Some of it is rough (thanks GIMP for your cropping "excellence") but hopefully enjoyable. And it's under an hour! Remember to Like and Subscribe, it's a free way to support the channel, enjoy.
Authors: Survive your first Book Festival
By IngramSpark
Book conventions, fairs, and festivals are popping up everywhere these days! No matter what kind of book you've written, there's a group of fans out there just waiting to dive into something fresh and exciting. These events are fantastic opportunities for both readers and authors. Readers absolutely love meeting their favorite authors and stumbling upon new books. Meanwhile, authors get the chance to showcase their work and grow their author brands.
Some of you may be seasoned pros at these events, but if you're a newbie just starting out, you might be curious about what to expect. We've put together a handy list to get you ready. Even if some tips seem like common sense, it's easy to overlook the basics when you're off on a new adventure!
Be Sure to Pack
- Copies of your book(s)
Plan accordingly based on the type of convention you're attending when deciding how many to bring. Bring enough books, but don't overcrowd your table. Just a few at a time on your table will do. It’s a great way to show that your books are popular and flying off the table.
If you have an entire book series, bring copies of all the books, as many readers are looking for the immersive experience a series offers. If one book draws them in, they're likely to want to buy the whole series.
- Freebies/Swag
People love free stuff! Not only will this attract readers to your table, but it'll also help spread the word about you and your work long after the convention. The more unique your item, the more people will want it!
Choose your swag based on what works for your budget. If you're feeling a bit fancy, you might go for magnets with your book cover or pens with your website on them. For a more budget-friendly choice, consider printing stickers that feature your book cover, quotes, pictures of the main characters, or fun sayings related to your book or genre.
Offer a way to explore your work for free, whether it's your latest book or other titles you've written. Print bookmarks or postcards with a QR code that lets them dive into your excerpts online.
- A Guestbook/Sign-up Sheet
If you have a newsletter, make it easy for visitors to sign up right at your table.
- Pens and Markers
People are definitely going to want signed copies of your books, so make sure to pack a bunch of pens or markers that you like using. It's always a good idea to have extras, just in case.
- A Payment Processor
Attendees are looking for hassle-free payment options at these events, and you want to be able to accommodate several types of payment. Consider secure, seamless payment methods such as Stripe, Square, or PayPal.
Be sure to offer at least one payment method that doesn't rely on Wifi, just in case there are issues in a venue full of people using Wifi.
- The Basics
Comfortable shoes
Water bottle and basic snacks
Power bank for recharging your electronic devices
Book stands/easels
If you're planning to attend events like this to promote your book, make sure readers can easily find your title online after the festival by improving your book's discoverability.
Stand Out in the Crowd
If you find yourself with a table or booth among a sea of other authors, you'll want to make sure you stand out and grab people's attention!
Make Sure Your Table is Eye-Catching
Use a table cover that shows off your brand and includes the colors of your book cover(s). Aim for a look that's cohesive, classy, and unforgettable.
Try using an online design tool like Canva or Adobe Express to create some fun and colorful visuals for your table. At the very least, make sure you have a sign that clearly shows the price of your book(s).
Showcase your latest release front and center, and display your other books in a fun and creative way, like fanning them out or using a few small book easels.
If you have a book trailer, keep it running on a loop on a laptop or iPad. It doesn't have to be fancy or professionally made, it just needs to grab people's attention and pull them in.
Post your banners or balloons higher than attendee's heads so that your table is easier to find in a room full of people.
Offer Interactive Activities
Set up a photo opportunity related to your book, like a photo booth, frame, or themed backdrop. And if you're in costume, folks will probably love snapping a picture with you.
Have a game that visitors can easily participate in such as a short trivia challenge about themes related to your book or spinning a wheel for a chance to win some special swag.
Be Approachable and Available
One of the things people will remember long after the event is how you presented yourself and interacted with others. Be sure to smile and chat with people as they pass by. Instead of overwhelming them with details about your book right away, show them that you're friendly and approachable.
You don't have to go all out in what you wear, but it might be fun to wear something that matches the vibe of your table. Try to incorporate the colors from your book cover or decor in your look.
