I can picture you squinting, maybe scratching your head: What season?

THE Season.

Football?

Good God, no.

Pumpkin spice?

Nope.

Back to school?

No (and besides, you’re late).

Country fair season?

No, but you’re getting closer.

You mean . . . ?

Yes! It’s Book Event Season!

Um . . . is that even a thing?

It is at my house, baby.

Allow me to explain.

At present, I have scheduled ten confirmed event days (one fair is two days) where I will signing and selling books, and more are possible. (See my Upcoming Events pages for details – I have one on my author website and one on Tuxedo Cat Press’s site.) Not bad, considering that (a) there are only fifteen (15) weekends between now and Christmas, (b) I have a full-time day job and various other commitments, and (c) I’d really like to get back to work on my third Claus book.

Even so, I’m looking forward to the Season, and I’d love to have you join me. At outdoor events, I’ll have a tent; at indoor events, a table. Either way, you’ll see the banner for State v. Claus and the sign for Tuxedo Cat Press. As we get closer to the holidays—probably in late October or early November—I’ll be offering free gift-wrapping as well as personalized inscriptions so that you can wrap up your holiday shopping (pun intended) in one stop.

The truth is that the Season actually had its soft open at the end of August, when I had a tent at Dudleytown Brewing Co. in Windsor, Connecticut. I’ve never figured out why book fairs and booze seem to go together so well, but who am I to argue? Yesterday, I took part in an author festival at NoRA Cupcake Company in Middletown, Connecticut, and the owners generously gave each of us a free cupcake. The only blip was when the forecasts for severe thunderstorms, hail, and the possibility of a tornado ramped up, so we closed down a little bit early. (Fortunately, no tornadoes materialized in or around this part of the state.)

Now that Labor Day is past and September is under way, the Season has begun in earnest. Some people wonder why I pack up my station wagon and trek all over the state most weekends in the fall and early winter, especially since I don’t have a spouse or convenient helper to assist with loading and unloading, setting up and breaking down, and keeping track of supplies and inventory from week to week. Sometimes I wonder, too, especially after I arrive home and collapse on the sofa, wishing someone else would get up to feed the cats.

But the truth is, I genuinely enjoy doing these events. Not only do I get a chance to meet other authors and craft folks, but I get to talk with potential customers about books, cats, and whatever else comes up. (People routinely exclaim over Charlotte’s photo on the Tuxedo Cat Press sign and tell me about their own cats, at which point I assume a stern expression and say, “We have a rule here at Tuxedo Cat Press.” I pause just long enough for them to become slightly concerned, and then I continue, “If you tell us about your cat, you have to show us photos of your cat.” At which point they laugh and pull out their phones, delighted to comply with the “rule.” Inevitably, the photos are of beautiful cats who are clearly well-cherished, and the proud owners tell me stories about their furry beloveds.)

The other reality is that for an independent author like me—one who doesn’t have Penguin Random House’s publicity department behind me—hand-selling is unquestionably the best way to get my books into the hands of readers. Potential customers can order the books online, but knowing the author can make the difference between scrolling past a thumbnail and clicking on it. While I don’t have the name recognition of a Stephen King or a Danielle Steel, I’ve had people tell me that they came to an event specifically because they saw that I was going to be there, which is the kind of statement that makes my heart swell with gratitude.  

Another advantage of hand-selling at shows and fairs is that I can answer questions about my books. Some people want to know how I came up with the Claus books, and others have more specific questions about content. On one memorable occasion, a woman asked me whether how much sex there was in my books. Usually, this question comes from someone who likes a very clean, sweet story; however, this time, the woman was concerned that the book would not be spicy enough. It turned out that she ran a book club in Manhattan, and her group preferred novels with a significant amount of explicit erotica. I confessed that her group was likely to be very disappointed in my books since there isn’t much sex and what little there is mainly happens “off stage.” She thanked me, replaced State v. Claus on the stack, and headed off to catch her train. I hope she found a title that would fit her group better.

This year marks my fourth season doing fairs and author events. My first event was in December, 2021, a last-minute appearance at a local Christmas tree farm. In fact, it was so last-minute that I had to borrow a table and chair from a friend, after which I went to a local office supply store to purchase a cash box and a Square reader and to the bank to get dollar bills so I could make change. Four years later, I’ve worked out my display generally, but one thing I’ve learned is that every event space is different and flexibility is key. (Also, always carry a roll of painter’s tape. I learned this from an experienced author at one of my first events, and it’s possibly the best advice anyone’s ever given me. You can tape signs to your tent poles on breezy days or to walls at indoor events, and you can tape the bases of decorations to keep them from being knocked over. In fact, maybe carry two rolls, because people will want to borrow it. Trust me on this.)

If you’re an indie author and you’ve been looking for a way to liven up your sales, I’d encourage you to look into participating at local fairs and author events. Mind you, this will take some research, networking, and a fair bit of persistence, but I’ve definitely found it to be worth the effort.

Especially now, when the Season is here.