I have long been a proponent of authors giving presentations about their books, even though many authors are extremely uncomfortable at the thought of standing in front of an audience. Believe me, I’m right there with you! But presentations really help boost an author’s bottom line.
Way back in the aughts, I started giving talks around my first book, Ruth by Lake and Prairie. As a “Little House” version of DuPage County, my main presentation was about the history on which the book was based. I also gave talks on researching history and on publishing a book, topics that I was not only familiar with, but which were also related to Ruth.
When Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday rolled around, some folks who hosted Ruth by Lake and Prairie presentations asked what I had on Lincoln. Since he was a contemporary of the folks in Ruth, it wasn’t hard to put something together, and that became my book Six Degrees of Abraham Lincoln.
The Lincoln presentations were serendipitous, but these days I am trying to be more strategic with presentations. And that means going even farther out of the writer’s comfort zone – contacting strangers!
To be perfectly transparent, I do have a secret weapon. It’s my husband. He has no problem picking up the phone and calling random people, while I will do just about anything to avoid that embarrassment. And I know that I am not the only author who feels that way!
If you have someone who can serve as your publicist, it can make all the difference. Consider being the publicist for a fellow author while they are yours. Blowing one’s own horn can be painful for a writer, but it is amazingly easier to promote someone else.
Whether you do it yourself, however, or have help, there are still many tasks to complete when looking for an audience for your author presentation.
Libraries are one of the best places to pursue because they are always looking for new programming, and they often have a budget to pay speakers. Of course, that also means they get a lot of requests from people wanting to present, so they can afford to be picky.
You may find it easier to get on the calendar at smaller libraries with smaller budgets, but big or small, libraries like to plan well in advance, so be prepared. Most libraries have information on their websites outlining the kind of programming they prefer, compensation they can offer, and other details. They usually also have an application where you can describe your talk and give your credentials.
Senior centers are another audience who need interesting programs. Some have budgets to pay presenters and some don’t. I always encourage new speakers or those with a new presentation to go to senior centers, even if they don’t pay you and you don’t sell any books. They are usually a very generous audience, and will give you good feedback for improving your presentation.
Other possible audiences include:
- Service clubs
- Historical societies
- Book stores
- Book clubs
- Churches
- Schools
- Homeschool groups
- Writing groups
- Literary festivals
- Author fairs
- Chambers of commerce
- Corporations
Obviously, not all locations are perfect for your specific topic, but a really clever author could probably come up with a slant for several different audiences. For instance, talking about your book works for a book club, but for a chamber of commerce, talking about the book business would be more appropriate.
Unlike libraries, most of these other groups will not have applications on their websites. Instead, you’ll have to find out who is in charge and contact them directly, either by email or by phone. If someone else is doing the phoning, you can at least research and organize the information to make it easy for them.
Creating a sales sheet for your presentation will help tremendously because you will have all the details worked out beforehand. Make it a one-page document that you can print for mailing or to hand out in person. Also post it on your website so you can refer to it in emails.
Include your fee on that sheet, but consider making it a range, and maybe even add a line about negotiating. Do some research in your area and among your author friends to figure out an appropriate fee range. You don’t want to sound out of touch, but you don’t want to shortchange yourself either. A plus to having the fee printed on your sales sheet is that you don’t have to actually ask for money out loud, which can be a huge stumbling block for many of us introverts.
Selling books at a presentation is a must, and for some events, that might be the only compensation. At other events, however, you’ll go home with an honorarium check as well as book receipts. The vast majority of authors don’t support themselves on book sales alone, but speaking engagements can be a game-changer. If you aren’t pursuing presentations yet, it’s time to find your audience!
Photo by George Milton