As mentioned in my previous post, Haverhub, Haverfordwest’s community arts space, was holding a Book Fair last weekend.
It was their first fair, but they are already planning the next – probably because it went so well! It ran from 10 till 2, with a high number of visitors, particularly in the first two hours.
This wasn’t an author’s book fair – it was open to anyone who had books to sell, which included those wanting to clear space on their shelves, those selling for charity and representatives from local bookshops. And, of course, a few local authors. This made for a good mix, creating something for everyone.
From an author’s point of view, a fair hopefully provides an opportunity to sell some books. But it is more than that. It is a chance to display your work – which can be quite satisfying in itself. Yes, I have my books together on my bookshelf, spines visible, but to see all of them laid out, with their wonderful covers showing, is especially pleasing.
One interesting aspect of this, from my point of view, is that I again realised how varied my work is. I couldn’t say my writing belonged to a particular genre…crime, fantasy, historical … each book is different. It also made me realise that I love all of them, for different reasons – which made it quite hard when one gentleman, who had looked at each and every one of them, asked me to pick one for him to buy. I chose ‘things found on the mountain’, because I thought it may be more to his taste than the others. I do hope he enjoyed it!
And, of course, such events also give you, the writer, a chance to meet readers, to talk to any who show interest in your books, and to tell them a little about each title, and to speak of the writing process or the publication journey.
It was a pleasure to take part in this fair at Haverhub, as everybody was so friendly – the other stall-holders and the visitors who stopped to chat, as well as the venue staff. Thank you, Haverhub. I’m looking forward to the next one. And many thanks to those who bought my books.
(’things found on the mountain’ is, of course, still available from Seren; ’The Sisters of Cynvael’ is from Cinnamon Press. Both, also, from any good bookshop. ’Trouble Crossing the Bridge’ is on Amazon. And I have some copies of them all, here, if anyone should want to buy direct by post – signed, if wanted.)