We have enough people who are beautiful. We need more who are brave. We have enough people who are popular. We need more who are passionate and purposeful. We have enough people who are wild. We need more who are wise. We have enough people who are famous. We need more who are faithful. We have enough people who require rewards. We need more who require respect. We have enough people who are too afraid to fail. We need more who are courageous enough to fly.
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Before I went on vacation, I attended Black Writers Weekend (BWW). The event itself was okay, but what made it worthwhile for me was my conversations with the vendors. We talked about so much more than books; the historical conversations were like a glass of cold water on a hot day. I love basking in the brilliance of people.
But not all conversations were positive.
I noticed many first-time vendors were not happy. Considering the cost and the traveling many did to get to Atlanta, they expected a much bigger turnout, and many people left feeling some kind of way.
I didn’t have to travel far or stay at a hotel, but I understood their frustrations and empathized with the lack of focus on the marketplace. Some people who opted to have books shipped found their books didn’t arrive on time!
But this is not about what BWW did right or wrong.
This is about what authors should expect from vending at events; unfortunately, making a profit is not one of them.
Depending on what an author pays for a table, the cost of books, travel, and board, the chances of making that money back are slim.
Can you make good sales from vending? Certainly, but vending is more about networking than it is about sales. Vending at large events also does not mean large sales.
Finally got to meet the amazing writer and historian William Spivey!
Authors choosing to pay for vending should consider the cost of the table, any books or merch they’d need to purchase, travel, and board.
Will you have to book a flight or drive?
Will you be staying at a hotel?
How many books do you need to purchase in advance?
How much is this going to cost with the vending fee?
What is included in the fee? Do you get a table and chairs or will you have to bring your own? (Yes, some event hosts require you to bring your own table. I don’t vend at those events.)
Thank you beautiful!
While self-publishing my books since 2010, I was not always a full-time author. My background is in Medical Assistance and teaching. When I decided to go full force into this author thing (2017), I did a lot of vending and events. It was a lot of fun, but I rarely vend anymore because a) it is not always financially feasible, and b) I am at the point now where I prefer to get paid to speak or capture content.
When I vend, it is because the event has an element that aligns with my brand or belief system and will allow me to build my network. When I published Black History Facts You Didn’t Learn in School, I knew I would attend Black Writers Weekend because the crowd is full of people interested in my type of content.
Vending at events of any size can benefit authors at any stage of the process. I would primarily recommend vending to new authors and authors who want to get their names out there and connect with other writers and literary professionals.
For authors looking to sell books, I recommend vending at smaller events that align with your brand and that focus on books, such as book festivals. As I joked about before, it’s much more challenging to sell someone a book standing next to the Shea Butter lady. Definitely do not overlook smaller gatherings. They tend to have a better vibe than the popular ones.
For seasoned authors or those ready to advance, I recommend hosting your own book signings, events, and workshops or requesting to be a guest speaker at an event instead of vending.
I’ve been on vacation, touring four different cities in Spain. (Almoradi, Alicante, Madrid, and Guardamar.)
One interesting thing we noticed is how the stores close in the middle of the day.
In some parts of Spain, businesses take a few hours of break in the afternoon. They actually close their stores, and you won’t be able to go in until after the break.
They call this a Siesta, which means “a midday or afternoon rest or nap.” It comes from the Latin sexta, the 6th hour after dawn. The Siesta was a traditional break for agricultural workers in Spain and Italy, usually taken at noon to avoid the intense heat of the midday sun.
Imagine going to work and then taking a nap after lunch to be refreshed and ready for the evening hours.
This made me think about how other countries prioritize rest compared to America’s “no sleep” philosophy. Spaniards are so rejuvenated after the Siesta that many stay up all night, and some restaurants do not close until midnight.
And I mean they have a time! Card tables are out, children are running around, and the city is buzzing with life. The people seem content and joyful.
Meanwhile, we are over here exhausted, overworked, and stressed out.
We can use this as a lesson and appreciate breaks more whenever we need them, not just when society says it’s okay.
Let us refill our cups as needed to ensure we have everything we need to continue.
When promoting your book online, you must do more than post pictures of your cover if you want people to buy it. To be more precise, I want you to focus more on the message and why it matters to you than on trying to sell the book.
What are some of the topics your book covers? Use those topics as stepping stones to reach your target audience. If your book is about how you survived an abusive relationship, you should be finding communities dedicated to eradicating domestic violence and creating content around how you survived it based on what you’ve written in your book. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, so you will want to work hard to share your expertise with the people who need it.
