Inspired by the event recaps that the amazing Bob McGough does after events he goes to. Bob is a talented local independent author whom I know from my writing group. You can find his website at Tales by Bob.
General Thoughts:
This was the second year of the Sumiton Book Fest, but my first year attending. It was an absolutely fabulous event, and I’m definitely looking forward to next year’s Book Fest. Setup was really easy, the organization was excellent, and the turnout was amazing. I was initially a bit skeptical about the turnout, given that Sumiton is a small town of only 2,513 people (according to World Population). However, being a small town didn’t mean a small turnout! I had steady traffic at my booth all day and even ran out of author info bookmarks because so many people stopped by.
Small Thoughts:
My amazing husband ordered a canopy and some great stretch tablecloths for me to use at my book events. These were fantastic additions to my event supplies. I do wish I had taken the time to set up the canopy before the event, so it was already attached to the frame. I had some trouble with setup due to a torn tendon in my elbow.
The stretch tablecloth was a game changer and worked much better than the pashmina shawl I used at the Howler Art Festival (see my thoughts on that here). The new tablecloth stayed in place all day.
Another big change I made was to my price signage. At my last event, I used small whiteboard easels placed next to the items. Before Sumiton, I took a wide, thin picture frame and made a single price guide. However, I’m not sure if that’s the best way to display prices. Several shoppers missed the single price guide because they were looking for prices next to each item.
Cover Designs: This is the second event where Secret in the Shadows has vastly outsold Runaway. In fact, the only copies of Runaway I sold were bundled with Secret. Several shoppers picked up Runaway only to express disappointment that it was a romance rather than a psychological thriller. I’m starting to realize that, while I love the cover, it may not be the best fit for the first novel in my series. I’m seriously considering a redesign to better align with reader expectations.
Sales:
As I mentioned earlier, I had steady traffic all day. I met so many great people and had consistent sales throughout the event, with a total of nineteen sales.
Total Sales: $121.00
Sales by the numbers:
- Runaway: 2
- Secret in the Shadows: 8
- Bookmarks: 5
- Stickers: 11
It was especially exciting to sell a total of 10 books, as I’m still a relatively new author. Typically, I move only 0-1 paperback copies per month.
Fixed Expenses:
- Booth fee: $25
- Mileage: $144.72 (216 miles at $0.67)
Total after Expenses: -$48.72
Unfortunately, when factoring in mileage, I ended up in the negative. However, I still consider it a great day for building my readership through exposure and networking with many other amazing authors.
