal occasion, such as a table at a winery event, maybe semi-formal attire might be best. When I did a table at the Spirit of Bohemia Mining Days, I actually dressed like a 19^th century miner. Bob, though, at this fair, wore a dowdy button-up, long-sleeved dress shirt and dress pants, as if he were going to church.

Have a table display. My table had a cloth banner draped over it with a graphic that advertised my brand and my book covers. I had a little toy dragon for kids to play with, dragon bookmarks to give away, and stickers with dragon designs or “reading” designs to give away. Behind me was a massive poster advertising my fantasy books. And I wore tee shirts that were themed with reading messages or my branding. Some people have props that are in line with their book themes, and colorful tablecloths. I also have little displays that have five-star quotes about the books, left by readers on Amazon. Bob, though, had none of these things. All he had was a plain table with his books piled on it.

Have an effective pitch. A “pitch” is the quick summary of your book that hooks the potential reader. It needs to be on-point with the theme and genre of your book, create excitement, and give the stakes that the protagonists face. It also needs to highlight how that book is different from any other book in that genre. Each book needs its own pitch. When I talk to potential readers about my fantasy book, Dragon of the Federation, I lead off with “This is a fantasy told from the point of view of a dragon.” I pause a fraction of a second for that to sink in, and watch as their eyes light up, then I continue by saying what the protagonists are there for, an exciting event that sets up the plot, and then the dangerous and world-shattering stakes that the protagonists face. Bob, on the other hand, mentions something about a couple of specific technologies in his scifi books, but none of the plot points or stakes involved. It gave me the impression that it was a science fiction, but nothing else.

Have something more for the customer after the sale. When the customer buys your book, don’t let that be the end of the engagement. I say “Please feel free to take bookmark and a sticker. My card is in the book with my website and links, in case you’d like to follow me on my social media or sign up for my mailing list. And I urge you to leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads.” Have swag. This way, they are getting something more and have something to do even after they finish the book. I’m building a community around my books, you see. Bob, though, does nothing of the sort. He just sells the book and says “Thank you.”

Make sure your books have effective covers. Maybe a tad off-topic here, but you want to make sure your book covers are effective. They need to be instantly recognizable for what genre they represent, have a compelling title, and be original. For instance, my science fiction novel, The First Nova I See Tonight, has a cover that features an otherworldly planetscape with stars and a nova in the sky and three figures on it that represent the three main characters (including a feline alien, a space rogue, and a cyborg). My horror collection, Around the Corner from Sanity, has a cover with bloody handprints in the window of a dilapidated building. Bob’s books, however, feature pictures of pretty waterfall or a cliff face with ice. The titles also don’t suggest anything scifi-ish. Looking at the covers, one would have no idea what genre they fit at all. 

[Related: here’s a prior post I wrote about how to get an effective cover as an indie author]

Hey, I get it. Many of us writers are introverts. We just want to write our stories. But remember, your job as an author doesn’t stop after the book is published. Maybe that was the case 50 years ago, but these days you have to do so much more. You have to get out there, where the readers are, and engage them, both digitally and in-person. And even getting out there and doing in-person events isn’t enough. You have to market your books with enthusiasm. You’re an entertainer. Don’t be afraid to be a “people person” and get animated, at least for as long as your event is. Don’t be a “Bob.”

Cheers and happy reading!

2025 Oregon Authors at the Lane County Fair!

 

Continuing a tradition that dates over two decades, Oregon authors will be signing their books at the Lane County Fair this year. 22 authors will be featured over the five days of the fair, from Wednesday, July 23 until Sunday, July 27.

 

A wide range of genres will be available, guaranteeing you’ll find literature to entertain and inform you. Examples include the famous hiking guides and historical fiction of William Sullivan, charming children’s books by Dawn De Wulf, down-home reminiscences of Dorcas Smucker from her popular Register-Guard columns, the exciting romantasy of A.B. Herron, swashbuckling adventures on the high seas from Robert Liebertz, tales of dragons and space rogues from Jason Kilgore, Oregon-based mysteries and non-fiction from Joe Blakely, travels through time by Sharleen Nelson, perplexing mysteries by Arlene Sachitano, and so much more.

