Children's Author Breakfast
​Friday, October 13, 8:00-9:30 am, Junior Ballroom A-B

At the Children's Author Breakfast, 4 keynote authors are given 10 minutes each to discuss their forthcoming book. 

This is a ticketed event. Socializing with booksellers is one of the highlights of the authors' experience. We ask publishers to reserve a table of 10 seats by purchasing 9 tickets (the author’s seat is free of charge) and invite booksellers to join their author during the meal.

At 8:00 am, the event emcee will address the crowd. Breakfast will be served, and starting at around 8:20 am, a bookseller will introduce each author briefly, keep the program running on time, and provide a wrap-up signal for each author. Authors are allotted a strict maximum of 10 minutes to speak. After the authors are done, we’ll break into a signing for book personalization. The emcee will announce that the signing is beginning, which means authors should take their seats at the signing tables, where their books will be waiting.

We’ll have a raised podium and a microphone at the front of the room for speakers’ use. If your author needs other special AV equipment, please let Carrie know by September 12.

BEFORE THE EVENT
​​Authors sign their books before the event; the time after breakfast is for further personalization. The book room (Oak) will be staffed from 7 am-10 pm on Thurs, Oct 12. Please ask your author to sign books at some point on Thursday, prior to Friday morning's event. If they can't, ask them to arrive at 7 am sharp to sign books before breakfast, allowing staff enough time to set up books before the event begins.

TIPS FOR AUTHORS
  • Keynote addresses bring your book to life and make it easier for booksellers to stock and sell your work in their stores. Stories of the writing process, indie bookstore visits, and just plain great storytelling work well to endear the author to the crowd.
  • Check in with the book room staff in Oak no later than 7:30 am so we know you've arrived
  • Bring business cards or promotional postcards with your personal contact information, social media, etc.
  • Know your market. These are indie booksellers and you will endear yourself to them by supporting the indie market. If you don't already, it's necessary to include indie buy buttons on your website, and put indies first whenever you can. Here's how. 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PUBLISHERS
Shipping/Delivering Books
Quantity: We request 200 comp books/galleys for this event.

Ship books/galleys to the address below and label the outside of every box with the info requested. DO NOT SHIP EVENT BOOKS WITH YOUR BOOTH MATERIAL.

LABEL AS FOLLOWS:

[Opening Reception/INSERT AUTHOR NAME/INSERT BOOK TITLE/INSERT PUBLISHER]
Heartland Fall Forum 2017
Tristan Publishing
2355 Louisiana Avenue North
Golden Valley, MN 55427

First date freight received: 9/1/17
Freight deadline: 9/29/17
​
  • All shipping and drayage is the responsibility of the publisher. The drayage fee is $1.00 per book, a discount over traditional drayage companies.
  • Save your tracking number in case we need it.

Hand-Delivering Books
​If you are a local publisher, you can deliver books directly to the show.
  1. Let Carrie know you are delivering books directly to The Westin
  2. Park in the main parking lot
  3. Deliver your books to the book room Oak and let the book room staff know you brought them. Oak will be staffed until 10 pm for the duration of the show

Suggested Author Itinerary (if not local)
  • Thurs Oct 12: 
    1) Arrive at the Westin and stay the night. Head to Oak (the book room) before 9 pm to pre-sign books for breakfast the next day.​
    2) If authors arrive in time and are interested, they can attend the author education from 2:30-3:30 pm specifically designed for the traditionally published authors who attend our show
  • Fri Oct 13: 
    1) If you were unable to sign books on Thurs, please come to the book room at 7 am sharp to sign
    2) Enjoy the Children's Author Breakfast

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Photos from 2016. View more event photos on Facebook.