The Anxious Author's Incomplete Guide to Surviving Book Events - for Readers

You've read the book, listened to the audio, and stalked the author on every platform. They announce they'll be attending a reader signing and your favourite book will be available in special edition. OF COURSE, you're attending!

But you're anxious, an introvert, or just unsure of what you've signed up to. This incomplete guide to Reader Events is for you! 

What is a Reader Event? 

• Bookstore Events:
  • Solo: The most standard bookstore event is a solo appearance. Authors are expected to speak for fifteen to twenty minutes, followed by a ten-to-fifteen-minute audience Q&A and a book signing. Fiction authors often choose to read from their books during their presentation.
  • Joint event: Bookstores may pair authors who have similar audiences to draw a bigger crowd. The format of the event can vary, but typically authors present separately and then do a Q&A together, followed by a book signing.
  • In conversation: In this format, authors can expect to be interviewed and should also prepare a few questions for the person doing the interviewing, especially if it’s another author.
  • Straight signing: Authors are not expected to give any formal presentation at a straight signing but simply sign books for attendees.

• Panel Discussions: Panel events typically have a moderator, who asks each individual author specific questions and also raises broader questions that anyone on the panel can answer. Authors typically receive the panel topic in advance, and in some cases the questions as well.

• Conference or Trade Show Appearance: These events can vary greatly in format, from meet-and-greets to panels to formal presentations. Often you are grouped with a few other authors and asked to speak for five to ten minutes about yourself and your new book because your story or topic dovetails with a particular theme or trend that is relevant for attendees.