March 20th, 2011
VA FESTIVAL OF THE BOOK
Sigh.
Yup, that about sums up the Virginia Festival of the Book.
I have to say that for everything that was said about this book festival, it was a major let down. Let me share with you just how
the day went.
I arrived in Charlottesville, Virginia at about 7:50am after a 2 1/2 hour drive from my house. By 8am, I'd found my table at the
hotel where the days events were being held and I was set up by 8:10am. At 9am, the book fair and events for the day began.
Though, I have to ask, I don't know how they began, because no one was there. No one, except for us poor authors sitting at the
tables hoping for people to come and see our stuff.
As a matter of fact, we all pretty much sat there in this large hotel atrium until about 11am, when there was a luncheon
scheduled. The luncheon, happened to be in the room right off the main lobby and hundreds of people showed up for this event.
People swarmed the tables for about 15 to 20 minutes before the luncheon actually began, which was at 11:30am. Then, we
authors sat alone again, for the next hour until the luncheon let out. From 12:30pm to 12:45pm, we were swarmed once again
with the same people who we'd seen just over an hour earlier. And then we were alone again.
At 2pm, the woman I shared a table with gave up, packed up, and went home. Followed by several other authors between the
times of 2:15pm and 2:45pm. I, on the other hand gave it until about 3:15pm (the book fair was scheduled to end at 4pm) before
calling it a day.
Now, while I am extremely disappointed with how things turned out yesterday, this was a good learning experience. For one, I
know never to go to the VA Book Fest again. Second, not all book festivals are going to be a success. I was one of the lucky
ones at the festival yesterday, because I sold 2 books. Only one other author outsold me, though I was tied with quite a few,
mainly because she had a cute children's book and many many grandmothers wanted it for their grandchildren. When I left, she
had sold about 30 copies.
So, anyway, my advice is, even if an event doesn't go well, doesn't mean the next one won't either. You never know what you're
getting into until after the show is over. Just use it as a learning tool and if you don't do well, consider not going again the
following year. If things go swimmingly, put it in ink on your calendar for the next year's event. As I said, I don't believe the VA
Book Fest will be seeing me again any time soon.
Book Sale Totals:
PREVIOUS TOTAL: 168
WEEKEND TOTAL: 2
SOLD BOOK OVERALL TOTAL: 170
Until next time - Find an event, either a craft fair, a local book signing, or a festival happening in the next few months and sign up
to be an exhibitor. You never know if you'll sell anything if you don't try.
VA FESTIVAL OF THE BOOK
Sigh.
Yup, that about sums up the Virginia Festival of the Book.
I have to say that for everything that was said about this book festival, it was a major let down. Let me share with you just how
the day went.
I arrived in Charlottesville, Virginia at about 7:50am after a 2 1/2 hour drive from my house. By 8am, I'd found my table at the
hotel where the days events were being held and I was set up by 8:10am. At 9am, the book fair and events for the day began.
Though, I have to ask, I don't know how they began, because no one was there. No one, except for us poor authors sitting at the
tables hoping for people to come and see our stuff.
As a matter of fact, we all pretty much sat there in this large hotel atrium until about 11am, when there was a luncheon
scheduled. The luncheon, happened to be in the room right off the main lobby and hundreds of people showed up for this event.
People swarmed the tables for about 15 to 20 minutes before the luncheon actually began, which was at 11:30am. Then, we
authors sat alone again, for the next hour until the luncheon let out. From 12:30pm to 12:45pm, we were swarmed once again
with the same people who we'd seen just over an hour earlier. And then we were alone again.
At 2pm, the woman I shared a table with gave up, packed up, and went home. Followed by several other authors between the
times of 2:15pm and 2:45pm. I, on the other hand gave it until about 3:15pm (the book fair was scheduled to end at 4pm) before
calling it a day.
Now, while I am extremely disappointed with how things turned out yesterday, this was a good learning experience. For one, I
know never to go to the VA Book Fest again. Second, not all book festivals are going to be a success. I was one of the lucky
ones at the festival yesterday, because I sold 2 books. Only one other author outsold me, though I was tied with quite a few,
mainly because she had a cute children's book and many many grandmothers wanted it for their grandchildren. When I left, she
had sold about 30 copies.
So, anyway, my advice is, even if an event doesn't go well, doesn't mean the next one won't either. You never know what you're
getting into until after the show is over. Just use it as a learning tool and if you don't do well, consider not going again the
following year. If things go swimmingly, put it in ink on your calendar for the next year's event. As I said, I don't believe the VA
Book Fest will be seeing me again any time soon.
Book Sale Totals:
PREVIOUS TOTAL: 168
WEEKEND TOTAL: 2
SOLD BOOK OVERALL TOTAL: 170
Until next time - Find an event, either a craft fair, a local book signing, or a festival happening in the next few months and sign up
to be an exhibitor. You never know if you'll sell anything if you don't try.
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