Dinuka McKenzie’s tips for author events

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Australian crime writer, Dinuka McKenzie, shares her experience doing live author events around the country – and offers some advice for authors and illustrators looking to secure more event work.

What do you see as the value or benefits of live author events?

Live events allow authors to publicise and promote their books and gain name recognition. This is particularly important as a debut if you don’t have an existing market of readers (E.g. a well-known creative or celebrity etc).

Author events allow readers to discover new authors. Often readers will buy the books of authors they are not otherwise familiar with if they enjoy the author’s event/ talk. Live events also provide authors exposure to event organisers (festivals/ libraries/ writers’ centres) to generate repeat events. For example, if your event is well attended, and you are an engaging speaker or have in-depth knowledge on a particular subject, event organisers will often be interested in inviting you back as a repeat guest for a related session (e.g. panel event/ workshop) or to speak at a different venue (e.g. another library branch) or as a moderator for other events (if that is something of interest to you).

Can you tell us a little bit about the kind of event work you do, and how you go about securing these opportunities?

I do a variety of events including participating in panels, delivering solo author talks, in-conversation style events, and workshops at festivals, libraries, writers’ centres, as well as hosting author talks for fellow writers.

The events are a mixture of new release publicity events and self-generated events. The former case involves an event organiser (library/ festival etc) contacting my publisher or in some cases my agent to invite me to an event when they become aware (through my publisher) that I have a book coming out in that year and am available for events. Self-generated events are repeat events from organisations I have previously presented at, or organisers who I have gotten to know over the years reaching out to me directly, or events secured via a pitch to the organiser (e.g. library talks). I have also in the past organised my own bookshop visits/ author signings by contacting the bookshops directly. This has been particularly successful with regional bookstores.

What top tips would you give to authors looking to secure more event bookings?

  • Engage with the writing community through social media and by attending events at festivals, writers’ centres and libraries, so you are aware of the opportunities out there, and to meet fellow writers and event organisers who can help you with events when your book comes out (e.g. as an in-conversation partner at a book launch, library event or podcast invites).
  • Get to know your local bookstores and local libraries. Often library events and book launches are booked months in advance. If you know your local booksellers and library staff well, you can pitch to have an event at these venues before they are booked out.
  • Where possible, spread events across the year, rather than clustering every event close to the release date. This will keep your book ‘alive’ in readers’ minds through events, publicity and social media for longer.
  • Pitch to writers’ centres, and local/ regional libraries and smaller/ regional festivals. This could be for author talks, workshops and/ or for consideration as a moderator for other sessions. Include a succinct pitch of your author bio, current release, your previous speaking/ presentation experience, and the topics you can speak to (i.e. themes covered in your book).
  • Incorporate bookstore visits into your travel plans. If you know you are going to be travelling to a rural/ regional area or interstate – for example on a family holiday – ask your publishers to check in with bookstores in the area to see if you can drop in to say hello/ sign stock. This is a great way to introduce yourself and engage with booksellers outside your home city.

Dinuka McKenzie is an Australian writer and the author of the Detective Kate Miles crime series published in Australia and the UK. She is the winner of the 2020 HarperCollins Australia Banjo Prize. Her writing has been shortlisted for the Sisters in Crime Davitt Awards, the Bad Sydney Crime Danger Awards, longlisted for the Richell Prize, and highly commended in the Australian Crime Writers Association, Louie Award. Her short fiction has appeared in the 2022 Dark Deeds Down Under crime and thriller anthology. Dinuka lives in Southern Sydney on Dharawal country with her husband, two kids, and their pet chicken.