Seven Tips for Your First Author Event

I’m getting ready for my first-ever author event. I’ve been talking with other authors and poking around online to try to prepare.

Author of YA historical fiction, Stephanie Daniels made a few suggestions.

1) Decorate your table, if allowed. Make it eye-catching.

I’m going pretty plain and low-key, since I write in multiple genres. Authors who stick in one lane may wish to use items and colors to coordinate with their branding and genre.

A tablecloth will help make my area attractive, and a set of clear acrylic book stands for my titles will get my product off the table and in line of sight for the people browsing. Authors can use many types of displays for their books, and may wish to use something that reflects genre such as fantasy, romance, historical, and so on. The main thing is to make it pleasing and attractive.

I’ve heard tell you can never go wrong with a dish of candy. I plan to use either a plain dish or a Christmas-themed bowl, since it is a holiday Author Fair.

Other suggestions I gleaned from the Internet was to have different types of displays and signage, perhaps have a small poster with a tagline or blurb, your cover, some art, a QR code, and/or your website.

I wanted to purchase author pens to give away, but needed to keep an eye on my budget so concentrated on bookmarks instead.

2) Bring author bookmarks to give away.

As a collector of bookmarks, this seemed like a fabulous idea to me and a great way to advertise.

I had two options for this. In the past, I made mini-bookmarks from my business cards, but my cards only have my name and website address on the front.

I decided to go with new bookmarks, using elements from my website to make an attractive bookmark readers might hang on to for a while.

On the back, I put my tagline, web address, author photo, two of my book covers, an endorsement, and QR codes to my Amazon author page and another to my Goodreads page so people could read reviews.

I’m not sure if it was a mistake to put more than one QR code, but certainly more than two seems like overkill to me. Some authors put a QR code directing people to their newsletter sign-up. You could also have a QR code that goes directly to a specific book or book series.

Because I wanted a broader usage that would be relevant for a long time, I chose to have people go to my Amazon author page. Of course, if you are not exclusively published on Amazon you would want them to go to your website or universal link page.

I ordered bookmarks made of the highest available card stock, coated, with rounded corners. Choose the type of bookmarks you want to buy based on your budget and current needs. Shop around for the best price, making sure to consider shipping costs and delivery times.

Many authors use bookmarks to promote one book or one series. After the cover reveals for my young adult series, I will design another bookmark to promote those books.

3) Instead of sitting behind the table, stand in front or off to the side.

As people come by, offer them bookmarks and engage them in conversation. Ask them what type of books they like to read and tell them about what you write.

Depending on the event, this may not always be allowed, but if it is, I will try to engage people. When I’m feeling well it’s easy for me to interact with people. If I’m having a hard day it’s a bit more challenging.

4) Have a sign-up sheet for your newsletter.

Another great idea. Hopefully, many people will sign up for the newsletter which will give an author a second chance to make contact with future readers.

5) Don’t forget to bring bags for customers’ purchases.

6) And provide QR codes for your PayPal and your Venmo for payments.

It’s also a good idea to bring change for those paying with cash.

7) Last but not least, order your author copies well in advance.

Delivery times for author copies is notoriously slow compared to the quick shipping we have come to expect as shoppers.

As a parting bit of advice, Stephanie reminded me that while fulfilling the role of salesman may be uncomfortable for many of us, the people attending the event are there to buy books and to connect with authors.

Have you participated in an author event? Do you have any tips to add? Leave a comment!

Donna Jo Stone is an award-winning multi-genre author. She writes contemporary young adult, historical fiction, and southern fiction. Many of her novels are about tough issues, but she always ends her stories on a note of hope. Finding the faith to carry on through hard battles in a common theme in Donna Jo’s books.

For the latest news on upcoming releases, including her contemporary young adult novel, Promise Me Tomorrow, scheduled for release in 2025, sign up for Donna Jo’s newsletter at  donnajostone.com.