Sell Your Book At Book Fairs, Festivals & Trade Shows

Play a bigger game with your book sales by expanding your audiences at local or nonlocal book fairs, festivals or trade shows. Can't afford a booth or table, rent a space on someone else's table and volunteer to be back for their book. In fact, rent a corner at various different tables in the same fair or show and triple your exposure.

The place on the net to go to find out what's upcoming in your area, or an area you want to travel to, is at the Library of Congress' website: http://www.loc.gov.loc/cfbook/bookfair.html. When you visit, the listings are in alphabetical order or by state. You will find shows for other countries, including Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. International events, including Canada, listings available. Travel for a month, write it off for your taxes, and include several different fairs and shows while you there.

Since I live in Virginia and travel frequently to Washington State, I plan my travel and schedule around these two areas to start.

Virginia

Fall for the Book | Fairfax | Sept http://www.fallforthebook.org/

Hollins University Annual Literary Festival | Roanoke | Mar http://www.hollins.edu/news-events/lit fest/litfest.htm

LAUGHS: Loudon's Annual Unforgettable Gigantic Hilarious Storyfest http://www.laughsfestival.org/ | Sterling | June

Newport News Celebrates the Book | Newport News | Oct http://www.newport-news.va.us/library/

Virgi nia Book Festival http://www.vabook.org/ | Charlottsville | Mar

Virginia Storytelling Alliance Gathering | Glen Allen | Mar http://vasa.comm unitypoint.org/archives/events/vasa_gathering_2004_call.html

Washington

Bellingham Storytelling Festival | Bellingham | Nov http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~rvohs/storyfestiva l2001.html

Bumbershoot http://www.bumbershoot.org/ | Seattle | Sept

Forest Storytelling Festival | Port Angeles | Sept http://www.dancingleaves.c om/storypeople/forestfestival/index.html

Northwest Bookfest | Seattle | Oct/Nov http://www.nwbookfest.org/

If you prefer to view the list by date, visit: http://www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/bkevents.html.< /p>

The National Book Festival, Washington DC, an extremely large event, held every October on The Mall. For more information: http://www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/natl.bk.fest.ht ml.

Take a few minutes, visit the Library of Congress' web site, and find the ones that fit into your schedule and location. Get bold and stand out, do book signings at Wine Festivals too (no matter what your topic).

You can even contact table renters in other locations and offer a commission for selling the books and you don't even need to be there. Look for people with integrity and give them a complimentary copy of your book. Write a "dedication" to them in the front.

For other possibilities to expand your book sales, visit your local and state government web sites for events, libraries, school district events, business organizations, civic or private clubs, bookstores at museums (private or public). Also, consider the arts and craft festivals and fun fairs.

Nonfiction Author Natalie Goldberg used to write instant poetry at booths at New Mexico area carnivals -- including the school carnivals.

If you are a technical writer look for Technology fairs and exhibits. Business Expos are the place to be if you are business writer. Are you a children's author, ask to sell your books at Parent Day events at the local schools. Christmas shows are great for children books too. Did you write a historical book? Include all the history events on your tour for 2004.

Well, we shared some new places to find events to sell your books at in 2004. Don't stop here, be creative, and try anything at least once, if it is financially conducive. Stretch your imagination and your opportunities and watch your book sales soar. Most important -- have fun doing it. In addition, don't forget to write a book about it!

(c) Copyright 2003, 2004, Catherine Franz. All rights reserved.

Catherine Franz, a Business Coach, specialized in writing, marketing and product development. Newsletters and additional articles: http://www.abundancecenter.com blog: http://abundance.blogs.com

---

Top Ten Ways To Prepare for Your Online Book Marketing Success

Still marketing your book through press releases, networking groups, and... Read More

Marketing Virus ? Every Writer Needs to Catch It

For you writers aspiring to greatness, you might need a... Read More

8 Easy Online Ways to Market Your Book For Free

Marketing your book whether you went the POD, e-book, or... Read More

Design Each Part of your Book to Sell More Copies

Whether you are an ebook author/publisher or a print book... Read More

Book Publishing Without Pain

When I meet an author with a great book concept,... Read More

Titles (and Subtitles) Sell Books!

Does a title really sell a book? The short answer... Read More

What Service Do You Need to Make your Book Sell?

Whether you are just starting or almost finished with your... Read More

28 Reasons Why Publishers Will Buy Your Book

Editors will buy a book for one or more of... Read More

Is Traditional Book Marketing Getting you Down?

"Are you disappointed and tired of time and money down... Read More

Does Your Book Cover Pass the ?Ignore? Test?

Your book cover is the first impression a potential client... Read More

Book Marketing 101- Book Publicity for Authors -- Creating a Book Publicity Campaign

Publicity is that elusive thing that can make or break... Read More

How To Promote A Book

Nowadays it's no longer a matter of whether or not... Read More

Writers: The Truth About Advertising, Publicity, and PR

Many of us are trying to do business and don't... Read More

Five Tips To Consider When Choosing A Publisher

Choosing a publisher probably seems like a complicated task, however,... Read More

10 Reasons Why People Attend Book Signings

This is the survey result of 325 people conducted by... Read More

Book Marketing 101 for the Self-Published Author -- Getting Started

No matter what any publisher or marketing company tells you... Read More

Sell More Books With Your Sparkling Introduction

Why write an introduction? Nobody reads it anyway. Up until... Read More

Publishing Your Book?What Way is Best For You? - Part 2

Your print or ebook is nearly finished. You wonder if... Read More

The Booklet Journey Opening a New World

1991 was a pivotal year in my life. My professional... Read More

Publicity for Buzz Marketing for Authors

Congratulations, you've written a book and even gotten it published!... Read More

Are You Ready For The Publishing Revolution?

Writing has traditionally been considered a solitary craft. You wrote... Read More

The High Cost of a Six-Figure Book Advance

The six-figure book advance, like the New York Times bestseller,... Read More

Authors Should Be Optimistic

A client wrote me recently and asked what I thought... Read More

Plays Well With Others to Become an Instant Author

You wrote a tips booklet. Maybe more than one. Oh... Read More

Never Pay Full Price for a Book!

Are you an avid reader? Are you trying to instill... Read More

What?s Wrong with the Internet? It Must be Broken!

After months of scouring the internet, I could not put... Read More

Online Book Marketing: How to Sell Your Book Even If You Are Not a Salesperson

What you do after you have written your book is... Read More

How to Self Publish and Promote Your Own Book

If you are reading this article then you have already... Read More

19 Ways to Secure Non-Returnable Book Sales and Sell More Books

Surprisingly, book stores are not always your greatest source of... Read More

Why Write Articles to Promote your Book?

Reach 15,000 to 100,000 targeted buyers every week Online. That's... Read More

The Perfect Book and Where to Find It!

If I was asked to describe the perfect book, one... Read More

Book Titles that Make Big Bucks

Do you know how readers decide to buy a book?... Read More

FAQs about Book Signings

Since I self-published my first book, "101 Ways to Improve... Read More