On July 20, 2024, I attended the 9th annual Writers on the River multi-author event in Peoria, Illinois. I shared a table with my friend and fellow author, Sara Whitney, among 90+ other romance authors.
I’ve attended several other large events like this in the past, and while I’ve had overwhelmingly positive experiences, Writers on the River was exceptionally well-planned and executed. The organizers out-did themselves. Down to the last detail, all authors and readers were well-cared for. And I feel confident saying, everyone left the event with smiles and massive TBR piles.
But for all the positivity and compliments I have for the event, there were a few things that just didn’t sit right with me as an attending author—that were reader driven.
My intent for this blog is not to complain, but to simply point out the observations of an author who staffed a table for four hours and interacted with hundreds of readers. I rode home from the event in silence and brainstormed a list of five things readers should be aware of, because their actions impacted the collective experience.
Here they are:
1 – author swag is EXPENSIVE. Most authors pay out of pocket for bookmarks, stickers, candy, and any other small give-a-ways presented on their table. Personally, I’ve opted to create custom di-cut bookmarks that illustrate all my characters. They’re cute. They’re fun. They’re unique. And they cost money! I’m happy to give a bookmark away to an interested reader with the hope they’ll scan the QR code on the back and purchase an eBook. But the amount of readers who stopped by my table and scooped up all six of my character bookmarks was unreal. I didn’t want to be rude, but they didn’t need to grab all six. They all serve the same purpose—promotion. They’re not paper dolls for play. Have respect for the author and the funds they’ve contributed to make their table stand out.
2 – table hops are designed for readers to TALK to the author. I participated in a table hop, meaning readers are given a list of the authors they need to secure a signature from. By receiving all the required signatures, they’re entered in a drawing to win a prize. Table hops are great (in theory) because it requires readers to visit with new authors. They’re meant to instigate conversation. But again, the amount of readers who simply waved a paper in my face was disappointing. They didn’t care about my books. They didn’t care about my author presence. They needed my signature to get what they wanted—and that hurts as an author. I paid $15 to participate and donated a paperback book. Not one table hop interaction resulted in a sale for me. Readers simply were not interested.
3 – not every story is for every reader, but please be kind. It’s difficult to talk about a story so close to your heart. Oftentimes with events like these, there’s a thirty second window to condense 80,000 words down into a single breath. It’s hard selling books! And again, I recognize that not every book is meant for everyone, but please be kind. I had a reader laugh at me at this event after I described one of my books. I often talk about I Loved You Yesterday, book one in the Trading Heartbeats trilogy, as a second-chance romance with a steamy love triangle between brothers. It’s a successful book. It’s won a Literary Global Award, a Clarion Award, a first-place Bookfest award, and was a finalist with the American Writing Awards. I know this story is compelling. But a reader straight up laughed in my face and walked away. Talk about a plummeting self-esteem! Geez people, be kind!
4 – come with the intent to purchase, please. Writers on the River was not a cheap event to attend. To save money (because I pay for all my author needs out of pocket), I shared a table with my friend. Even still, I didn’t break even on this event. Maybe my expectations were way off, but it seemed as though readers attended to scout out possible new authors, pick up their swag, and search for their eBooks after the event. And if that’s the case, great. It’s still a connection and it’s still a sale. But I have no way of knowing or tracking the outcome. I hauled over 50 books with me and let’s just say, most of them came home. I expected to sell more physical copies.
5 – if you’re not going to buy, at least show support. There were several readers who stopped to kindly say hello and learn about my books. And I get it, not every conversation leads to a sale. But if we interacted in a positive way—and you’re intentionally at an event to meet authors and find new stories—at the very least, sign up for my newsletter. It takes less than thirty seconds to jot down your name and email address. Even if my stories are not for you, maybe you know someone else who might enjoy them. Subscribing to a newsletter is simple, costs nothing, but still shows your support in a kind manner.
Before I wrap this up, I’d like to add a disclaimer. I write one blog per month. And I have maintained that pattern for the last three years. I offer tips and advice. I educate. And I also offer my opinion.
This blog reflects my opinion. It was a singular experience that impacted me. But I would be willing to bet other authors have experienced something similar in the past. It’s not unique to Writers on the River.
It’s simply my two cents, but being an author is tough already. Readers, please be kind.
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