Tag: ArtsAndCraftsEvents

The Latest Twist

Middle of the Road: A Twist

Strawberry Festival Reynolds GA

Georgia Strawberry Festival

Last Festival of Spring 2025

This was our second year to be at the Strawberry Festival in Reynolds, Georgia. We were excited when we saw we had been assigned a vendor spot that was very close to where we were placed last year: in the middle of the road!

You can see how close the 10’x10′ vendor spaces are. The 10’x10′ canopy tents are snuggled so close together that there is no wiggle room for a bit of expansion at all. My series of books have grown to where I can barely place all the series on the front tables that fill the 10 feet across.

You might notice there are no table signs, and there doesn’t appear to be any way out after we’re inside our canopy fort. Crawling out from under the tables is not an option. Having nice vendor neighbors is a tremendous bonus when the space is tight because they don’t mind if we slip out the sides for an occasional, quick portapotty visit. It sure beats trying to scoot a table a few inches and then putting all the books that we knocked down back into place when we return.

Does that mean I plan to slow down writing and publishing books or take fewer series and books to the festivals? Spoiler alert: No.

Middle of the Road

Middle of the road typically means dull or even conventional (gasp!), but here’s our twist: middle of the road at the Strawberry Festival is a prime spot because we can set up with a “front” on both sides!

We actually planned for middle of the road with our fingers crossed. We took two banners for our canopy, and enough tables and books to have both sides of our booth set up with all the books and series to catch the eye of a reader who is strolling along either side of the road.

Speaking of neighbors, I always visit surrounding vendors to chat. Vendors are amazing people who love to share what they know. When I visited the vendor behind us (in front of us?), he told me he had googled me earlier in the day because he kept staring at my banner, and I was all over the internet! He bought the book from me that he’d selected online.

Have you heard of king of the hill? We’re Middle of the Road!

p.s.

Did you notice my pink hat? I forgot my writer ball cap but found my pink hat in the camper trailer, so I pretended it was my middle of the road strawberry hat.

 

You keep reading; I’ll keep writing! 

Judith signature

The Latest Twist

My Author Year Seven: The Year I’ll be Predictable

You know when a joke is hilarious in your head? Thank you for laughing at mine.  

Boozy Book Club Nov 2024 

2024 An Exciting End to a Great Year

After a year full of exciting events, my last one was not my usual arts and crafts festival. I met the co-leaders of a local book club at an arts and crafts festival in November. They asked me if I would be interested in talking to their book club. I might have squealed a little. HECK, YEAH!

After we met at a local tavern, I talked a little and listened (and laughed) a lot. They were definitely a fun group!  One of the Bookies (is that an okay name for a Book Club member when the Book Club doesn’t have an “official” name?) said she reads the first few pages of a book, and if it doesn’t grab her, then she drops it.

Challenge Accepted. I read the first page of I Always Wanted to Be a Spy, and she stopped me before I could turn the page.

“I WANT TO READ THAT BOOK!”

I learned a new skill; I shut up.

FarmerMan was recently dubbed Labor by a vendor at an arts and crafts show. He said she wasn’t wrong, but I think Senior Staff would look better on a T-shirt. Ammi right?

Senior Staff sauntered out to his truck and returned with eight copies of I Always Wanted to Be a Spy. The eighth Bookie left early, but she had her book with her, in case you’re an editor or love numbers, and counted the Bookies in the photo. 

I track every event we attend and mark them as Do Not Return/No Fun or Must Go/Fun. Book Clubs are officially on my Must Go/Fun list.

An Exciting Beginning to 2025

Barrett Book Shop

Superhero fighting inflation

Inflation is hitting us all. It’s definitely on my Do Not Return/No Fun List, but I’m fighting it, one book at a time.

For starters, when the printing costs for paperbacks rose, the retailers and book distributors raised their prices, and thanks to that stuff-rolls-downhill effect, my costs for paperbacks went even higher. I’ve fought back. 

All the paperback books, signed by the author, are available on Barrett Book Shop with FREE SHIPPING. (US Continental) 

Another cost saving for readers (and listeners!) on Barrett Book Shop is Bundles of books. You’ll find Paperback (NEW!), Ebook, and Audiobook (NEW!) bundles. 

In fact, would you like a bargain bundle of four or more paperback, ebook, or audio books that you don’t see? Send me an email! That’s what two other readers did over the holidays, and there are two new bundles available for everyone on Barrett Book Shop! 

2025 Events

  • March 15-16 CALICO SPRING ARTS & CRAFTS, Moultrie GA
  • March 29 FIRE ANT FESTIVAL, Ashburn GA (New!)
  • April 26 GEORGIA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL, Reynolds GA 

Paperback books are always bundled for you at all events, and custom bundles are a breeze! 

