As a self-published author, you need to find creative ways to sell your book. Selling my books at festivals, craft fairs, farmer’s markets, schools, and gift shops lets me meet customers and share my journey. Since my books are about the animals of the Chesapeake Bay, I seek events related to my stories. Crab and oyster festivals in towns around the Bay allow me to connect with like-minded people who join me in promoting the health of the Bay and the animals that thrive there.
To find events, check social media and search online in the cities and towns on the dates that you want. Don’t forget the year. The towns I check are Easton, Grasonville, Cambridge, Annapolis, Crofton, Davidsonville, just to name a few, which are about 15 minutes to an hour away. Those are the towns with events that are about the watermen of Maryland and the crabs and oysters caught there. I have also been a little farther out in Rock Hall and Deep Creek Lake, which are about 1.5 hours away. The fees are from $50 for a one-day event to over $300 for a weekend.
Festivals can be indoors or outdoors and may include a table and chairs. You will want to bring a canopy if you are outdoors. Check details of each event to be sure it is what you want. They often include restrooms, food to purchase, live music, raffles, activities for children, and signage. Large festivals can bring THOUSANDS of people and are more expensive.
I have several banners that I ordered from VistaPrint. My banners are a large stand-up, a table runner, and one that attaches to the back of my canopy. I also use a magazine rack that I ordered on Amazon. It holds my 8.5” x 8.5” books nicely in 12 spots. The canopy was ordered from Extreme Canopy and is bright green with my logo and “Children’s Books” across the edge. A table skirt is great to give your space a finished, professional look.
I use two 11” x 17” clear plastic tubs to hold things like paper shopping bags, pens, cups, money box, Ty Beanie Babies, business cards, and post cards. A small cooler will come in handy to hold ice, snacks, and drinks. Since I have 15 titles, I bring a typed tally sheet to keep track of book sales. Be sure you have plenty of change in case customers pay with large bills. I find that some will want to pay with Zelle, ApplePay, PayPal, and Venmo, so you might want to check those out too. I use SumUp, to accept credit/debit cards, as they do not charge a monthly fee. You will want to allow enough time to set up your space. It usually takes me at least 30 minutes with the canopy. Since most people buy the first book they pick up, I put the hardbacks in front of the paperbacks. Hardbacks sell for $6 more.
Once you have your booth set up and the event begins, you will start greeting people as they walk by. I usually say “Hi, I am the author of the books.” It brings curious people over to look and most start asking me questions.
Remember that festivals are not just for selling books. I enjoy chatting with people and hearing stories of their writing journeys. Sometimes I meet people who invite me to do presentations at schools, speak at events, and sell books at their events. Enjoy!
Cindy Freland is the author of 15 children’s books about the animals of the Chesapeake Bay and other special places in Maryland. She lives in Bowie, MD, with her husband, Peter Capella, and loves gardening and painting. Find her books on Amazon and her website at cbaykidsbooks.com.
