The Death of Book Festivals

The Internet has created a wonderful influx of new books, ranging from great must reads to some that should never see the day of light.  So with all this material that is now available, one begins to see the end of book festivals in their normal state.  Each book festival clamors for entries into their event of those who sale thousands of books, usually that means big publishing firms that have the marketing budget to convince people to buy their book.  Sadly, as we are seeing these days, not all of them are worth buying.

Gone are the days when someone who is unknown could enter a book festival, win an award, or even be invited to attend the event because of the quality of what they wrote.  If the publishing company does not have a marketing budget set up to help lure people to a festival, then they are not invited to participate.

The need for book festivals to make a profit from year to year has increased especially since the hard copy of a printed book is becoming less and less.  Add in the fact that authors can now do video lectures and even some book signings, people no longer have a desire to attend a book festival as they once did.

This decrease in participation and need to turn a profit has in effect created the death of book festivals.  A new way of helping get the word out about a new and talented author must now take on a new shape and focus.  What that will be is still to be seen.  YouTube, Tweeter or some other form of web communication will come into play which will then finally put the last nail in the coffin for book festivals.  Unless book festivals can keep up with the new technology, by being creative and most importantly by being a valuable source for readers and authors combined, and not about the almighty dollar.

Will that actually happen?  We will have to watch and see.

Until then,

Alan