Goose Egg

It wasn't the best of days for me at the Horse Cave BookFest. But it wasn't the worst of days either. I'm sure most of the authors would say the same.

 

For me, I didn't sell a single book. Kenneth Turner, sitting at my table, sold one. Bill Ellis, across from me, sold two.

But the day wasn't a total waste. I spent four hours on the road -- going to and from -- but during that time I thought about some story ideas (please, to those in the United States, I wasn't texting!).

The HCB had to combat 100-degree weather, which no doubt kept some people away. And being the inaugural event, I'm sure the word didn't get out as well as it could have been to folks in the area.

The venue was a bit cramped for the 100 or so authors and publishers. I think that might have been intimidating to potential book buyers when they looked inside are realized they were outnumbered. I was told the organizers had to move the event to a smaller place because the air conditioning went out at the original location.

Although I didn't have any customers -- and honestly, I really didn't expect many since I'm not from the area -- I was still able to talk shop with several authors and meet a few others.

Some of the other authors I got to chat with were Steve Vest, Tim Callahan, Bill Noel, Carleton Jackson, Lynwood Montell, Ann Gabhart, Katerina Stoykova-Klemer, Karen Angelucci, Virginia Davis, and Larry Moore. Check out their books at your library or online.

Thanks to the folks at The Bookstore and Two Bears and a Dog Books (how many towns with a populati0n of 2,250 have two bookstores?) and other volunteers for putting on the event. Stop by and visit the stores when you're in the vicinity.

I'm sure the 2013 event will be bigger and better.

Until the next time...

A New Day for Books

I'm excited about participating in the inaugural Horse Cave BookFest on Saturday.

I’ll be there along with more than 100 other authors, publishers, and booksellers. Here’s an article in Columbia Magazine that gives details and a list of authors.

Horse Cave is located off Interstate 65, midway between Elizabethtown and Bowling Green, in south-central Kentucky. The town is home to the Kentucky Repertory Theatre, Kentucky Down Under, American Cave Museum, and Hidden River Cave. It's a neat town that gets better with age.

We’re fortunate in the Bluegrass State to have several book fairs including the Kentucky Book Fair (Nov. 10 in Frankfort) and Southern Kentucky Book Fest (held last April in Bowling Green).

While some authors are skipping book fairs and bookstore signings in favor of Internet marketing and promotion, I still believe it’s important for authors to meet the reading public. An author gets to know his audience a bit better, and there's the chance to increase the audience as well.

It’s also an opportunity for authors to answer questions and discuss their works, meet other authors, make new friends, renew friendships, and maybe even sell a few books. I know some of my treasured possessions are signed books from some of the authors I admire and read.

Furthermore, it's just nice to get out of the house on a summer day and be around people -- especially book lovers.

The event is produced by The Bookstore and Two Bears and a Dog Books and runs from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Drop on by if you’re in the vicinity. I'll have a bookmark for you.

Until the next time...