Anatomy of an Author Booth

I went to my first book signing convention in 2022. I still considered myself a baby author (I honestly still do). I had no idea what a book signing involved or what I, as an author, should expect, so I decided to simply attend it as a reader/burgeoning author. I went to all the panels and then visited the book signing to do some recon and support the authors I met the day before. I came away feeling inspired. So when applications opened up for 2023, I applied as a signing author.

I was terrified...but also really excited. What if my table looked sloppy? What if I messed up my pitch to readers? What if I had a panic attack? What if I didn't sell any of my books? Would I finally feel like a real, full-fledged author afterwards?

The "what ifs" were suffocating, so I concentrated on what I could control.

The books, decor, signage, and swag for my author booth.

My effort paid off, and I managed to curate an author booth I felt proud of...one that also drew in readers, which resulted in quite a few sales and kept me busy enough that I didn't have time to overthink for once.

I'm happy to say that, though the table fee was very steep, nearly $300, I came close to breaking even. A huge portion of my spending was the table fee, my author copies, and materials for my booth that were reusable, so from a business perspective, it was fine even if I didn't break even.

The experience was huge for my confidence as an author. I got my name out there, and I made some connections with other authors and influencers that I still cherish and interact with today, which is priceless. I learned a lot, and I realized what a pain in the butt it is to figure out what you actually need for a book signing. So, allow me to provide you with a list in the hopes it saves you the headache and helps ensure you feel prepared and have a successful signing.

Author Booth Must-Haves:

• Books - be sure to order enough books. I only have 7 books written currently. So I usually order 10-25 copies of each of my books in my Nerd Girls Series. I order more copies of the first book in the series, as well as more copies of any standalone books I'll have for sale, same goes for new releases.

  
  

• Signs - for your table that clearly display prices for what you're selling, be sure these reflect your brand (colors/font/logo)

  
  

• Payment Info - have a sign with QR codes that connect with your preferred payment methods (Venmo/PayPal/Square). By far, my most utilized form of payment is my Square.

  
  

• Branding - Your table should reflect your brand (if you haven't figured out/created an author logo and decided on brand colors, make that a top priority)

  
  

• A large retractable banner - with your author logo, a catchphrase, if you have one, as well as your website, and some QR codes that lead to your website, socials, and places where your books can be purchased online (be sure to label the QR codes). Many come with a carrying case for travel.

  
  

• Branded tablecloth or table runner - with your logo to tie your table in with your retractable banner, making you more visible. These fold up flat and are easy to pack for travel.

  
  

• Newsletter sign-up sheet - on a clipboard with a pen (branded pens are a bonus).

  
  

• Swag - Stickers, pins, bookmarks (mine match my book series), business cards (mine have my logo/author info, but I know a lot of authors who make bookmark business cards), pens, badge ribbons (that tie in with your books/your logo), & character artwork (by a real artist - none of that AI crap)

  
  

• Pre-Signed Book Boxes (*Bonus) - If you have a series or a new release, I highly recommend creating some book boxes to sell. They can include a variety of things, but should always have your books (hand wrapped) and a packet of whatever swag you have that goes with the book/books. You can get plain boxes that you wrap in a matching ribbon, or go wild and order some custom boxes with fancy artwork/branding. (These are best for signings within driving distance.)

  
  

• Special editions (*Bonus) - Many authors also have special editions available at book signings. This could mean special release covers and or books with beautiful sprayed or metallic edges.

  
  

• Branded Bags (*Bonus) - people like bags for their books, and branded bags mean walking advertisements for you.

  
  

• Book Promo Graphics (*Bonus) - a framed book promo allows readers to see what your books are about without the stress of conversing (*not everyone wants your pitch, respect quiet shoppers.)

Here's a picture of my table for reference.