S2 E36 - The Problem with Author Book Events, w/ Sam Missingham Publishing Rodeo: The Good, The Bad, and the Bloody Ugly

What's the deal with author book events? Are they useful, do they shift books, and why do they all follow the same format? This week, we speak with Sam Missingham, who spent many years working with the Bookseller, and later with Harper as an author events creator. We talk about what works and what doesn't, whether hiring publicists as a trad author is worth the time, the influence of class and connections in publishing, and the real reason so many publisher-run book events fall a little flat. If authors want a successful career, Sam stresses that this requires a long-term perspective and a focus on writing multiple books, as well as a creative and individual approach to self-marketing.

00:00 Introduction01:00 Background and Experience in the Publishing Industry04:11 The Role of Events in Book Marketing07:05 The Challenges of Filling Book Events09:00 The Value of Events for Debut Authors10:26 The Influence of Class and Connections in Publishing15:00 The Myth of the Slush Pile18:39 The Need for Engaging and Fun Book Events20:24 The Value of Indie Author Events25:26 The Role of Marketing and Publicity for Authors27:22 Working with Traditionally Published Authors31:33 The Challenges of Hiring PR and Marketing Services41:57 The Empowered Author and Building a Strong Author Platform