The giant Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (LATFB) is over. Typically, we would still be planning for the event, but it came earlier than usual this year. I guess the timing of Easter had something to do with that.<\/p>\n
SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) had a presence at the LATFB as we have most of the last 18 years. But this year it was a little different than usual. Our booth still received a lot of visitors\u2014we handed out over 300 SPAWN Catalogs of Members\u2019 Books and 200 people signed up to receive the SPAWN newsletter. But it was not a buying public this year.<\/p>\n
Typically, I sell around 30 or 40 of my books for authors\u2014\u201cPublish Your Book\u201d and \u201cPromote Your Book.\u201d I sold only 3. I didn\u2019t see many people lugging books around in tote bags or in backpacks. Those who talked about the books they carried said they were free books they picked up here and there. (Several asked if the books we displayed were free.)<\/p>\n
My books and our members\u2019 books received a great deal of attention. But we made few sales. Most visitors asked if the books were online. Then, before walking away, they\u2019d ask for a card, bookmark or brochure.<\/p>\n
I had stacks of my first two Klepto Cat Mystery books in the booth. It was fun watching so many people stop and smile at the cute covers, pick up the books and look them over, etc. Most then asked, \u201cAre they at Amazon?\u201d I explained, \u201cYes, in print and on Kindle.\u201d Two young women pulled out their iPhones and ordered the Kindle version of one of the books on the spot. And when I returned home, I discovered that sales for the Kindle books and the print books produced through CreateSpace had increased. I hope this was true for our SPAWN members, as well.<\/p>\n
The times, they continue to change\u2014especially within the publishing industry. Does this mean book festivals will become obsolete? Maybe as we know them. Perhaps we\u2019ll do online book festivals in the future.<\/p>\n
That would be sad. There would be no face-to-face contact, handshaking, fresh air and exercise. You would miss the sights and sounds of these festive events and talking to people in person.<\/p>\n
I can envision physical book festivals in miniature\u2014smaller booths with computers showing intriguing and entertaining book trailers, a sample book or two on display and handouts with quick codes one could click to place an order on the spot. There would be no more expansive tables covered in colorful clothes, schlepping boxes and boxes of books from the car to the event, creating massive displays, charging credit cards and making change. However, there would still be that face-to-face connection with people and a lively exchange of ideas and information in the fresh air.<\/p>\n
Do any of you have more advanced visions of the very likely evolution of the book festival?<\/p>\n
If you are a hopeful or struggling author, please consider purchasing my book, \u201cPublish Your Book.\u201d I wrote it for the many people I\u2019ve met at book festivals and writers conferences who have either failed as a published author or are headed in that direction. http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/PublishYourBook.html<\/a> (Be sure to use the caps as shown.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The giant Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (LATFB) is over. Typically, we would still be planning for the event, but it came earlier than usual this year. I guess the timing of Easter had something to do with that. SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) had a presence at the LATFB as we […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[24,22],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t