Authorpreneur Magazine Issue 3 | Page 16

Such as the things I’ d like to pass on now, as a veteran of many literary festivals, of different sizes and in different countries:

• On no account accept a billet at someone’ s house. You will have been talking all day to strangers, entertaining them; why should you have to do it at night as well? If the festival requires overnight stays, make sure they put you up in a hotel or other paid accommodation. Obviously if you have friends or family in that location and you prefer to stay with them, that’ s a different story.

• Don’ t expect too much from a festival launch of your book. There’ s already heaps of things going on at a festival; unless you’ re a celebrity, only a few people will come to a launch( unless of course there’ s free drinks and food in which case you’ ll definitely get a good crowd- but might not sell all that many books!)

• Don’ t read from a prepared speech even if your panel format requires each person to speak in turn. Much better to speak off the cuff or at least to sound as if you are.

• Don’ t go over time- your fellow panellists will not like it!

• If you intend to read from your book, choose a good, sharp, self-explanatory short extract. Do not make it too long or the kind that needs a lengthy explanation beforehand, it only confuses the audience.

• Remember that audiences, though generally engaged and positive booklovers, may contain other kinds of people who have come for other reasons: to make statements, as I mentioned before; to challenge; and to try and get publishing advice, even when it’ s inappropriate. Don’ t feel obliged to answer those kinds of things in question time. In fact you shouldn’ t. However, if they approach you in private after the session, it’ s up to you what you do.

• Avoid being on a panel that kicks off too early, especially on a Sunday morning when audiences will be very thin.

• Bring some‘ extras’ for a signing- for example, book marks, pamphlets, brochures about your books. People love extra things they can take away with them.

• Do go to sessions yourself as part of the crowd- not only is it worthwhile going for interest’ s sake, it’ s also really good to be on the other side of the fence to see what works- and doesn’ t- with audiences!

• Keep a sense of humour at all times! There are very funny( and sadly often unprintable!) things that happen at literary festivals, both with presenters and audiences, and they all add to the experience. Plus keeping a sense of humour even about your own situation helps keep it all in proportion, and avoids the twin bogeys of humiliation and jealousy rearing their ugly heads.

Born in Indonesia of French parents, Sophie Masson came to Australia at the age of 5 and spent most of her childhood shuttling between France and Australia. The internationallypublished author of more than 50 novels for children, YA, and adults, Sophie Masson has also published many short stories, essays and articles, in print and digitally. She has just published a new e-book, By the Book: Tips of the Trade for Writers, a collection of entertaining and practical tips on the craft, business and inspiration of writing. Sophie is the Chair of the Australian Society of Authors and the New England Writers’ Centre and a member of the Book Industry Collaborative Council. www. sophiemasson. org