Put your best foot forward to share your book (and yourself) with those who are curious. It's not just about selling books; it's also about making connections and growing your brand.
Polish up your sales pitch—people are more interested in a quick, exciting glimpse of your book rather than the whole backstory. Try sharing a fun, two-sentence teaser for those curious to learn more.
If you get the chance, hop onto any panels happening at the convention! It's a great way for potential readers to spot you, get to know you better, and be drawn to your table.
Give Them a Special Incentive to Buy
Offer special promotions or discounts just for the event
Use IngramSpark’s Share & Sell purchase links to offer special prices on your books just for those attending. Place a sign next to your books with a QR code and a friendly note inviting them to scan and buy now. Also, have some postcards or bookmarks with a QR code for readers to take home, so they can easily purchase more of your titles later.
Hopefully this info helps you feel more comfortable and confident about attending your first conference or book event. Think of it as a fun opportunity rather than a challenge, and you'll find it's a great way to boost your confidence, make new friends, and naturally increase your book sales
Warning for all writers!
This was an email from Autocrit but I feel that it is important information for all writers. Readers will learn from this, why authors can be hesitant in some areas. I have added additional commentary.
WHAT DOES A PUBLISHING SCAM LOOK LIKE?
We've seen a massive increase in the number of reports of writers receiving emails or social media DMs offering a number of things, including:
- Book marketing services
- Selection for an established regional or online book club
- Appearances at literary festivals or conventions
Here, for example, is a scam email received recently by J.R. Blanes, author of Portraits of Decay
I'll talk more about how, structurally, you can spot the scam unfold in a moment.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO COMBAT THIS?
1. Be realistic.
Excitement is how they get you. The dopamine hits, your guard drops, and everything seems possible. But think about it for a moment: do literary agents, large festivals, or people you've never built any kind of relationship with often show up out of the blue with heaps of praise and offers to work together? Especially if you're a relatively (or entirely) unknown author?
No, they don't.
And if, all of a sudden, a conversation about booking you for a festival or book club appearance suddenly turns to them asking YOU for money, then alarm bells should be ringing. The scammer may also "butter you up" across a couple of back-and-forth emails before throwing a price list your way.
This isn't to say that every opportunity that comes your way is a guaranteed scam – but slow down, think with a sober mind, and ask yourself, does this pass the smell test? (M Presents will occasionally reach out, but emails will always come from mpresents.publishing@gmail.com)
It can be tough, and plenty of experienced authors have already been caught out because right now, the current wave of scammers are impersonating real people and legitimate groups – which brings me to the next point...
2. Check the sender's email address.
A scammer who's impersonating someone else will go to great lengths to try and convince you they are who they say they are. Their email signature might look perfect, including a headshot or other graphics that feel authentic.
But there's one thing they can't hide (without effort): the email address they're sending from.
Established businesses have their own domains. I am in the process of setting up a mpresentspublishing.com email, but for now know that all emails will come from mpresents.publishing@gmail.com. That's important.
In the example I showed you that was sent to J.R. Blanes, notice the email address (I've redacted it a little, but you can get the picture). It's a GMAIL email address, not an official address for the Bournemouth Writing Festival, who use their own domain for email.
Pay close attention to this. A scammer might use the name of the person they're pretending to be as the email address, but slightly misspell it so it's difficult to tell at a glance. (readers be wary, this happens in other scams as well)
That's why thinking soberly is important: it keeps your focus so you can spot these inconsistencies.
3. Be aware of common scam structures.
One good thing is that scammers are, generally, lazy. In their search for victims, they're likely firing out hundreds of emails a day hoping for a bite. This means they're almost exclusively using quick templates and AI.
Let's go back to the email J.R. received.
First, notice the subject line: "Invitation to Bournemouth Writing Festival 2026 — Portraits of Decay."
An invitation, in this context, is an invitation to be a hosted guest. But once you start reading the email, you find talk of "Author Participation Packages." This is deceptive from the off. Like I said earlier, most scammers will wait until two or three emails into your exchange before they pull out the price list. Here, they're more or less getting right to it.
To be clear: an invitation to be a guest or panelist at a festival should NOT involve you paying money to the organizer unless that's the nature of the event ("pay to play"). Most do not operate that way.