 

Authors will be rotating through the table over five days, so be sure to visit often to experience the breadth of literary talent on display and purchase a book or two. They’ll even sign them for you! Check the schedule below if you want to insure you meet the author of your choice.

 

Authors appearing at the fair are:

 

Wednesday, July 23

5-7, Gerri Almand (humorous non-fiction)

11-7, Joe Blakely (history, novels)

11-7, Dawn De Wulf (children’s books)

11-7, Jason A. Kilgore (fantasy, horror, science fiction, poetry)

11-7, Robert Liebertz (naval adventure)

11-5, Michael Pace (war novels, memoir)

11-7, William L. Sullivan (hiking, historical fiction)

 

Thursday, July 24

5-7, Gerri Almand (humorous non-fiction)

11-7, Joe Blakely (history, novels)

11-3, Carola Dunn (murder mysteries)

11-5, Pat Edwards (Lane County History)

11-7, Jason A. Kilgore (fantasy, horror, science fiction, poetry)

11-1, Robert Liebertz (naval adventure)

1-7, Dorcas Smucker (essays/memoir)

11-5, George Sorensen (history, memoir, self-help)

3-7, Edwin Wollert (historical fiction)

 

Friday, July 25

11-1, Gerri Almand (humorous non-fiction)

11-7, Joe Blakely (history, novels)

11-7, Jennifer Chambers (Oregon history)

3-7, A.B. Herron (romantasy)

11-7, Jason A. Kilgore (fantasy, horror, science fiction, poetry)

11-3, Robert Liebertz (naval adventure)

1-7, Guy Maynard (historical fiction)

11-5, Jill Amy Sager (self-help memoir)

 

Saturday, July 26

1-7, Lynn Ash (adventure memoirs)

11-7, Joe Blakely (history, novels)

1-7, Jeff Bolkan (adventure novels)

11-1, Jennifer Chambers (Oregon history)

11-7, Jason A. Kilgore (fantasy, horror, science fiction, poetry)

5-7, A.B. Herron (romantasy)

3-7, David G. Lewis (Oregon Native American history)

11-1, Guy Maynard (historical fiction)

1-7, Sharleen Nelson (time travel novels)

11-5, Arlene Sachitano (mystery novels)

11-3, Dorcas Smucker (essays/memoir)

 

Sunday, July 27

11-5, Joe Blakely (history, novels)

3-5, Dawn De Wulf (children’s books)

11-3, A.B. Herron (romantasy)

11-5, Jason A. Kilgore (fantasy, horror, science fiction, poetry)

11-3, Sarah B. Munro (Oregon history)

11-5, Arlene Sachitano (mystery novels)

11-5, Edwin Wollert (historical fiction)

I Just Took Author Event Participation To A Whole New Level

OMG. I can't believe I did this.

Looking at last year's income from writing, I realized that I made TEN TIMES more income from doing in-person table sales at events than I did from sales of my books on Amazon or through my publisher combined. 

Unfortunately, I'm limited to only as far as I can comfortably drive to and from events. That's because the moment I pay for a hotel room, I've spent at least as much as I can earn in a given day of events. Often much more than what I earn, in fact.

So... I went all in and purchased a camper van. This way I can simply camp at or near the event! Plus, a camper van would have lots of space to all the stuff I need, like boxes of books, table, chair, pop-up canopy, and decorative backdrops.

Here it is:

It's a really cute little Japanese camper van. Literally imported from Japan, with the driver's side on the right side of the vehicle and Japanese language printed inside! It's pretty old (from 1995), but is lightly used, clean, and has lots of new parts on it. It's a Toyota Hiace "Royal J." And it's super fun to drive. It has back seats that fold down into a full size bed, plus an upper loft that can be pulled out into a sleeping area (or storage), and a neat little kitchenette in back. There's even a canopy that comes out to cover the sliding door area.

