Marquee keynote event instructions
This marquee keynote event allows us to work directly with publishers to showcase exciting authors with an inspiring keynote address. It will include time for author introductions, keynote addresses, a Q&A, and book signings.
Marquee author keynote
Thursday, October 19, 8:30–10:00 am
For Authors
Registration
Register for the show here. The access code has been sent to your publicist via email. Your author badge will be printed onsite at the registration desk.
Tips to knock a keynote out of the park
Registration
Register for the show here. The access code has been sent to your publicist via email. Your author badge will be printed onsite at the registration desk.
Tips to knock a keynote out of the park
- Author talks such as this help booksellers better sell your book by bringing it to life, giving them reasons to carry it in their store, put it on a display, book you for an event, handsell it to customers, etc. Publishers give us complimentary galleys to share for free with our booksellers so they can familiarize themselves and their staff with forthcoming titles.
- Incorporate your book's selling points naturally into your talk. It's also good to talk about what books inspired you, as "comp titles" give booksellers an easy way to know how to market and sell your book. Pretend your keynote is a trailer for your book.
- Don't: Read from your book, unless it's a brief portion setting up your talk. Booksellers want to hear from you about the book rather than be read to.
- Do: Abide by a helpful rule of thumb: Craft what you will say as if it's dinner party conversation at a table full of book lovers. You wouldn't plumb the depths of your book research process at a dinner party, but you would tell delightful anecdotes about yourself, how you came to write this book, indie bookstore stories, your favorite reading material, etc. (Note: At said imaginary dinner party, you also wouldn't talk favorably about giant online book retailers.)
- Do: Pack a handout that facilitates communication after the event: business card, postcard promo about your book, etc., including your email address and social media accounts. Some creative authors give away swag based on their book, but it's all up to you. Many of our booksellers call these events “author shopping,” as they form connections with authors and work on setting up events in their stores, so be prepared for these possible conversations.
- Most importantly, DO include indie bookstore buy buttons on your website! Booksellers will support you if you support them. Read the info above about how to do that if you aren't already.
- If you have any questions, please ask your publicist to email Heartland staff member Melissa Peterson at melissa@midwestbooksellers.org.
Shipping instructions
Where to ship
Receiving Deadline: September 21
How to ship
Send author event books to the following address and include all required label information on the outside of the box. You can also download the label template for the easiest shipping experience. Specific galley quantities are listed on each detailed event tab at the bottom of this page. Please email Melissa all label information and shipping confirmation. We are requesting 150 galleys (minimum).
If you cannot ship your author event book to meet this deadline, please contact Melissa (melissa@midwestbooksellers.org).
- Do! Send author event books via our system described below. Use the Rockford, IL shipping address.
- Do not! Do not send author event books to the shipping address in your exhibitor packet. Do not use the Romulus, MI address for author event books. (If you do, your authors' books will be mixed in with exhibitor freight and we cannot promise they will be delivered to an author event on time.)
Receiving Deadline: September 21
How to ship
Send author event books to the following address and include all required label information on the outside of the box. You can also download the label template for the easiest shipping experience. Specific galley quantities are listed on each detailed event tab at the bottom of this page. Please email Melissa all label information and shipping confirmation. We are requesting 150 galleys (minimum).
If you cannot ship your author event book to meet this deadline, please contact Melissa (melissa@midwestbooksellers.org).
|
Advance to Valley Expo
TO:
|
Print and complete the label below for the easiest shipping experience that will ensure your author books arrive in the right place.
|
Floor plan
Marquee keynote in 2022
