Authors and Aspiring Authors: Come to Downers Grove Public Library on Saturday

On Saturday, November 8, the Downers Grove Public Library will host an event for authors and aspiring authors.

The event is called: "Local Author Panels: Tips and Tricks to Getting Your Book Published."

These panels will run from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at 1050 Curtiss Street in Downers Grove and will include a number of topics.

I was invited to participate in the "Promoting Your Book" panel, which runs from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

If you are an author, a writer, or an aspiring author or writer, come out and glean some tips about the writing, illustrating, publishing, and marketing process.

A full list of topics and times are here: downersgrove.libnet.info/event/14801662.

The panels are free to attend, and no author will be selling books at this event.

However, many of the authors will be available to chat and answer questions after the panels have ended.

I will also have information on B.L.O.C.K.S., BryonySeries, and WriteOn Joliet.

Maybe I will see you there.

Happy Monday! 

BryonySeries Events This Week (And New Swag)

Looking to leap into the BryonySeries?

Looking to talk to us about BryonySeries books?

Looking for free gifts for being so brave as to buy a book I wrote?

Well, look no further!

We are participating in three events in this week!

Today: The Book Market in Crest Hill (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Sept. 27: End-Of-Summer Open Mic at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet (7 to 10 p.m.)

Sept. 28: Local Author Fair at the Downers Grove Public Library (1 to 4 p.m.).

We will also have BryonySeries Book Bears for sale at all three events, compliments of Cindy, who surprised me with them on Sunday.

BryonySeries Book Bears are $9 with the purchase of any BryonySeries book and $18 without purchase while supplies last. No two bears are alike!

We also have BryonySeries miniature book bags and water tumblers FREE with any BryonySeries book purchase (while supplies last).

Can't make it to an event? The BryonySeries Back-To-School display is now up at The Book Market. So do check it out if you're in the area.

An Idea Came to Me at the Downers Grove Public Library

So I've promised a recap of the Downer's Grove Public Library author fair for a few weeks now. 

The fair was very well-organized, offered a wide variety of genres to the community, and provided a platform (time at the podium) for us to speak or read from our pieces.

However, the author fair itself followed a format common to many author fairs: Traffic and sales are lighter than what we secretly hope; the other authors are friendlier than we ever imagined; and few gather when it's time for us to speak.

But sales is not the entire point of the fair. Authors fairs are really an opportunity to showcase your wares before a new audience. Think of the reason why industries spend tens of thousands fora  booth at a major convention. Think of sales at author fairs as getting paid to market. 

At this particular author fair, I sold some books, met new people, and read an except to about half a dozen who gathered near the podium. We forgot some of our materials at home (we always forget something), and I got to hang out with Timothy and Rebekah. I wasn't nervous speaking, the result of participating in WriteOn Joliet's radio play in April and September, a real win for me and one on which I can keep building for future events.

As I made the rounds of the other tables and chatted with authors eager to talk about their books, I started collecting bookmarks with the goal of passing them along to friends who read those particular genres.

Then I had a better idea...and a bit of a resolution.

In 2024, I'm going to collect bookmarks from other authors and other artists when I'm at various events. Then when someone purchases a book from me at other events, I'll add a couple cards to the bag, to give the customer the opportunity to discover someone new.

That sends the authors/artists even farther into the universe with zero addition effort on their parts. And by letting them talk, I'll learn valuable information about them and their books, so the right cards go to the right customers (I typically talk to my customers about what they like to read). 

Maybe you even see something in this photo right now that interests you. If you can't make out the information. message me at bryonyseries@gmail.com and I'll send a larger image of the card or bookmark.

Have a great Tuesday!

Local Author Fair at the Downers Grove Public Library

In a year that's been filled with emergencies (and we've already had our share this week, too), we've also experienced some truly awesome blessings.

One of those blessings was an invitation to participate in the local author fair at the Downers Grove Public Library.

The fair will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 in the first floor lobby. The library is at 1050 Curtiss St. in Downers Grove.

Along with the BryonySeries, you will find a wide range of genres to explore, everything from memoirs to thrillers to ways to live an more inspiring life. Near thirty authors will participate, so you the fair will offer plenty of choices.

One of those authors is Jeff Hyland, who just published his first book. It's called "Powerless" and you can check it out an Amazon.

And if you're hungry, we'll have free BryonySeries business card cookies with select purchases. Yes, that' my real signature on the cookies.

For more information about the local author fair, visit downersgrove.libnet.info/event/9381565.

Hope to see you there!