Next, let's look at the lead-in portion of the email. You have an initial greeting that explains who the sender is (necessary because this is cold outreach), which then immediately segues into praise for your book.
But take a moment to read that praise closely...
In these kinds of scam email, the feedback given is clearly AI-generated and comprised entirely of fluff. Everything said is exactly what the book is marketed to be. That's a simple appeal to your ego: you got it just right!
There are absolutely no details presented within this praise that indicate the sender has actually read the book.
In short terms, they're blowing smoke. Be mindful, because flattery is a scammer's strongest weapon.
Finally, they'll ask you to reply and continue the discussion. Once you do, they know you're on the hook.
Can you imagine if J.R. had paid money for a supposed appearance package, and then spent thousands of dollars on flights and accommodation only to arrive in the UK to find the festival organizers had no idea what he was talking about?
That's a worryingly realistic outcome for this kind of scam.
4. Do your due diligence.
The impersonation problem is getting out of hand, but there are ways around it.
First, try contacting the supposed sender through other means. Never click a link in an email if you can help it.
Festivals, agents, marketing agencies, and pretty much any professional will have their own website with a contact email address listed, or a form you can fill in. If in doubt, reach out through there to verify the authenticity of the email you received.
Online and regional book clubs often have a group at meetup.com, through which you can contact the admins/organizers to check if the contact is legit.
If the sender says they can help market your book, look for their website, portfolio, social media channels and the results they've achieved for other clients, such as social buzz, Amazon or Goodreads reviews etc. that aren't obvious AI spam. Google is your friend here, research. And ask others if they have any experience; authors protect authors.
FINALLY: DON'T GIVE THEM OXYGEN
The four steps I've outlined above should keep you well protected, but there's one other thing that's important: do not reply to scam emails.
If you receive an obvious scam email, it's best to blacklist the sender and delete the email immediately. Replying signals that you're active and responsive... and within hours you'll start receiving a deluge of emails from other scammers as your address gets shared around their network.
In Gmail, you can also use the "Report Spam" or "Report Phishing" option to report the email address as fraudulent.
When these people stop getting responses and stop making money from their activities, they'll have to find a different industry to annoy. That's the best we can hope for.
Updates 3/25
THE SOURCE
The Source is being formatted, and I've already seen the first mock-up of the book cover, it should be available this summer. I had originally wanted to write a horror novel, but it came out to be more of a Thriller.
HORRORBITES
A collection of very short stories is being developed and will hopefully be available for Halloween 2026
THE MAGNUS ARCHIVES Part 1 and 2
I was originally going to release season one as a single book, but readers would've cried foul and booksellers would've balked at the price; but I want to release the two books together so look for these at the end of the summer.
As the Magnus Archives podcast is free to listen to the books will be free to download and print at an insanely inexpensive price.
Updates for 3/12/26
I've decided to post an update on current things happening in the background.
Website
I've added a 'shop' which, for now, just has the listings for M Presents Publishing books purchased directy from Ingram Spark. This means that the books can be purchased at a discount as the nesed to pay additional merchant fees is unnecessary. If you choose, you can purchase the book through a different distributor (links to each are on the right).
Additional merchandise will also become available, but for now this is all that the page features.
Call of Cthulhu Actual Play
We have finished recording Beyond the Mountains of Madness and we've begun Inversion, there is one more BTMoM video to be uploaded. There is a Call of Cthulhu actual play currently awaiting editing. Subscribe to the YouTube page and you'll be notified of all uploads.
Untitled Michael Bertolini publications
I have finished the first draft of a few projects, namely a book tentatively titled The Source which will be a thriller novel, and a Miskatonic Repository Publication for Call of Cthulhu 7e titled Destroyer of Worlds. I'm also working on a short game for Pocketquest 2026. I've also been slowly working on a few other things, but I'm not going to go into detail about them at this time.
Book of Madness
I was sick so Book of Madness had a slower start than I'd have liked, but it's progressing.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
Alone Against The Static, Version 2, Call of Cthulhu Solo Actual Play
Some of it is rough (thanks GIMP for your cropping "excellence") but hopefully enjoyable. And it's under an hour! Remember to...