I put it into action today, in fact, driving to the first of two days of the Spring Into Reading Author Fair in the little town of Canby, Oregon.

I've also begun signing up for events throughout the year, ranging as far north in Washington state as events in Seattle and Puget Sound, as far south as Sacramento, California, and as far east as Boise, Idaho. 

And if there are any weekends left after all that? I plan to go camping in the woods with it. :D

Is it worth the $15,600 I paid for it? I'm certain of it. It should pay for itself in extra book sales after only a few years, if I do this right.

Cheers and happy reading!

Want To Take Part In Author Book Fairs? Here’s How.

Are you a writer who has published at least one book and are looking to get some exposure to potential readers and make some sales? Then taking part in a local book fair is something you’ll want to look into! I love interacting with other readers and writers, so I jump at every chance I get to take part in author book fair events as one of the authors. Last year I took part in four book fair events, including events that were part of the county fair, the state fair, a holiday market, and a book festival. I expect to do more than that this year.

WHAT IS AN AUTHOR BOOK FAIR?

Author book fairs are events where published authors set up tables to display and sell their books and to interact with potential readers. Count me in!

Typically the venue will have a large room or event hall where tables are set up and each author will get a table (sometimes, two authors per table), at convention centers, community centers, senior centers, or libraries. Sometimes the event is shared with artists. Sometimes the author portion is part of a larger event, such as a fair or holiday festival. I’ve seen these events as small as a couple of authors or as large as fifty.

The events are most often sponsored by local libraries (or library leagues), writer organizations or coalitions, or simply very organized individual authors who have done this a lot. Once in a while they are put on by local businesses that cater to readers, such as bookstores, coffee shops, or wineries. Sometimes they are part of a fundraiser (such as for the local library).

Usually there is a small fee to take part in the event, and sometimes I have to drive a fair way to get to them, but it’s worth it. I make more from book fair events each year than I do from Amazon book sales.

BE PREPARED TO TALK TO PEOPLE

It goes without saying that if you’re engaging the public and trying to sell your books as a writer, you’re going to have to talk to potential readers. They are customers, so you need to be a salesperson. Be your own advocate. And sometimes you’ll meet people who have long wanted to write and publish their own books and want to ask you about the process and how you got to the point you’re at.

If you’re really shy or have anxiety about meeting people, maybe a table event isn’t for you. I’m a bit odd in that I love public speaking. Over the years I’ve become a bit of an extravert, so it delights me when people walk up to my table and ask me about my books. Public speaking is the number one phobia (glossophobia) behind the fear of death, so if you have such a fear, you’re in good company. Somewhere around 75% of the population shares your fear. Sitting at a table isn’t exactly “public speaking” in that you’re not standing on a stage or giving a presentation, but you do need to advocate for yourself and entertain a little bit, too (such as by relating a scene from your book or talking about the process).

And, remember, you’re competing for their attention against a room full of other authors. You want to draw customers in by smiling at them and engaging with them as they step by. Often I’ll meet their eyes and say, “Hi! What do you like to read?” If they like the sort of thing I’ve published, I’ll say, “Oh, then maybe you’d like this book….”

HAVE A QUICK BLURB OF YOUR BOOK(S)

“What’s your book about?” is the most common question you’ll get. It’s also a question that many authors dread. How do you sum up a 100,000 word novel (or longer!) into a blurb that’s only a few sentences long? After all, you’ve got a masterpiece with complex characters and multiple subplots. I’ll admit, it ain’t easy. But you have to conquer that challenge anyhow in order to write a query letter to an agent or publisher, put text on the back of your book cover, or describe the book on the Amazon book page, so you might as well make it happen. This isn’t a synopsis (which describes the entire book and is a spoiler). No, this is a fast ad for your work.

