Why are there no Indie Author Events?

[Sara]

Is it because we already have too many jobs trying to be writers, publishers, publicists, moms, dads, employees, on and on ad nauseum? Also maybe a lot of bookstores, which are the traditional hosts of author gatherings, don't quite know what to do with Indie authors... Maybe if we identified some Indie-friendly bookstores or other good venues, we could come up with some book-signing events/readings and have a couple of authors share a night, or weekend afternoon. Maybe mini tours? I don't know. I like to see real people and get their reactions to my work. Seems it's getting harder and harder to do.

I recently won the Grand Prize for Fiction in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards and even my local paper didn't cover it--even though I sent them a press release!

[Steph]

I guess it's because indie authors generally don't have a marketing team with a killer contact list to arrange these events and invite all the right people. Having a publisher has its advantages if you're one of the lucky clients who is given publicity. I believe there are indie collectives out there that do what you propose.

It strikes me that these events only work well if the author already has a following. It could work well if the event drew people in for other reasons, too; e.g. poetry reading event, live music, etc.

[A.L.]

There are several online things - I am actually doing one at the moment. I do know people who had done book signings at fairs and festivals but I am not sure how successful. I guess the downside with that is you need to pay out for the copies and if they don't sell at all it is a lot to fork out at once.

[Sara]

One thing I've thought about for book signings--for when you run out of books if you didn't have a lot of money to invest in a big stockpile--is to give out a coupon or leaflet showing the book cover and how to order it online. At least it would be a little reminder for the person to carry away. And if you write a personal note on it, it might help even more with getting that sale. Of course, with the price of color ink cartridges, printing the coupons will probably cost more than the book! UGH. Just try to get ahead!

[John]

I was surprised not long ago to discover that there is a local Fantasy and Science Fiction convention held in my area (Memphis, Tennessee), and they are actually looking for local F&SF authors -- to the extent that they give out awards for the best books, short stories, etc. each year. They don't care whether you are Indie or traditionally published, and authors are encouraged to submit their own work for consideration.

To be eligible, you either have to live in the area or your book (a significant part of it) has to be set in the area (which includes west Tennessee, northern Mississippi, and eastern Arkansas). Authors are allowed to submit their own work, and even if you don't win, you can set up shop at the convention (held in a local hotel) to promote, sign, and sell your work.

[A.L.]

We have a local fantasy group here and I keep meaning to attend.

[A.L.]

This is the latest online one with which I am involved. http://libraryoferana.wordpress.com/2...

[Leeland]

I'm doing my own online event:

http://www.goodreads.com/event/show/9...

Everyone is welcome to come!

+ Leeland

[J.D.]

I've found a lot of venues to be very friendly to local authors:

http://www.goodreads.com/event/show/9...

http://www.goodreads.com/event/show/8...

[A.L.]

Pity it is a bit far for me to go...:) Sounds a good opportunity.

[J.D.]

Alexandra wrote: "Pity it is a bit far for me to go...:) Sounds a good opportunity."

And a great excuse to get a Florida vacation that doubles as a business expense. ;)

[A.L.]

Awesome:) Hope it goes well for you. Let me know how it goes, happy to run an interview after the event telling what it is about.

[J.D.]

Alexandra wrote: "Awesome:) Hope it goes well for you. Let me know how it goes, happy to run an interview after the event telling what it is about."

Thanks! That sounds lie a great idea. (Neither of these events really qualifies as a vacation for me, of course, since they're both within half an hour of my house.)

[A.L.]

Boo. Well still useful to do.