That’s it for this month, at least so far. I have plans…

The Latest Twist

Then and Now

We’ve hauled my books to local Christmas arts and crafts festivals every year since 2019 and had fun all along the way!

A photo from a festival in 2019 popped up in a feed on social media, and the contrast between then and now made me smile.

Then: 2019

Elevate All Set Up
Elevate Artisans Market 2019

My main books were the two Donut Lady books. My T-shirt says Sprinkles are for Winners. 

Set up Mistletoe Market 2019
Mistletoe Market 2019

When life was simple: one table and one bin for books.

I love how tidy my tables were in 2019.

Elevate Artisans Market was my first arts and crafts event, and I instantly fell in love with being outside and talking to readers. We brought a second table from home after we set up the evening before the event because I was on a corner. That was my first of many learnings in the arts and crafts events world.

I didn’t use my tent a month later at the Mistletoe Market because my assigned spot was on the sidewalk, and we couldn’t anchor the tent. I added a Christmasy tablecloth and went for efficiency with one table. It was a little nippy, but my hands were cold. My pink gloves add a festive touch, don’t you think?

Now: 2024

Books at Elevate Artisans 2024
Elevate Artisans Market 2024

I love Elevate Artisans. Our weather was perfect, and I chatted with oodles of readers. The younger crowd is discovering my books! 

Mistletoe Market 2024
Mistletoe Market 2024

Our tent is on the street, not the sidewalk, but if the wind blows, we have weights for the tent to keep it from becoming airborne.  We did put our back table on the sidewalk, though, because it was too low on the street for people to browse.

By 2024, I increased to 4 tables with books semi-neatly arranged everywhere on tables and my bookrack. I added a sidewalk sandwich board – Meet the Author, a Barrett Book Shop garden flag, and a second banner for my tent to accommodate any spots that had two paths of traffic for shoppers.

I’ve discovered there is no better research than meeting with readers in person. I can spot a reader because they slow down and search for a book that interests them. Their gaze becomes more intense when they spot a book they like, which is great cover feedback. I listen as they tell me who their favorite authors are, which helps me understand what they like to read. All great research!

It’s a thrill when a reader tells me they bought a book or an entire series from me last year and asks me what they should read next. That’s easy because I know exactly what they like!

Mistletoe Market 2024 took the award for being the absolutely coldest event we’ve ever attended. It was 21 °F when we set up that morning, and I wore long johns and an extra three layers for warmth. After Senior Staff Man took this photo, I immediately put on my heavy winter coat.

Maybe I should have put more thought into the color of my sweatshirt because with all the layers, I look kind of marshmallowy. But who cares? Layers are for Winners! 

You keep reading; I’ll keep writing!

JAB Storyteller and Author
A new logo just for fun

The Latest Twist

Fall and Fa-la-la Festivals

Arts and Crafts Festivals swing into high gear during the Fall and Winter Holidays. We will be going to a festival almost every weekend from October through December. My excitement every Saturday when a festival opens for visitors rivals Christmas morning for a six-year-old. Talking to readers is my jam. After all, my motto is You keep reading; I’ll keep writing!

GEORGIA PEANUT FESTIVAL

Event Photos - GA Peanut Festival Oct 2024
GA Peanut Festival Oct 2024

The morning was windy and cold, but we had our river rocks to keep the book pages from blowing. It warmed up by afternoon, of course! We experimented with our corner booth and added a few books on the side table. 

ELEVATE ARTISANS MARKET

Books at Elevate Artisans 2024
Elevate Artisans Market 2024

The person who had reserved the space next to us was a no-show, so since we learned about the advantage of having a “corner” booth, we moved a large table into the space. We loaded down the side table with duplicates of the series we stacked on our front table and added the new books from this year that we didn’t have space for on the front table.

We sold almost as many books to readers who stood at the “side” table (see the table with the black tablecloth?) to browse the books as we did to readers who looked at the books on the front table.

Lesson learned: people are comfortable taking their time to look at books if they don’t feel crowded.

What we’ll do: Double booths, so we can have two “side” tables in addition to our front table. We have a second canopy tent, and I had already ordered a duplicate banner after the Georgia Peanut Festival that we planned to use when we had a corner booth. 

Sometimes a plan comes together, even though it was never a plan to start with.

Our next event, Calico Holiday Festival in Moultrie GA, is November 9 and 10 and is inside, so we won’t need our tent(s). However, when I submitted our vendor form in June, I requested two booths next to each other as an experiment. We carefully planned our set up, and I have a sketch of it taped on the side of my bookcase that is next to my desk, but the sketch will be changing to two side tables and two front tables similar to our Elevate Artisans set up.  

