I'm sure you all added our upcoming author appearance to your calendars and phones, and possibly had the date tattooed backward to your foreheads. I mean, all those authors and artists together--it'll be Indiana's social event of the decade. (Although I'm told the world's biggest greased pig chase and cornhole contest will be next year in Muncie, so we might be in second place.)
So there's no need to post the link that announced the Kendallville Art and Author Fair would be at the Kendallville Community Learning Center Saturday, April 30, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. If I did, I'd put it here.
https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/2022/04/were-coming-to-kendallvilles-art-and.html
But I won't. It's our first author appearance since late 2019--I suspect you know what happened after that. Even before that we didn't do them often, so I started a list of what we needed to bring. Then I realized, surely I already made a list? I do that. I went back and sure enough, there it was.
So, what does every good author, and most of the bad ones, need to bring?
Books. This is kinda important. If you do a book signing, you should have something to sign.
Change. When one goes somewhere to sell books, one must assume some books will be sold. Thus: change for those high rollers who walk around with hundred dollar bills. (I don't know any of them, either.)
A calculator or, these days, a calculator app. After all, the whole reason I became a writer is because I can't do math in my head.
Tylenol. You'd be surprised. No, probably you wouldn't.
A camera. My wife took a photo of me signing a book for an Indiana State Senator who, apparently not having read my columns about politicians, was very nice. You never know what you might get a picture of when you're out in the public.
Paper and pens. The pens are to, duh, sign books. The paper is because, even though We'll have iPhones with us, I don't trust technology.
A tarp and an umbrella, if the venue is outside. There's a reason why books aren't usually sold outdoors, but I laugh in the face of danger. Well, I cringe, which looks a little like laughing, if you squint. (This one is inside, so never mind.)
Business cards. Emily designed me my very own business card! Sometimes, when it's slow at events, I sneak around the crowds and pull the opposite of pick pocketing, leaving my calling card behind. Yeah, that was me.
A table and chairs. The basics, right? We bought a folding chair that's so comfortable I'm thinking of throwing away our couch.
Liquid refreshments. I'm thinking water. Hey, I don't need any help from alcohol to look foolish.
Displays and signs. To display stuff ... like signs.
Scotch Tape. It's the author's duct tape.
A lot of that stuff will fit nicely into the two totes we bought for the purpose, although, man, books can get heavy when you're carrying them a long way. How about you other authors? What's on your "to-bring" list? And what would you potential readers like to see an author supplied with?
Maybe I'll have a new book to sell that day; you never know.
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Remember, every time you miss an author event, Edgar Allan Poe rolls over in his grave. You don't want to wake that guy up.
(But if you can't make it, find our books at:)
http://markrhunter.com/
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/"Mark R Hunter"
