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. A total of 165 booksellers attend.
Pre-Feast: Friday, October 14, 11:00-12:15
Room: Park View (4th floor)
We serve lunch to all participating authors before the main event begins. We use this moment to talk authors through the details event instructions and it's a fun networking opportunity for them.
Moveable Feast, (the main event) Friday, October 14, 12:30-2:00 pm
Room: Grand FG (4th floor)
Authors, be in your seats at 12:25 so the Feast may begin!
Pre-Feast: Friday, October 14, 11:00-12:15
Room: Park View (4th floor)
We serve lunch to all participating authors before the main event begins. We use this moment to talk authors through the details event instructions and it's a fun networking opportunity for them.
Moveable Feast, (the main event) Friday, October 14, 12:30-2:00 pm
Room: Grand FG (4th floor)
Authors, be in your seats at 12:25 so the Feast may begin!
Slideshow: Moveable Feast authors from the Heartland show in Cleveland, 2019
For publishers
New for 2022: We're not asking publishers to supply physical books or galleys for the Feast. In this year of unknowns and supply and labor shortages, we decided to create a more efficient approach to this event. We are taking these two steps instead, which will be advertised in our program and to Feast attendees.
New for 2022: We're not asking publishers to supply physical books or galleys for the Feast. In this year of unknowns and supply and labor shortages, we decided to create a more efficient approach to this event. We are taking these two steps instead, which will be advertised in our program and to Feast attendees.
- Digital request form. We are creating a galley/book app request form that Feast attendees can download to their phone and use to select which books they'd like shipped to their supplied address or emailed to their inbox. After the event, we will email you the list of requests. It's up to you to decide what you'd like to set aside for Heartland attendees. The event will sell out at 165 booksellers and you can set aside a mix of print and digital copies.
- Copies on site. If possible, we recommend sending 50 copies direct to your booth so motivated booksellers can come to your booth with the request. If all of these books aren't distributed, there will be tables in the room at the Moveable Feast where you can put surplus copies for attendees to grab.
- You don't have to register authors for the show. Badges will automatically be waiting for them at the registration desk in the Grand Foyer on the 4th floor.
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 7 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.
Tips:
At the Moveable Feast at Heartland Fall Forum, you are paired with a complimentary author and travel the Feast together. Each of the 7 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.
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 take that route
- Connect. Bring business cards or promotional postcards with your book jacket, personal contact information, social media, etc.
- Meet authors. Scroll around social media and follow your fellow Moveable Feast authors before the show.
- More to come. Detailed author instructions, ie, table assignments etc., is to come
Floor plan
