This past weekend, I attended the Kentucky Book Fair in Frankfort, Kentucky. I applied to the fair with the intention of using the experience to gauge the value of such events. For the following reasons, I’m more-than-happy with my experience and plan to attend others in the future – both as author and reader:
1) It presented me the opportunity to visit the quaint capital city of Frankfort, where the downtown was the delightful and the people were hospitable and friendly. Connie Crowe, the book fair director, could not have been more accommodating.
2) I met two of my boyhood heroes: Paul Michael Glaser (Starsky, the dark, curly-haired one) from TV’s Starsky and Hutch and Meadowlark Lemon of the Harlem Globetrotters. How cool is that? Also, although I didn’t officially meet them, Bob Edwards from NPR and Babe Parilli, the Kentucky football legend, were also in attendance.
3) The admiring manner in which many of the visitors looked at the authors reminded me of how lucky I am to be able to call myself an author, and it will serve as a constant motivator to get me back to the laptop and writing so that privilege doesn’t disappear.
4) The number of visitors to the fair reinforced my belief in the cultural importance of storytelling.
5) It allowed me to sell a few copies of SO SHELLY, not a boatload but more than enough to make it worth the trip. Many also indicated that they’d be sure to download SHELLY to their e-readers when they arrived home. Plus, who knows how many of those who purchased SHELLY will recommend her to others?
6) Teachers and librarians, who invite authors to perform school visits and readings, attend such book fairs in high numbers. Where else can an author contact and make a favorable impression in such short order?
7) I learned the importance of networking with peers, and as a young adult author, I was reminded of the valuable role played and services provided by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (scbwi). To date, I have failed to take advantage of my membership in SCBWI, but this is a situation that I plan to remedy. Also, in speaking with other authors, it was incredibly comforting to share experiences and to learn that I’m not the only one.
8) I made new friends with the brilliant Young Adult authors: Tracy Barrett, Kristin O’Donnell, and Loretta Ellsworth – all far more accomplished and talented than I. Not only are they each great writers, they are even better people. Recognizing my newbie status, they graciously allowed me to tag along with them over the two days. It was a good deed that made me the envy of the rather stodgy gathering of male authors at the fair. I highly recommend that, as soon as you finish this article, you visit your favorite online retailer of books and order a book or two. I promise that you won’t be disappointed.
9) The trip allowed me to stop and visit with my son, Travis, at college in Cincinnati – twice (coming and going).
Whether an author or reader, I highly recommend that you take the opportunity to visit book fairs in your area. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
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Tags: advice for writers, book fairs, so shelly, ty roth, Writing advice, YA, young adult literature
