What Kinds of Books Are Best to Bring to a Book Fair?
After you publish your book, the next logical step might be bringing it to a book fair or convention. The benefits of showcasing your book at a book fair are endless and far-reaching. Book fairs put your book in front of thousands of people, potentially more.
Book fairs are held all over the world. This year, New York’s BookCon hosted 25,000 attendees over two days. Even more people went to the La Paz Book Fair in Bolivia this year—more than 100,000 visitors. Each book fair has its own unique culture and attendance, but they are undeniably popular events for the publishing industry.
The kinds of books that are popular at book fairs can vary greatly. These variations are often based on larger societal trends, pop culture, and social media. Further, some book fairs are tailored to specific genres or themes that dictate who attends them. This article will take a look at what books tend to do best at standard book fairs.
Young Adult Stories
Young adult books are one of the most popular genres at book fairs all around the world. Book conventions, in particular, are filled to the brim with young adult literature. By definition, young adult books can cover any number of genres but are generally targeted towards teenagers. That means that there is something for everyone.
These types of books are prone to growing immense and passionate fan bases. In particular, social media and pop culture play a huge role in the lasting success of young adult literature. These readers become engaged in the material and share their passion with others. This grows into a larger movement that manifests itself at book fairs and conventions.
Children’s Books
Children’s books target for audience even younger than young adult literature. These are kid-appropriate books for readers of all ages. They can cover any topic or genre, and they often impart positive messages or morals.
Even though these books are targeted at a younger demographic, the adults in their lives can show interest. Children’s books are popular at book fairs because many librarians, parents, and teachers attend. Whether to stock their schools, libraries, or home shelves, these people are always looking for exciting new books. Kids can get bored with reading the same stories over and over again; books fairs can refresh their collection. They may even discover a new favorite.
Fantasy and Science Fiction
Fantasy and science fiction books are imaginative adventures that take readers to new worlds or realities. The potential for fantasy and science fiction is as endless as the author’s imagination. As such, it is simple to see how they can build up hefty fanbases. There is a strong community element to world building that make these books ideal for book fairs and conventions. When fans of the same niche genre are together, they can bond over their shared interest.
Romance and Romantasy
Romance literature can cover a wide range of books about love. However, the more popular romance novels on the market today are steamy love stories. There is also the related genre of “romantasy,” or romantic fantasy. These books have a huge fanbase of people who are always seeking new romance. In particular, social media has fostered a community who bond over their shared love of the romance genre. Book fairs can allow readers to put a face to the name of their favorite romance authors.
Thriller and Mystery
Thrillers and mystery books are successful because they keep readers on the edge of their seat. As such, these are some of the bestselling and most enduring books on the market. These are great books for book fairs and conventions because these readers are eager for a new story. There are so many thrillers and mysteries out there that conventions help distinguish your book.
Non-Fiction, Memoirs, Self-Help
The broad spectrum of non-fiction literature is also popular at book fairs and conventions. Memoirs and autobiographies often rely on the personality and story of the author. Therefore, presenting a true story at a convention creates a personal connection with the author. This can motivate readers to want to learn more about the author’s story.
For self-help books, the audience will want to know why they should take advice from the author. Books fairs and conventions allow an author to show their credibility to the masses. This can highlight the author’s credentials, history, life experience, family history, and anything else.