Here's an example I tell people when they ask me about my fantasy novel, Dragon of the Federation:

Have you ever read a fantasy book told from the point of view of the dragon? A young female mage travels to see an ancient gold dragon who rules over a land of humans. She wants to warn him that the gods are angry and seeks to find out why. While she’s at the dragon’s palace, a visiting elvish prince is assassinated by one of the prince’s own guards. Meanwhile, a war is brewing with a neighboring civilization, threatening the security of the land. Sensing a link between these things, the dragon and the mage team up to investigate, uncovering a conspiracy to unleash arcane gods upon the land. If they fail to stop the scheme, control of the world’s magic could be lost forever.

There are lots of online pages and videos that will help you write (or say) a great book blurb, but your overall goal is to impel the reader to pick up your book to read more and hopefully purchase it from you.

They’ll have other questions, too. “Where do you get your ideas?” a customer might ask. Or “How long have you been writing?” Are you ready to answer those?

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO BRING WITH YOU?

What do you need to bring with you for your event? Here is a list of what I bring:

• Books. Obviously you need copies of your books to sell. But how many? Have enough to sell at least a couple copies of each book per hour. Bring more than you think you may need. I keep a box of extra copies in my car, even, in case I sell out. Plan ahead of time how you’ll set up your books. You want them to be neatly organized, and you may not get a lot of room on your table (or even your HALF of the table sometimes).
• Tablecloth. Some events will provide a tablecloth for you. Others won’t. It’s a good idea to bring your own, just in case. Mine is purple, which is eye-catching.
• Folding table. Most events will provide a table for you. Some will make you pay for a table. A few will make you bring your own. Check beforehand with the organizer!
• Money for making change. Not everyone carries coins or dollar bills, or enough of them anyway. I price all my books in increments of $5 so I don’t have to carry around dollar bills or loose change. In any case, be prepared in case someone hands you a large bill to pay for that book of yours.
• Credit card reader. I’ve found that over half of the people I sell to want to pay by credit card. So you’ll want to download a commerce app on your phone and have a card reader that goes with it. I use Square, which has an easy app and will give you a card slider that plugs into your phone for free. You can also use the “tap” function on many phones and readers. I’m always surprised by writers who aren’t prepared to take credit cards. They miss out on sales because of it!
• Cell phone. If you have a card reader, you’ll need an app to go with it. Some customers also might want to pay with Venmo or PayPal, too, so be prepared. There are a surprising number of authors who don’t use cell phone money apps (I’m sorry to stereotype, but it’s usually the elderly authors who have the hardest time understanding how to use those). It’s a good idea to bring a charging cable and plug, or an external battery pack, so your phone doesn’t run out of juice during the event. Also, don’t be tempted to play on your phone during the event or constantly check it for messages. People will just walk by if they think you’re occupied or distracted.
• Promotional signage. You’re marketing your books, and signage is important for that! I have a table banner with my logo and striking pictures of my books that hangs on the table. I also have a couple of signs in holders on the table (one advertising my website, and another announcing my coming books), as well as copies of a special flyer to advertise my “quick read” stories sold on Amazon. There are websites that specialize in making such signage, such as Vistaprint, or office supply stores and sites.
• Price list. Make sure to show how much your books cost. Maybe you could even advertise a deal? For instance, if you have more than one title for sale, maybe you’ll offer them $5 off if they purchase one of each?
• Pens. People love it when authors sign their books! So bring a couple pens so you can do that. And be sure to ask “Would you like me to sign that for you?” when they make a purchase, and ask if they want it made out to them or to someone special. Make sure the pens are working beforehand and have nice, thick lines. Some people sign with fine-tipped Sharpie markers. I use new gel pens.
• Business cards. Be professional and have some business cards in a special holder. Many readers won’t want to buy your book right away. Or maybe they want your website. Or perhaps they don’t want the print version but prefer the Kindle ebook version and need a link. So have a good business card they can take with them that has all of that information. I even stick a business card into every copy of my books that I sell.
• Swag. Have something to give away to people who come by your table. Maybe a dish of free hard candies or chocolates. How about a specially-printed bookmark that has information about your books and webpage? Maybe some pens to hand out (with your logo and website printed on them, perhaps)?
• Bags. Have bags ready to hand to people. Most authors don’t do this, but I’ve found that customers love having a bag to carry your book and the other books they bought. I have bags that have my logo and website printed on them! They aren’t that expensive when you buy them in bulk. (HERE is the one I buy from Amazon). A few events will provide a bag to customers.
• Food and drink. These events often last all day, and you want to minimize how much you leave your table. Some events have food venders, but I bring with me something to drink (a couple sodas or water bottles) and food (usually a sandwich and a couple snacks). Don’t bring anything messy, though. Don’t want to get stains on your books!
• Hand cart. All that stuff, above, fits in about three boxes. That’s a lot to carry! And maybe you can’t park right at the door of the venue. So I bring a folding, wheeled hand cart to carry it all.

