Tucson Festival of Books 2024

Reflections from an Indie Author

The Tucson Festival of Books: Imagine a Disneyworld for authors and book lovers! Every spring, thousands descend on the campus of the University of Arizona for a weekend of workshops, author meet and greets, books sales, food , music, and fun. This is the third largest book event in the nation, and  I look forward to it each year.  But this year was special. I participated as an author!

How did this happen? First, I had to submit my self-published book to the TFOB Indie Author’s Committee for review by October 15.  In January I received notice that Out of the Crayon Box had been accepted as one of the books to be featured in this year’s Indie Author’s Pavilion. I was thrilled to be given this opportunity to sign books and meet readers face to face!

 Did I sell some books? Yes! Enough to fund a European vacation? Well no, but enough to cover the cost of my registration fee and a nice dinner out. (or maybe lunch at the local sandwich shop, when you factor in cost of the promotional poster I had printed and the blue top and crayon earrings I bought to wear because they matched my book cover, ha-ha…) But here’s the real payoff:

Being Part of a Literary Community

 Writing, putting thoughts to paper, is a solitary act, but to be a writer you need a community. This means being there for writers, learning from those who have more experience, encouraging emerging writers, participating in critique groups and writing organizations, buying and reading books, attending workshops, and yes, celebrating reading and writing. At the Festival of Books, I truly experienced this. Friends and family came to cheer me on, and I met new people, fellow published authors, who had come from all over the country. We shared tips and celebrated each other’s successes.

The Festival of Books gave me the opportunity to send my words out into the world.

 My book went home with retired teachers who connected with  me as we shared common experiences, young teachers who responded to my book’s dedication “to all past and present educators and the stories they hold in their hearts”, and to a man who hoped my book would inspire his wife to write her own stories.  To send my words out “gloriously traveling to all sorts of places” (SARK) and touching the hearts and minds and imaginations of other people….this, this is why I write.

A Nametag

 A simple 3×5 piece of plastic hanging from a black lanyard that reads: Tucson Festival of Books 2024: Where Words and Imagination come to life:  Debra VanDeventer…Indie Author.   I know, I know, it sounds silly, but I kinda teared up when I put it on and took my spot in the pavilion.  My nametag now hangs on the bulletin board by my desk, there to remind me if I ever doubt myself, or struggle with my latest manuscript, or worry about sales, or wonder why I’m writing…  I AM AN AUTHOR