How to attract readers

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Last October, I organized Indie Author Day at a weekly outdoor market held on the grounds of an arts center. It was a beautiful day and about two dozen authors showed up, but not many sales were made. The patrons were more interested in vegetables than they were in books.

This year, I am working with my county library system to hold the event again, this time in a library. I’m looking for some ideas. As a reader, what would attract you to such an event? I’m thinking having authors talk about their research or the locales or themes of their books would be appealing.

Or should an Indie Author Day be targeted at writers or wannabe authors rather than readers. Or a bit of both?

What do you think? Which would you attend?