The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of bookish adventures, meeting incredible readers, and connecting with fellow authors! I had the privilege of attending two events: the Opelika Book Event on February 22 and the Montevallo Backyard Book Fest on March 8. If you weren’t able to make it, here’s a recap of my experience.
Opelika Book Event
Since this was the second year of the Opelika Book Event, but they scaled it much larger than it was the first year. Maybe to longer–there were plenty of learning opportunities for future improvements. While it wasn’t the strongest event for book sales, it was still a fantastic opportunity for socializing and networking, even though that wasn’t the primary focus.
Friday night, we attended the Author Social at Santé Wine Bar, which was an amazing space. I met some wonderful authors, including Jamie Waggoner, author of Hades: Myth, Magic, and Modern Devotion. I had a lovely visit with her and her husband. One thing that really impressed me about the social was the inclusion of non-alcoholic options for those of us who don’t drink. It was a thoughtful touch that I truly appreciated. That said, I did determine that I am not a fancy charcuterie board person!
The book festival itself had some logistical challenges. Originally, I was assigned to Room B, which had very low customer traffic. From my husband’s observations, most attendees browsed the main room and never made it to Rooms A and B due to poor traffic flow and a lack of signage directing them to those areas. I spent the first two hours in Room B chatting with other authors, which was enjoyable, but it limited my ability to connect with readers.
Around the two-hour mark, my husband suggested I move to the main room, where there were a few empty tables. I made the switch, and while my sales did pick up, I had already missed the morning rush, which was when most of the traffic had come through. Despite the slow start, I met some wonderful authors, which was a definite highlight of the event.
One area that could improve future festivals is balancing the focus between speaker events and the book festival itself. Much of the promotional efforts seemed to highlight the author speakers and workshops, which may have drawn attendees away from the festival tables. Additionally, the keynote speaker, Mary Kay Anderson, was heavily advertised, but her talk wasn’t scheduled until 6 PM—long after the book festival had ended. Perhaps future events could integrate the speaker lineup more effectively with the book browsing experience to encourage more engagement for all authors. I am not sure if this is one I would do again–it would depend on what changes they plan to make to it.
Montevallo Backyard Book Fest
The Montevallo Backyard Book Fest was an absolutely fantastic event. Though it was its first year, the organizers did an amazing job putting everything together. It was well-organized and had a steady flow of visitors throughout the day, which made for a successful experience for both authors and readers.
I had a constant stream of visitors at my booth and a great day of book sales. The event’s setup allowed for easy interaction between authors and attendees, making it one of the best book festivals I’ve participated in. I’m already looking forward to returning next year!
Another special aspect of this event was that my son attended with me, making it even more memorable. After the festival, we took the time to visit Tinglewood, an outdoor art gallery featuring incredible wood carvings created by Tim Tingle. It was a unique and inspiring experience, and a perfect way to wrap up an already wonderful day.
Looking Ahead
These events reminded me of why I love what I do—creating stories that connect with people and bringing characters to life in a way that stays with readers long after they turn the last page. If you stopped by my table at either event, thank you! Your support means everything. Opelika definitely helped reenergize me. The past few months after my car accident in August have been difficult as I’ve been recovering from injuries, and it has taken a toll on my writing career. However, I left Opelika feeling reenergized and reminded of why I write and publish books.
For those who couldn’t attend, don’t worry—I have more events lined up, and I’d love to meet you in person! Stay tuned for upcoming appearances and new releases by following my website and social media.
Until next time, happy reading!
Tiffany Marks
Romance by TM
