by Vivian Zabel
January 14, 2012, Edmond Historical Society and Museum held its annual author book festival. Four members of 4RV Publishing and Pen and Keyboard Writers (affiliate of OWFI) participated: Vehoae (Shirl Yancey), author of Conscience: Breaching Social Amnesia; Horton Deakins author of Time Pullers; Jacque Graham, editor and contributor in Walking the Earth: Life's Perspectives in Poetry; and me -- author, editor, publisher, and whatever jobs are left.
I took photos of our tables and activities, and some came out.
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| Vehoae at her table |
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| Jacque at our shared table |
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| Vivian visits with a customer |
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| Horton visits with a customer |
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| Vehoae and Liz Codding |
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| Jacque visits with a writer |
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| Vivian makes change for a customer |
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| Vehoae and Jacque visit |
Sometimes book festivals and fairs result mainly in networking, getting our names and faces better known. Sometimes books are sold.
One important point when attending a festival or fair or book signing: Please do not block the author's table/booth and/or monopolize him/her. For example, one person who was not interested in purchasing anything blocked our table wanting to talk about publishing, his writing, his background, his interests. Several times, I had to talk "over" him to reach people who were interested in the books on the table. Yes, I'm the head of a publishing company, but at a book festival or signing, I'm interested in selling books, not recruiting authors. Other authors are also interested in selling their books. Visiting when others are not around is fine. Exchanging a few friendly words is great. However we, even if great fans, need to move out of the way of others. I also had to learn that lesson.
I recommend writers and readers take advantage of book festivals and fairs, as attendees. Published authors should participate.
4RV Publishing
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