Books on Display

by Jeanette O'Hagan

image in header courtesy of Apolonia at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Readers and writers are in some ways like dance partners - we need each other, we need some way to connect, though our aims may be different.

As readers we wish to discover and follow great authors who write great books. We want to be entertained, taken on an emotional journey, inspired, transported into another world (whether the this world is contemporary, historical, futuristic or imaginative.) As readers we are spoiled for choose - over two million new books are published each year.  More than anyone could read in a lifetime. Of course, not all of those are in English, not all of those are in the genres we love or on the topics that interest us, and many of those are perhaps not the best quality. As readers how do we find the books and authors we would enjoy amid the ocean of books?

As authors, we spend maybe years on writing and polishing our books, immersed in our words, living with our characters. In many ways, they are like our children. Writing (when it's not torture) can be exhilarating, thrilling, addictive. But who hides their children in the basement? Most of us want to the world to read our stories, we want to connect with new readers who will enjoy our books, who can't wait for the next one. But it's hard to do that in a world swamped with new titles each year, especially as publishers spend less time marketing new authors.

So how do we find dance partners?  Of course, there are a number of ways - launches, browsing, book-signings, catalogues, book clubs, newsletters, reviews, giveaways, author talks, social media, word of mouth ...  All legitimate ways for readers to find new books or authors to connect with new readers.

And then there are book events - markets, cons and book fairs.

Markets 

I know some authors have stalls at local markets to sell their books and connect with their readers. How successful these are often depends on the day, the weather, the type of market it is (if most of the other stallholders sell fresh food, books may not be what patrons are looking for), and perhaps, building a presence over time.

I've had table at our church's Twilight Markets and sold a few books - more this year than last.

Things to consider might be the cost of stall hire, props (are tables supplied, table clothes, posters or banners etc), promotional materials, insurance, change & eftpos facilities, and a way to carry the books. While there are ways to sell ebooks at physical events, it works best if you have print books for sale.

As a reader, this would be hit and miss, unless you know for sure a local author - or group of authors - regularly come to a market.

Conventions

Conventions may provide a more focused audience, but may have higher costs.

Last year Adele Jones, Lynne Stringer and I shared costs at the Brisbane Oz Comic Con over a two day period.  This is a convention dedicated to fans of all kinds of speculative fiction (we are science fiction and/or fantasy writers) and we had a very willing audience. We must have spoken to hundreds of people who were interested in what we wrote and in our books. And while we didn't sell hundreds of books, sales were healthy. We also had fabulous fun enjoying the vibe and seeing the fantastic cosplay and speaking to people interested in speculative fiction. We had discovered our tribe.

Last year I was also invited to speak at Conquest - a speculative fiction fan group - and was given table space to display my books. It was a fun afternoon, though I found most people were interested in telling me about their passions than buying books.

For readers and fans, these can be fantastic events with opportunities to meet authors (or actors) you follow and to maybe discover a new fandoms (Nardva anyone? Or Verindon? Or Blain Colton? You know you want to - smile).

Book Fairs

Books Fairs allow a number of authors to display their works and hopefully attract keen readers looking for the latest book from their favourite author, but also to look at new titles and authors in their favourite genre.

The Readers and Writers Dowunder run a book fair at the Gold Coast each year, though (at least the year I went) the vast majority are romance and generally romance with bare-chested men on the covers.

Omega Writers ran a Book Fair in 2016 (organised by Raelene Purtill and myself) - with a range of authors, workshops, readings, prizes.  It was so successful that Omega Writers is running the Book Fair again this year on Saturday 10 March at the same venue (Queens Road, Everton Park). Judy Rogers and I are the main organisers this time round.

We are excited to have Gary Clark - the award-winning Australian cartoonist, and creator of Swamp, Diesel Dog and Dingbat comics - to give a one hour workshop on Inspiring Humour.

This is also an opportunity for Christian authors to display and sell their books and connect with readers. And an opportunity for readers to connect with a wide range of Christian authors - from non-fiction to fiction, from romance to science fiction, from children's to adults' books.

Entrance for readers is by gold coin donation, while registration for display tables and the workshop will available next week. To find out more, watch the Omega Website - or join the FB event page here.  If you are in our near Brisbane in March this year, we urge you to come check it out -  you'll enjoy it.

