Last Updated on by Michael Brockbank
On October 20th, 2024, I’ll be attending my first book fair, Read Between the Stars! It’s a sci-fi & fantasy book fair held at D3 Arts in Lakewood, Colorado. And I’ll be there with copies of my debut dark fantasy, Kingmaker.
The book fair is organized by Marisa E. Cardin, a fantasy and sci-fi author herself.
I’m pretty excited, though a bit apprehensive. It’s my first event as an author, and I don’t want to screw it up. Though, I bet every author thinks that in the beginning.
The trick is to not let those thoughts take control. Otherwise, you’ll wind up missing out on potentially some of the greatest moments of your life.
You can’t be afraid of what might happen.
Why Attend a Book Fair?
One of my goals for 2024 is to attend at least three author-related events in person. I’m kind of an introvert, but I know that I need to be more social if I want to progress as a writer.
Well, at least progress in the ways that I want.
Anyway, Read Between the Stars is my first event of the year, and it’s scheduled for October. That means I am a bit shy of hitting my goal unless I can find a couple more to attend.
So, why am I putting effort into going to these types of events?
Networking Is Often Worth More than Sales
Networking and exposing yourself to potential readers is how you start building a reputation. And a good reputation can be worth a lot in the long run.
Events such as Read Between the Stars give me a chance to meet local readers who may be interested in my books as well as meet other authors in similar genres. It’s one of the reasons why I have author interviews on the YouTube channel.
I love meeting authors and listening to their stories.
Also, you never know who you’ll meet at these types of events. You could come across someone who becomes your greatest fan or a professional who can help your career march forward.
Being Part of a Community
There’s nothing wrong with being a lone-wolf author. A lot of people would rather just live their lives in solitary while writing books and not interacting with others in such a way.
Personally, I like the idea of being part of a community – especially a local one.
For one thing, it’s a great way to make new friends. I’ve met so many interesting people as a writer, and many are considered in my close circle of relationships.
Being part of a community introduces you to all kinds of things and ideas. Some people may influence your writing process, provide insights that you have never thought of, or even help you break out of your introverted shell.
Breaking Even with Book Sales
For me, any event that breaks even in terms of cost vs sales is a stunning success. But even if not, I still like the idea that people may remember me at a later date.
When I was the CEO of the Iliff Computer Center, one of my favorite things was to attend business expos. We often didn’t make a ton of money, but the interaction with local consumers brought in business over the long term.
That’s the point. It’s not always about making thousands of dollars in a single sitting. Sometimes a handshake or two can result in future sales. If not, then at least word-of-mouth is an option to help you gain recognition.
In this case, I’ll need to sell one book per hour to break even. It’s not a lot, but given that I’m not exactly a household name, I’m not holding my breath.
Again, I am more interested in the engagement and interactions.
Getting Out of the House!
Perhaps the most vital reason why I am attending Read Between the Stars is to get me out of the house. I live a hermit lifestyle and it’s something I desperately want to change.
The best part is that the book fair is something that I am exceptionally excited to attend.
So, even if I don’t sell a single book, it’s still a win for me as I get to have some fun with a bunch of other fantasy authors. That, alone, is worth the cost of the space for my table.
I’d rather have experiences over riches.
Having the Right Mentality
For many authors, especially newer writers, the idea of being in a public space is terrifying. Even I get a bit shy in person compared to when I’m on camera.
The right mentality, however, makes everything so much better overall. This is especially true if you have realistic expectations about the public event.
Confidence in Yourself
I know a lot of authors who lack self-confidence. I see it all the time on social media. But having confidence in yourself as well as your books opens your life to all kinds of possibilities.
That’s because you’re more likely to accept them instead of letting negative thoughts convince you otherwise.
You Can’t Please Them All
As I’ve said numerous times, you can’t please 100% of the people 100% of the time. Some people are going to hate for the sake of hating. So, don’t assume everyone is going to love your book.
Yesterday, I saw someone on Threads state how she was crushed because of a single bad review. OK, but what about the many others who loved the book?
All of your favorite authors have had bad reviews, and they still write.
It’s Not About the Money
When going to public events like Read Between the Stars, don’t assume you’ll sell every copy you bring. Sure, it would be nice if you sold out, but don’t bank on it.
The truth is that you might not even sell a single copy. That will come down to how you present yourself and who is attending.
As a horror author, you might have a day when it’s nothing but mothers bringing their toddlers as far as the eye can see.
Don’t get your hopes up on selling books. Go in with the idea that you’ll meet some people and talk to a few other authors. That way, you’re not disappointed and still feel accomplished.
Join Us at Read Between the Stars!
If you’re in the Lakewood area in Colorado on October 20th at around noon or so, come and join us as the event has free admission. We’ll be set up at:
D3 Arts
3614 Morrison RD
Denver, CO 80219
D3 Arts is a sober space, meaning no smoking or drinking.
There will be quite a few local authors to meet and we all like to interact with readers.
Thank you, Marisa, for setting this up, and I look forward to meeting everyone and having some fun.
- An Evening with Drea Talley on After Hours - September 16, 2024
- An Evening with Maddi Bluhme on After Hours - September 9, 2024
- An Evening with Ian Thomas Healy on After Hours - August 22, 2024