I've Got a Table -- Now What?

You’ve registered for a table or a half-table at a book event. Now what? Here are some hints that I’ve discovered over the years that can help you promote your books and make the most of your display space.

My One Rule: Pack only what you can carry. Bring what you need but not enough to make two or three trips to the car. Books are heavy. I either use a rolling suitcase or a collapsable dolly.

My Bag: I have an event bag, and I restock it after ever event. Here’s what I keep stocked in mine:

• Bookmarks, Business Cards

• Give Away-items (usually pens and a container to hold them) If you bring candy, make sure to have a dish. And don’t bring chocolate if it’s a hot day.

• A Tent Card (with my name on it in case one isn’t provided)

• My Acrylic Sign Holder

• My Banner

• An Unwrinkled Tablecloth (Mindy Quigley turned me on to fitted stretch tablecloths that connect to the table legs. They don’t wrinkle, and they hide whatever you’ve stashed under your booth.)

• My Emergency Stash: a small notebook, lots of pens, tape, painter’s tape, scissors

• Book Stands (I like the ones that fold.)

• Clipboard for Newsletter Sign-ups

Table Displays:

• Know the size of the table. Make sure you check the specifications and rules for the event. Some don’t allow free-standing banners.

• If you’re sharing a table, be a good neighbor. Don’t encroach on your partner’s side. He or she has a display to show off, too. And if you have a standing banner, don’t block anyone else’s table.

• Make your space eye-catching. You want people to stop by and talk to you. Always have some sort of give-away: bookmarks, pens, candy…It is an icebreaker that draws people in to chat.

• Have some sort of a theme. If there’s a theme in your books, add small touches that create a polished and connected look for your display. Figure out what’s integral to your story and highlight that. (For the Mutt Mysteries, we had a dog/pawprint theme.)

• I put small stacks of books on the table. It creates a sense of urgency for buyers. If you have hundreds of books there, some get the idea (right or wrong) that your items aren’t selling. And everyone wants to get one of the last ones before they sell out.

• If you can, offer a deal or discount for that day. I put up a sign and offer something like a small discount if they buy two or three at full price.

• If you can’t think of anything specific for your table, bring a vase of flowers. It brightens up an empty space.

What’s on your display table?

Be Creative When Planning Author Events

The Unhappy Hour at the Poe Museum in Richmond, VA

Writing events aren’t just a writer at a table in a book store. Be creative when you plan and accept invitations to appear. I have had so much fun at our events.

Poe Birthday Bash - Poe Museum’s Unhappy Hour - We are so fortunate to have the Poe Museum in downtown Richmond. It’s one of my favorite museums. They have lots of events and special programs. We’ve done signings, panels, and readings at their annual Poe Birthday Bash and their summer Unhappy Hours.

MOCA - Our short story authors participated in a reading at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art in Virginia Beach. A lot of museums and botanical gardens have special events or themed events that will fit with your book/genre.

Murder at the Library - For the past four years, we have partnered with the Friends of the Chesterfield County Library and the Chesterfield Libraries to create a “whodunnit” play. Members of my Sisters in Crime chapter write the script for the library staff to act out. They sell tickets for the after-hours event, and we provide authors for a panel discussion and book signing. The event has sold out each year.

Rosemont Winery - For our wine-themed mystery anthology, our authors staff a table at the Rosemont Winery’s Arts and Crafts Festival. The day-long event is held at the beautiful winery with food, drinks, pets, and lots of fun readers who are very supportive of local authors.

Book Launch in a Winery - For 50 Shades of Cabernet, we held the book launch at the Mermaid Winery in Norfolk. The location and food were great, and we had fun talking with so many mystery readers.

Book Launch in a Bowling Alley - I had my launch for Secret Lives and Private Eyes at Uptown Alley, a bowling alley with restaurants, bars, games, and a night club. My character, Delanie Fitzgerald, visits the location in the book, so I thought it was a perfect place to launch the series. My event was held upstairs in the bar/club area with lots of lounge seating and an outdoor patio.

Book Launch in a Café - Our book launch for Virginia is for Mysteries was at the East Beach Sandwich Shop in Ocean View (Norfolk, VA). They offered drinks and great food. We signed books and enjoyed the music of the local band. This artistic community was so supportive of local writers.

Also, don’t forget workshops, libraries, school groups, and book clubs when you’re planning your events. Tell everyone that you know about your book. You’ll be surprised at the interesting invitations you’ll receive to visit and speak.

It's Okay to be Choosy!

When I had my first short stories published, I was excited to be a part of every writing and book event that came along. For the first two anthologies, our group did about fifty events a year to promote the books. Some of these events were wildly successful, and others were less than stellar. As I go along my writing journey, I've found it's okay to be selective about the events you attend. Here's what I've learned...

1. Your time is valuable. You need to guard your writing time and ensure that you are writing the next book. 

2. Look at the event. Is it inside or outside? (I sunburn easily!) Look at the logistics. Do you have to bring your own tent and table? Look at the schedule. When do you have to be there and how long are you expected to stay?

3. Is this the first time for the event? It's exciting to be a part of an inaugural event. Just make sure the host publicizes the event. It's fun to be on the cutting edge, but keep in mind that there my be some snags since this is the first time for everyone.

4. Is there a cost to participate? Make sure that the spend can be covered by your sales. I've split a table with other authors before. We shared the cost and the schedules. Book sales are unpredictable. Sometimes, you sell 50 books, and other times, you'll sell 2. The latter is more disappointing if you invested a lot of money in the entrance fee.

5. What is your purpose for attending the event? If it is only to sell books, then you need to evaluate your return on your investment of time and money. If you're there to support the library or to network, then sales may not be your first concern. I've given away hundreds of bookmarks at events, and many of those interactions turn into online book sales.

6. Consider the travel, meals, and overnight stays when you budget for an event. 

7. I keep a calendar, so I can look at what I did last year and also see what's on the horizon. I have a little paper one that I carry around with me. And I record everything -- in person events as well as social media ones.

8. It is okay to say no. If you're lucky, you'll be approached to participate in a lot of events. If you have a conflict (and you're interested), ask the organizers to keep you on the list for next year. Your time is valuable, and you need to consider how much time will be needed to prepare for a panel, workshop, or class.

9. How are books sold at the event? Is there a book seller, or are you responsible for sales? I have some author friends who don't do events where they have to sell books.  Make sure you know the logistics ahead of time. Also if the books are sold on consignment, make sure you know how/when you'll be paid. (And even if there is a book seller, I always have a stack of books in my car. I've been to events where there were book mix ups.)

Don't feel guilty that you turn down events? You need to make the best decision for you, and if you're stressed or too busy, then you're not writing your next book. What else would you add to my list?