So, what is your experience of markets, conventions and fairs. Any tips, either as a reader or a writer, about how to get the best out of these events?



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Jeanette started spinning tales in the world of Nardva at the age of eight or nine. She enjoys writing secondary world fiction, poetry, blogging and editing. Her Nardvan stories span continents, time and cultures. They involve a mixture of courtly intrigue, adventure, romance and/or shapeshifters and magic users. She has published numerous short stories, poems, two novellas and her debut novel, Akrad's Children. Find her on Facebook , Twitter, or at her webpages Jeanette O'Hagan Writes or Jenny's Thread.

Library Love

by Jeanette O'Hagan

My first memory of a library was a small room, about the size of a broom cupboard, at the Mt Isa Mines State School. It was grade 3, I didn't have friends to play with during the breaks. A teacher introduced me to the library, and I took to reading like silverfish to paper.  By the time I left that school at the end of Grade 4, I think I'd read every title on the shelf, including The Last of the Mohicans. (My school reports often suggested that I needed to read more to improve my atrocious spelling, much to the amusement of my mother, who had limited me to reading one book a day).

These days, I frequent our local library, putting books on hold or browsing the return shelves for great books to read. I not sure I could manage the Popsugar Reading challenges without the library's help. I've even been thrilled to find copies from authors I know personally on the shelves - Helene Young, Rosanne Hawke, Adele Jones, Paula Vince. Libraries help with my book budget. They mean I can walk into my bedroom with only a few (okay four) groaning bookcases and (five-ish) to-read book piles on my floor and desk.

Libraries are great for authors too:

Unlike second-hand and thrift shop books, libraries pay royalties to authors. While this isn't as much as royalties through the sale of the book, for some authors it can be significant as a book may be borrowed many times.

Readers can also request the librarian get in books and even take suggestions for book club sets. By requesting books by our favourite Australasian Christian authors - we then make those books more visible and available to other readers.

Writers may also approach libraries with their books, either as a potential sale or as a donation. Generally, the book will need an ISBN, and be registered with NLA and preferably be with a library distributor - but a many indie authors have had success in approaching local or regional libraries.


In Australia, the National Library of Australia (NLA) keeps a copy of all books published in Australia and/or Australian Authors. Your local State Library will expect a copy as well.

Charis Joy Jackson, Lynne Stringer and Jeanette O'Hagan at BOBY 2015

I'm not sure if there is anything similar in other States - but in Queensland, the Queensland Writers' Centre (QWC) and State Library of Queensland (SLQ) produce a catalogue of all Queensland books published in the year - Books in Our Back Yard (registrations are currently open until the end of the month for 2016 publications). They hold an event to launch the catalogue, with the books in the catalogue displayed on the SLQ shelves.

Libraries often hold book clubs meetings, meet-the-author or book themed events. They often have rooms available for hire that can be used for writers' groups, book launches and author talks.  Holding a book event in a library has obvious advantages, especially if the librarians help promote the event - as most people who frequent libraries also love books. (Some may be be there to level up their pokemon.)

I think we are blessed in Australia and New Zealand to have so many free council libraries, as well as the State and National Libraries.

What about you? Do you use your local library? What do you like about it?

I know that some of you have had experiences with book launches and events at libraries and would love to hear about your experiences. Have you any advice on how best to approach libraries?

Images © Jeanette O'Hagan

Jeanette O’Hagan first started spinning tales in the world of Nardva at the age of nine. She enjoys writing fiction, poetry, blogging and editing.

Jeanette is writing her Akrad’s Legacy Series—a Young Adult secondary world fantasy fiction with adventure, courtly intrigue and romantic elements. She is about to launch Lakwi's Lament: a short story next week and she recently launched Heart of the Mountain: a short novella and The Herbalist's Daughter: a short story. Other short stories and poems are published in a number of anthologies including Glimpses of Light, Another Time Another Place and Like a Girl.

Jeanette has practised medicine, studied communication, history, theology and, more recently, a Master of Arts (Writing). She loves reading, painting, travel, catching up for coffee with friends, pondering the meaning of life and communicating God’s great love. She lives in Brisbane with her husband and children.

You can find her at her Facebook Page or at Goodreads or on Amazon or on her websites JennysThread.com or Jeanette O'Hagan Writes .