This past weekend I had my very first in-person book-selling experience! I sold the first two books in my Tech-Free B&B cozy mystery series at a craft fair in a small town. Hillsville, the fictitious town where my books are set, is based on that area, so I made sure to mention the local angle to those who stopped by my table.

One of the most memorable parts of the day was a little girl who saw the title of one of my books, Rhubarb & Revenge. She was about 8 or 10 years old. Her face lit up and she shouted “Rhubarb!” She and her mom came over to my table. They told me they raise rhubarb in the garden and the little girl loves it. I don’t often see kids getting excited about rhubarb, so I thought that was funny. I made sure she walked away with a Rhubarb & Revenge bookmark.

I enjoyed myself. I like talking with and meeting new people. I talked with people about what else they had bought at the craft fair and what they enjoy reading. A lot of people said they like to read mysteries, cozies in particular. Several commented on my book’s covers, and that made me happy. It’s good to know the covers are hitting the mark and giving off the perfect cozy mystery vibe.

In the months leading up to the event, I cycled through a lot of emotions. I was nervous because it was my first time selling solo. I worried about forgetting to take something important, so I made sure to keep a running list of all the things I would need, and added to it as ideas occurred to me. By the time the big day rolled around, I felt prepared and ready. I was excited to see how the day would go.

In total, I sold 23 books! I am proud as heck of that number, and also a little shocked. I didn’t think I would sell that many. I wanted to reward those buying in person, so I offered a discount: buy one get one half off. I think that definitely helped sweeten the deal and motivated people to buy.

In-person events are an important part of an author’s marketing toolkit. They require a great deal of time and energy, but it is so much more fun – and meaningful – to connect with people in real life. I don’t have anything on the calendar yet, but I will be seeking out future in-person events in the future. Stay tuned!