I sold books at Irish Fest and it was OK

I was one of seven authors invited to participate in the 2014 Milwaukee Irish Fest in the Literary Corner.  This year the Literary Corner included two book stores, a vendor selling coffee and hot tea, an IBAM (Irish Books Arts & Music) and in a small corner,  a desk with two bookshelves behind it for the authors.  A volunteer sat with me to collect all the money or credit cards from selling books.

Irish Fest was a learning experience, not a book selling experience.  Stuffed into the corner of a tent on a +85 F degree day is not exactly a halcyon day.  My first shift was at noon when the Fest opened.  The Literary Corner is located at the far south end of the festival grounds and in the first hour the crowd didn’t make it that far.  I didn’t have a single person make their way to the author’s corner, although the two bookstores sharing the tent did robust business.

The person from the Festival was generous, kind and well intentioned but had not a clue on how to sell books.  I pointed out that both book stores had long table displays where customers could browse books.  The Festival staff didn’t want customers touching our books, she was afraid they would get soiled.  I sat behind the desk, as instructed, for an hour.   As I left the person from IBAM suggested that at my next stint on Saturday I stand in front of the desk and my wife suggested I hand out bookmarkers to attract customers.

I did make great contacts at Irish Fest.  I met fellow author David McDonnell who has written a wonderful book, Clan Donnell  on his family history.  David and his wife Linda are spending the summer selling books and making presentations at Irish Fests across the country.  I also met Cliff and Kathy Carlson from the Irish American News.  They invited me to participate in the IBAM conference in Chicago on October 3-5.  Cliff introduced me to Frank West the Irish American News Book and Theater reviewer.  Frank agreed to review Murphy’s Troubles  for the newspaper – an incredible stroke of Irish good luck.  I also learned about the irishbooksite.com a good place for me to market my book.

On Saturday I followed all the suggestions I received and didn’t behind the desk.  I passed out bookmarkers and engaged customers as they strolled by.  I sold four books in my hour.  I also learned that the one of the bookstore sponsors of The Literary Corner, The Little Read Book of Wauwatosa was selling my book.  I also autographed a book sold through the bookstore.

For what it’s worth, I learned two lessons.  First, I need to always be myself when participating in author events.  Sitting behind a desk is not me.  I like to engage people, have conversation and if that results in a sale fine, if not fine – but it’s interactive.  Second, all author events, regardless of the format is about networking with people.  By networking I was invited to another event, will have a book review and learned from the experiences of another peripatetic author.