Another Experiment

I’ve added a Gift Shop to Barrett Book Shop with reader-related merchandise that was inspired by different Judith A. Barrett books. Check it out. Barrett Book Shop Gift Shop

Our event after Calico is the Seafood Festival in St. Marys GA. As another experiment, I asked the St. Marys festival organizers if we could sell our reader-related totes in addition to all our books, and they approved them! 

Here’s a sample:

Our Weekend is Booked canvas Tote with a dragon
Our Weekend is Booked Canvas Tote 

Maggie Sloan Thriller Series readers will recognize Tonya and Kiki, her fierce, tiny (imaginary?) dragon that sat on her shoulder.

Browse, shop, and enjoy the NEW Gift shop! 

GIFT SHOP   

You keep reading; I’ll keep writing!

Signature cropped

The Latest Twist

It’s (Almost) Fall, Y’all

Fall is absolutely the best season of the year, with spring being a close second for arts and crafts festivals! My September goals are all about preparing for the Fall events.

One of the 8.5″x 11″ flyers I had on my table reminded readers I would sign their book(s). 

Flyers - Meet the Author 

Not bad, except no one noticed it, no matter where I put it on a table or on the book stand in front of my booth. My favorite critic said it was a great idea except it was too busy with too many font styles; it couldn’t be read from two feet away, and the clutter of books hid my face. No argument from me or FarmerMan who had noticed how surprised people were when they realized I was the author, not a random hawker of unputdownable books.

At the last event we attended in the spring, the vendor across the street from us had a chalkboard-style sandwich board sign in front of her tent. I was in awe. It was eye-catching, and FarmerMan and I watched while passersby slowed then stopped to pick up and smell the soap, then buy a bar or two. Boom!

 FarmerMan said I needed a sandwich board sign. I spent the entire summer researching styles of frames for signs. I couldn’t use the typical sidewalk-sized sign like you see in front of cafes because I’m limited by the amount of space allotted for each vendor at events. I couldn’t find a sandwich board that wasn’t too big, wouldn’t fall over with the slightest breeze, and not be so clunky that it detracted from my booth and the books.  

Sometimes my logic escapes even me. Since I couldn’t find a sandwich board I liked and found a great sale on printing 11″x17″ posters, I created and printed two posters.  

  Author Book Signing Judith A Barrett Books     Meet the Author Judith A. Barrett Books     

Talk about build it, and they will come! Two days before the posters arrived, I found a sandwich board that was 13″x 36″ with a 12″x 24″surface for the signs. I’ve ordered it, and we’ll have it next week. 

Our first arts and crafts event for fall is September 28 in Fitzgerald, Georgia, the town that’s famous for its wild chickens. If wild chickens and a Fall Festival sound interesting to you, come see me. I’ll be the one with a sandwich board in front of a tent with some random author hawking her own books.

If you can’t make it to Fitzgerald and would like a signed book, visit Barrett Book Shop and pick out a book or two. I’ll sign it, add a few goodies, and mail your book(s) to you.   https://barrettbookshop.com/collections/paperbacks.

Use this code, good for paperback orders only until September 30, for 15% off each paperback you order: SEP15.  

You keep reading; I’ll keep writing!

Signature cropped

 

 

Ideas, QuickJAB, The Latest Twist

Hog Wild About Festivals

Mr Pig Ellaville May 2024 smaller

Two Hams

The local Piggly Wiggly Super Market was a sponsor of the Ellaville Spring Festival. The Big Boss showed up to see how things were going. My tip: Never pass up the opportunity for a photo op with a Big Celebrity. Can you tell I’m in Hog Heaven?

This spring has been a great season of Arts and Crafts Festivals for us! We’ll be taking the summer off because it’s too hot in Georgia to spend an entire day out in the heat and humidity with the summer gnats.

What I’ve learned this Spring

  • There are still a lot of paperback readers that love meeting an author and buying  signed books
  • I talked to several people who enjoy audiobooks; I added the goal to have all my books in audiobooks by the end of the summer.
  • People are nice (but I already knew that)
  • Always buy lunch from a food truck
  • Vendors are a helpful bunch and are willing to share what they know
  • Size matters: I had changed the font size of many of my books to a slightly smaller font to avoid raising the price for my books (printing costs are skyrocketing!), but there are many people of all ages that need the little larger font, so I switched back to the  original size and narrowed the margins instead.
  • My feet hurt after standing all day on concrete. FarmerMan’s solution: the chef’s mat we have in the kitchen. He’s brilliant.

BONUS: Our Fall Event Schedule is starting to fill up!

If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?  ~George Carlin

QuickJAB, The Latest Twist

Inside or Outside?

Which is your preference?

When it comes to Arts and Crafts festivals, outside wins for me, hands down, EXCEPT when it’s raining. When we’ve been caught in a passing shower, the Hubs and I have said for years, “We’ve been wet before; we’ll be wet again.”

