Moveable Feast event instructions
The Moveable Feast is an extremely fun and productive annual event designed to introduce the season's most charismatic authors to a host of booksellers from throughout the Midwest. Forty authors are booked for this event, which sells out every year. Authors are paired two-by-two and visit seven tables of booksellers for 10-minute increments to talk about their book. An estimated 185 booksellers attend.
Pre-Feast: Friday, October 20, 11:00-12:15
Room: Joliet A & B (5th floor)
We serve lunch to all participating authors before the main event begins. We use this moment to talk authors through the event instructions and it's a fun networking opportunity for them.
Moveable Feast, (the main event) Friday, October 20, 12:30-2:00 pm
Room: Mackinac (5th floor)
Authors, be in your seats at your assigned table at 12:25 so the Feast may begin!
Pre-Feast: Friday, October 20, 11:00-12:15
Room: Joliet A & B (5th floor)
We serve lunch to all participating authors before the main event begins. We use this moment to talk authors through the event instructions and it's a fun networking opportunity for them.
Moveable Feast, (the main event) Friday, October 20, 12:30-2:00 pm
Room: Mackinac (5th floor)
Authors, be in your seats at your assigned table at 12:25 so the Feast may begin!
For authors
At the Moveable Feast at Heartland Fall Forum, you are paired with a complimentary author and travel the Feast together. Each of the table rotations is 10 minutes long, so be mindful of your partner and share the 10 minutes equally. A signal to switch will be given at the 5-minute mark.
At each table, introduce yourself in relation to your book, tell a few stories about the book, etc. Knowing an author encourages a store to stock that book, and makes it easier to handsell that book. Don’t dive into the minutiae of the writing process. Think of this entire experience as engaging in fun dinner party conversation.
Feel free to use the Feast as an opportunity to talk to booksellers about hosting an event in their store; make the initial connection, swap business cards, and take the conversation to email.
Badges
Your author badge will be printed onsite at the registration desk.
Tips:
At the Moveable Feast at Heartland Fall Forum, you are paired with a complimentary author and travel the Feast together. Each of the table rotations is 10 minutes long, so be mindful of your partner and share the 10 minutes equally. A signal to switch will be given at the 5-minute mark.
At each table, introduce yourself in relation to your book, tell a few stories about the book, etc. Knowing an author encourages a store to stock that book, and makes it easier to handsell that book. Don’t dive into the minutiae of the writing process. Think of this entire experience as engaging in fun dinner party conversation.
Feel free to use the Feast as an opportunity to talk to booksellers about hosting an event in their store; make the initial connection, swap business cards, and take the conversation to email.
Badges
Your author badge will be printed onsite at the registration desk.
Tips:
- Know your market. You're attending a trade show full of 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 bookstore buy buttons on your website, link to them in your social media, and put indies first whenever you can
- Prop. Bring a personal copy of your galley or book to use as a prop while chatting with booksellers. You can also bring creative swag if you'd like to leave booksellers with merch
- Connect. Bring business cards or promotional postcards with your book jacket, personal contact information, social media, etc.
- Meet authors. Hop on social media and follow your fellow Moveable Feast authors before the show.
- If you have any questions, please ask your publicist to email Heartland staff member Melissa Peterson at [email protected].
Author Pairings
Floor plan
Moveable feast in 2022