How To: LAT FOB @ USC

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For those of you into shorticons and abbreviations, this alphabet soup is the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at the University of Southern California. (Whew; see why we shorten it?)

This will be my sixth or seventh year at this crazy, fabulous book event. With the popularity of small press and the influx of indie author/publishers, it’s a great place to pool resources in order to get in the door of an otherwise very pricey venue. This year, there will be NINE of us in the MURDER, WE WROTE booths, hawking all kinds of mysteries.

SAMSUNG

Authors:  Going to exhibit for the first time? Here are some tips to help you prepare for the weekend!

  • Promote in advance. Let people know, via blog, Facebook, Twitter—all the usual places—that you’re be there rubbing literary shoulders with such greats as [last year] Joseph Wambaugh, Anne Perry, Lee Goldberg, Gary Phillips, to name of few. When you get your booth number, broadcast it.
  • Acquire giveaways. Pens, bookmarks, notepads, any number of small, inexpensive promo items you can easily get into readers’ hands. Look for things that might tie in to your book(s).
  • Get a couple of cheap bookstands – Michael’s or even Wal-Mart has small stands that are sometimes sold as plate stands. Arrange your books attractively; go out in front and look at your spot, make sure it’s not so busy your visitors will go cross-eyed trying to see it all.
  • Think about money: will you accept checks? Cash? You’ll need change for those first few buyers who hand you a $20.00. Credit Card? Check out “The Square” or “GoPayment” online for details on small card devices that will attach to your smart phone.
  • Dress the part. You are not a visitor, a student, a street bum; look how you would expect a professional author to look. Promo t-shirt is okay, or even dressing as one of your characters. Inspire conversation!

Keep up with our plans by visiting our Facebook page!

Next up:  How to survive the event and even make money!