If you wrote a fiction book, what kind of escape does it provide readers? Is it entertaining? Romantic? Educational? Does it make us stop to think? Is it thought-provoking? Does it make us laugh until our stomach hurts? The world is hurting now, so people are looking for that getaway.
If you wrote a poetry book, consider participating in open mic nights or reciting poems live on Instagram or TikTok. Join poetry contests, and of course, you cannot miss National Poetry Month in April!
The idea is to focus less on selling the book and more on building community around its content. Think about how your book can add value to readers in your community rather than how you can make a sale.
In Firsthand, Richard McLeary owns over seven hundred acres, the third largest Plantation in Chatham County. The land was given to him by his father-in-law on the condition that he marry his daughter and treat her well. However, Richard is arrogant and seeks the approval of other wealthy planters. He boasts as if his land cannot be stripped from him and violently mistreats the enslaved people working his plantation.
In just the first few chapters, we are witnesses to his brutality which includes the death of an enslaved man defending another. In this haunting and poignant historical fantasy, debut author A’Dreana Anderson is compelling in her telling of slavery to such an extent that it felt like Richard had written this story from his own personal account. I can see a racist white man who pretends he is wealthier than he actually is clearly in my mind. There are also some historical accuracies I appreciated.
When visiting the Slave Market, the auctioneer presented an enslaved woman who was pregnant. Richard frowns and decides not to bid on her. While enslavers eventually valued women of childbearing age, this was not always the case. Before 1808 and the abolition of the slave trade, many slave owners discouraged enslaved women from reproducing. They considered the infants to be time-consuming and took too much time away from the women working. It wasn’t until after 1808 when slave owners could no longer depend on the domestic supply of enslaved laborers from the trade, that they sought women who could reproduce and had already given birth to healthy children.
The story’s turning point occurs when Richard, his son Henry, and his overseer James head to the Oglethorpe’s Racecourse Slave Market outside of Savannah to replace the enslaved people he murdered. He bids on Nini, a strong, gorgeous Black mute woman who captures his eye so much that he spends $2,500 for her. He immediately lusts after her and attempts to beat her into obedience. However, Nini refuses to comply, which turns him on even more. There is something about her eyes, and Richard is going to find out the hard way when he wakes up to realize he has been condemned to live as a mute, enslaved Black man.
Some graphic scenes might be too much for some readers, though, and some of the descriptions, although well-written, slowed the story just a bit. (Richard sometimes talked too much for me.) However, this was not to the extent that it destroyed the overall reading experience.
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If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be an addict, this short narrative will transport you there. From the weight of guilt to the hope of redemption, the author portrays a picture of addiction that will make you reconsider your feelings about addicts.
The story opens with Mariam sitting in a car outside her daughter’s school, watching with binoculars. She is not allowed to see Zora. She has lost access to such privilege.
As someone who grew up with an addicted mother, I understand what it’s like to be a daughter and not have your mother around, which doesn’t always mean she’s not present. For example, Zora refers to Mariam as Aunty, even though she is her mother. She does this because she does not know Mariam is her mother. It took me back to the first nine years of my life when I addressed my mother by her first name. What I appreciated, though, was how the author helped me grasp how it feels from the mother’s perspective. The author’s writing style is poetic, allowing for honesty and grace.
Call Me Mama helps us empathize with the human parts of those who fall prey to addiction, and I love that about good fiction. Don’t just tell me someone is a villain; show me why. How did this person get to this point? What made them the person they are? In addition, we so often see the monster and not the person being held hostage in their bodies, a prison for their unhealed trauma.
“She wanted to beg, plead for another chance, promise that this time would be different. But the words died in her throat, strangled by the shame that had become her constant companion.”
Then, there is Mary-Joanna, a constant temptation. “Come on, let’s get out of here, have some real fun,” she says as they sit in the basement of a church. Her words are like a trigger that sends Mariam’s heart beating against her ribs until she no longer hears anything the speaker is saying, only the promise of relief from the dungeon of darkness she’s found herself in.
But, it is Zora who is the real salvation of Mariam’s story. The innocence of a child and the unconditional love Zora wrap around her mother’s neck offers Mariam the hope she desperately needs. Will she take it?
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Stay tuned for our next dope read!
Yecheilyah’s Book Reviews is a reputable review service that features writers from all over the world, both traditionally and independently published. We are listed on Kindlepreneur as a top-tier book review blog and Reedsy as one of their vetted active book blogs that provide insightful, excellent book reviews.
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Yecheilyah’s Book Reviews is a renowned review service that features writers from all over the world, both traditional and self-published. We are listed on Kindlepreneur as a top-tier book review blog and Reedsy as one of their vetted active book blogs that provide insightful, excellent book reviews.
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