Don’t be that author:
She didn’t approach possible buyers at the author fair; she accosted them. She didn’t talk to people, she talked at them, rapid fire, on and on, yakkity yak yak, sometimes hauling out a huge foam core poster of all her books. When things got slow, she walked clear to the other side of the venue, handouts clutched to her chest, and attempted to lure shoppers to her table.
And it backfired. People rounded the corner, saw her table, and then went out of their way to avoid her (also bypassing the authors who had the misfortune of being seated next to her).
Yes, she was seated at a table next to me at a recent book fair. I saw it all and cringed. She was the kind of author that people tried to walk past without engaging–“There she is, don’t make eye contact, you’ll get caught!” She was the kind of author who made shoppers’ eyes glaze over as they looked for a way to escape if they happened to end up in her clutches.
Be this author:
With the vaccination rates rising and COVID-19 cases dropping, I’m predicting that more book fairs and festivals will soon be in the works. I can’t wait to get out there and meet new readers.
So here are a few tips on author fair etiquette, in case you need a refresher after a hiatus. I think it’s especially important not to step on the toes of other authors at book festivals.
1) If you’re selling books at a craft fair, retail store, or other such venue, first ask shoppers who wander past your table if they even read books.
2) They do? Great! Ask them what genre they enjoy. If they don’t read your genre, you might ask if they’d be open to something different, like science fiction or poetry, for a change, but don’t be pushy.
3) Don’t launch an all-out attack. Give shoppers a one-sentence elevator pitch about your latest book. Watch to see if their interest is piqued before you say more.
4) If they look at all interested, place your book in their hands. I watched another author do this, and she almost always got the sale.
5) Have one or two display copies for this purpose, and keep the rest of your books pristine for actual purchases.
6) Don’t wander the venue talking to shoppers about your books as they browse. It looks bad. It’s a distraction that other authors don’t need when they are trying to find potential customers. Sell at your own table.
7) Don’t ever interrupt a customer who is interacting with other authors. This is a big no-no. Don’t make selling a competition.
8) Be aware. If you see people’s eyes start to glaze over, for heaven’s sake, let them go peacefully.
I hope to see you at the next local author fair, finding new readers and making sales. Stay relaxed and above all, have fun.
You might also enjoy How to Survive a Book Festival with 12 tips for displays and selling.
Thank you for visiting Linda’s blog.
Linda K. Sienkiewicz is a writer, poet, and artist.
Learn more about her award winning novel, In the Context of Love.
Learn more about her picture book, Gordy and the Ghost Crab.
Learn more about her poetry chapbook, Security