However, books don’t do well in overnight dew or a little shower, much less a downpour. We watched the weather closely for the Calico Arts and Crafts Festival, and as the chance of precipitation and thunderstorms rose, the more we worried about the books.

I had originally requested an outdoor spot, but ten days before the Calico Arts and Crafts, I sent a frantic email to the organizer asking to be moved indoors.  If you’ve read the Grid Down Survival series, you know that Rosalie is the “Weather Girl.” I channeled my inner Rosalie.

The organizer relieved my worries when she graciously switched us to indoors. Almost all the vendors, indoors and outdoors, set up Friday afternoon to be ready for the Saturday morning event. A terrible thunderstorm with destructive wind blew through late Friday night, and quite a few tents were destroyed. It was tragic.

I was relieved we were inside at the Calico Arts and Crafts Festival, but we had to modify our usual setup. what do you think?

Calico Arts and Crafts in Moultrie GA, March 16-17  (Indoors)

Calico Arts n Crafts Mar 16 2024 smaller

We had a glorious time talking to so many great readers from Georgia and Florida who went home with dry books! The event coordinator had everything well-organized, including an organization of young men on Friday afternoon who unloaded our bins of books for us at our assigned vendor spot!

As usual, we picked up brilliant tips from the vendors around us. Calico is on our Definitely Return list for their next event in November.

Peanut Proud in Blakely GA, March 23  (Outdoors)

Blakley GA Mar 23 2024 Peanut Proud

Our set up at the Peanut Proud Festival was our usual with our canopy tent and my banner on the front of the tent. It got a little windy in Blakely that day, but the organizers were remarkable hosts, and we had a wonderful time.

We were surprised how many readers from Georgia and Alabama braved the wind gusts and went home with a new book or two. Amazingly, our tent didn’t blow away.  Peanut Proud is another event on our Definitely Return list for next year.

The Stars of the Shows: Books!

ALL the BOOKS Jan 2024 Barrett Book Shop Paperbacks

QuickJAB, The Latest Twist

Small Town, Big Heart for Reading

In May, we packed up books and dogs and took our camper trailer to Ellaville, Georgia, population 1,500 (not a typo), for an Arts and Crafts event sponsored by the town’s Chamber of Commerce who named their event Luau in the ‘Ville. Kind of snappy, don’t you think?

I wore my  flowered shirt, which is my version of appropriate luau attire (my grass skirt is at the dry cleaners), for the occasion, and if you carefully examine my tent, you’ll see my new “ceiling fan” is in place to keep us cool.

My new friends from the Wine Festival who told me about the Ellaville event were two booths away from me with their son who was selling his debut novel. We were too busy to chat very much, but I told them about the arts and crafts event that is close to me: Elevate Artisans; I hope to see them in October.

The most amazing sales wizard I’ve ever had the pleasure to witness was next to me in the purple tent. She sold  jewelry, T-shirts, drink cups, and stickers, and she knew how to work a crowd.  She maintained a constant, almost musical patter, and people were drawn to her booth.

  • Mother’s Day is coming up; do you think she’d like earrings or a T-shirt?
  • That’s our best-selling T-shirt, feel how soft it is. We have your size.
  • What’s your mom’s favorite color?
  • You need to get yourself a Mother’s Day present. You deserve it.
  • You’re ears aren’t pierced? These earrings make great charms.
  • You need a Georgia Bulldogs drink cup to go with that shirt.
  • You’re from Alabama? We still love you. Here’s an Auburn drink cup: you won’t see another one here.

Her charming delivery made her aggressive-sounding style a magnet as she magically became everyone’s favorite friend, including me.

It was another scorcher of a day in the afternoon in Georgia. Remember my fan? It was great until it wasn’t. We forgot to pack the charger, so we weren’t able to charge it fully the night before the Luau. It fizzled out around two, and I baked in the heat until five when the party was over.  I have a new addition to my packing list: the charger for the fan.

Because all of the ebooks for each one of my series are included on my online Barrett Book Shop, I was fully prepared for anyone who said they didn’t read paperbacks. I asked everyone who stopped (or kind of slowed down) by my booth, if they read paperbacks or ebooks. The readers of Ellaville and the surrounding towns surprised me when they almost 100% said, “Paperbacks.”

I was even more surprised when many of them bought one or two of my books or an entire series. While all of my First in Series books sold, the number one favorite was TAGGED BY DEATH. I sold out before the end of the day. In terms of sales, Ellaville  far surpassed any other event that I’ve ever attended. You’ll find me in Ellaville next spring trying to figure out how to get next to the sales wizard’s booth.

Pro tip: Readers are Everywhere.

You keep reading; I’ll keep writing!