FROM BOOK FAIR BLUES TO CRAFT SHOW SUCCESS by RUTH WONG

FROM BOOK FAIR BLUES TO CRAFT SHOW SUCCESS by RUTH WONG
Friday, January 3, 2025 by Patti Shene

FEATURED BOOK: Echoes over Stormy Sea

AUTHOR: R.F. Whong

PUBLISHER: Vidasym Publishing

GENRE: dual-time adventure

SERIES OR STAND ALONE: Series: Book 1 in the dual-time Odyssey series

TARGET AGE: 18+

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME READERS TO A NEW YEAR ON THE OVER 50 WRITER WITH GUEST AUTHOR RUTH WONG. RUTH SHARES A HELPFUL MARKETING TIP.

FROM BOOK FAIR BLUES TO CRAFT SHOW SUCCESS

Ruth Wong

Earlier this summer, I attended what I believed would be a promising event for any emerging author: a book fair. The anticipation of engaging with book enthusiasts to discuss my work was palpable. However, as the day unfolded, my excitement deflated. The hall was scattered with more authors than readers. I only managed to sell four books over six hours.

Fast forward a few months, and I decided to try my luck again—this time at an art and craft show. The venue was pulsating with activity, perhaps fueled by the energy of the Christmas holiday season. To my pleasant surprise, in a similar six-hour timeframe, I nearly emptied a suitcase packed with books. The remarkable contrast between these two experiences left me pondering why the outcomes were so different. Here are some tips to consider.

1. Location, Location, Location

It’s crucial to acknowledge the power of context. Book fairs, while ideal for reaching a targeted audience, may also be limiting if there are more authors than readers. With so many books vying for attention, each title might get lost in the literary sea. The art and craft show, however, attracts a diverse crowd that comes not only in search of handcrafted goods but also for unique, personal stories like mine. This creates a broader, more curious audience eager to explore new genres and authors.

2. The Holiday Spirit

The timing of the craft show during the festive season cannot be underestimated. The Christmas season invigorates a unique sense of joy, nostalgia, and the urge to find the perfect gift. A book with the author’s signature holds a timeless charm as a personal gift.

3. Interactive Engagement

The structure of the art and craft show also favors interaction and engagement. With people milling about, ample opportunities exist for impromptu conversations. This setting allows me to connect with potential readers, piquing their interest and prompting them to support my work.

4. Ads might have helped

At the event, I created a banner highlighting my status as a Minnesota Anoka County Library featured author for 2025. This drew considerable attention, and many attendees decided to make a purchase after seeing it. To them, being recognized as a featured author by the library likely served as a testament to the quality of my writing.

Reflecting on these experiences, I realized the importance of selecting the right venue for book promotion. It’s not merely about targeting book lovers, but about reaching out to communities that value storytelling and personal expression in any form. While book fairs remain a valuable platform, authors should not shy away from exploring alternative venues where literature intersects with other creative fields.

Blurb for Echoes over Stormy Sea #1 New Release in 2 categories.

A thrilling adventure set in distant lands by R.F. Whong, named a 2025 Featured Author by the Minnesota Anoka County Library.

Two remarkable women, separated by eras, united by unyielding resolve.

Two eras, one stormy sea. Two women navigate love and heritage across centuries. Book 1 in this dual-time odyssey series braids together a mesmerizing tale about loyalty, redemption, and transformation.

Debra Gong, a PhD student in biochemistry, eagerly counts down to her upcoming 2020 wedding in Chicago. The unexpected death of her father, a famous writer, brings her back to Hong Kong. Then the sudden closure of borders because of the pandemic leaves her trapped and separated from her fiancé. Her father’s will requires her to complete his last, unfinished manuscript about a pirate princess to honor his memory.

In 1800, Shih Yi-Lan, a martial arts master and the fierce daughter of a pirate captain, faces the cultural expectations of matrimony. Unwilling to be confined by traditional roles, when her father demands her to cement an alliance through marriage, she devises a test for any would-be suitor: he must beat her in two out of three contests to win her hand. A mysterious contender with a pigtail unlike the other sea marauders rises to the occasion and triumphs.

As both women explore their worlds in flux, the stakes grow higher. Can Debra continue her PhD work, honor her father’s legacy, and find love and commitment? Will Yi-Lan maintain her resilience and passion amid the challenges? Their parallel journeys unfold against the backdrop of tumultuous times, connecting their fates in unexpected ways.

Echoes Over Stormy Sea was crowned the Scrivenings Press 2024 GetPubbed contest winner in the historical fiction genre.

Free on KU.

Amazon link

Dr. Wuwong (PhD in biochemistry, MBA in finance) has published 120+ scientific books and papers (under her legal name) and a few Christian fiction books (Love at the Garden Tomb, The Way We Forgive, Blazing China, and Detour to Agape, under R. F. Whong). She lives in the Midwest with her husband, a retired pastor. They served together at three churches from 1987 to 2020. Her grown son works in a nearby city.

She currently runs a small biotech company (www.vidasym.com) and has raised more than twenty million US dollars during the past few years for Vidasym.

In addition to her weekly newsletter and the platform (www.ruthforchrist.com), she’s active in several writers’ groups, including ACFW, Word Weavers, Facebook, and Goodreads. Through these connections, she plans newsletter/promotion swaps with others and has writers endorse her books, write forewords, and host her on guest blogs.

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