HOW DO YOU SIGN UP FOR A TABLE?

Don’t know how to get a table at an author book fair? Here are some suggestions:

• Go to an event. I mean, you’re interested in going anyway, right? Because books! When you go there, ask to talk to the organizer. It might be too late to get a table this year, but how about for next year? Or maybe they run several events a year.
• Inquire at a venue. Contact the event center and ask if they have an author event and, if so, if they can put you in touch with the organizer.
• Ask your local writer’s organization. Chances are the writer’s organization in your area sponsors events or has lists of events, with contact information for the organizers.
• Contact your library or bookstores. Libraries and bookstores are in touch with the local book scene. They advertise events. They might even sponsor one themselves. They can put you in touch with the organizer.
• Ask more experienced authors. Chances are the more experienced authors in your area have taken part in these events. They can tell you who to contact.
• Plan your own. Obviously this is a more daunting option, since organizing events is a skill set that many people don’t have. But it is do-able. And if you partner with a local writer’s organization, venue, and/or sponsors, you might just find others who have more experience and can help you.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Regardless of the size of the event or the venue, I think you’ll find it very rewarding to have a table at an author book fair. Not just because of the revenue you can generate by selling your books, or even the chance to find more readers, but because you get to meet new readers, network with other writers, and get experience in the “writer scene” to build your writing career (or hobby, however you see it). Writing isn’t just about putting words on paper, after all. There’s a LOT more to it when you get to the point of publishing. Enjoy the experience!

Cheers and happy reading!

My first author event!

Last Friday I had my first author event, and I couldn't be happier!

The last Friday of each month is the Art Walk event in Cottage Grove, Oregon. Bookmine, one of three book stores on Main Street in that lovely little town, tries to feature a local author for each event.

Reading aloud from my book (photo by Mike Janes)

The owner, Gail, is a very pleasant lady and made a nice boutonniere for me. She's also been selling my book, Around the Corner from Sanity, there on consignment.

This particular Art Walk had a low attendance, generally. Perhaps because it immediately followed Christmas, or perhaps it wasn't well-advertised. But there were still a fair number of people who came in the store. I had great conversations with them, including one nice fellow who works for Amazon and bought a copy of my book. He was very interested in how my experience self-publishing on Amazon has been ("Generally very favorable," I told him). [HERE is my Amazon author page]

My book, Around the Corner from Sanity,
 on the shelf at Kalapuya book store
in Cottage Grove.

And I got to do a dramatic reading to a small audience. That was great fun! I read the first half of the story "Purgatory's Price" from my book, narrating in dramatic style, of course! One guy laughed and laughed. It was marvelous!

Afterward I took a few moments to check on my sales in the neighboring store, Kalapuya Books, too. It's always great fun to see my books on the shelf!

I'm definitely looking forward to my next author event, wherever that may be.

Cheers and happy reading!