Indicate your interest in a table here.

Applications close on June 1st, 2026.

Tables are two feet by six feet. The tables are plain and uncovered so authors should bring their own covering.

The following are suggestions for items to bring for a successful Reader Nation experience:

1. Books and Promotional Materials

   • Books: Ensure you have enough stock to avoid missed sales opportunities. Use pre-orders to estimate quantities, but bring extra copies of your first-in-series and most popular reads. For books sold outside The Signing Store, you must still collect sales tax, which we will remit on your behalf as the merchant of record.

   • Bookmarks: Branded with your book title, website, or social media handles. These are great giveaways, so potential readers have something to take away, even if they don't buy on the spot.

   • Other Branded Merchandise: Buttons, stickers, or small freebies related to your book can engage fans and increase visibility.

2. Table Setup Items

   • Table Covering: Preferably branded with your logo or book covers, but a simple black or on-brand color works well.

   • Banners: Colorful banners and decorative elements related to your books can help draw attention and showcase your personality.

   • Book Rack/Stand: To display your books upright and make them easy for attendees to browse.

   • Pens/Writing Utensils: Bring good-quality pens for signing (Sharpies or signing pens) and backups in case they run out of ink.

   • Credit Card Reader: If selling books directly at Reader Nation (outside of The Signing Store), bring a card reader (Square, PayPal, etc.) to accept payments.

   • Cash Box/Pouch and Change: If you plan to accept cash, bring small bills for change. A $100 float with $25 in singles, $50 in $5 bills, and $25 in $10 bills is recommended. If your items are priced under a dollar, bring coins for change.

   • Order Forms: In case you run out of stock, have forms ready to take pre-orders.

3. Customer Engagement

   • Clear Signage: Ensure your name, book prices, and payment options are visible to attendees.

   • Email Signup Sheet: Build your mailing list by offering attendees the chance to sign up for updates and future offers. Consider offering follow-up deals to those who showed interest but didn’t buy.

   • QR Codes: Provide scannable codes leading to your website, social media, or book purchase pages.

4. Personal Essentials

   • Water Bottle: The signing goes from 10am to 4pm, so make sure to stay hydrated.

   • Hand Sanitizer: For hygiene after meeting multiple people.

   • Comfortable Shoes and Layers: Wear shoes you can stand in for long periods, and bring layers in case the room temperature fluctuates.

The Signing Store is a first-of-its-kind platform designed to streamline ticket and book sales for Reader Nation.

Imagine a single storefront where we manage both tickets and your books, boosting your book sales while helping you connect with new readers. We handle all the transactions, and with our print-on-demand (POD) function, we even print and deliver your books directly to the show—no hassle for you!

Best of all, you’ll have access to the customer data from your sales, empowering you to continue building relationships with your readers long after the event.

The Signing Store only supports print books and physical products at this time.

For 90% of authors you’ll add your book files just like any print on demand printer to create a product in the store. Readers can select pre-orders to pick up at the show that Author Ventures gets printed and delivered to the venue. For live sales the day of the show, you can order inventory to be delivered with the pre-orders. You don’t need to bring stock to the show.

We are the merchant of record so we handle the transactions, collect sales tax and remit sales tax. We pay you your sales, less the processing fee, forty-five days after the show ends via PayPal.

The cutoff date for adding new books is October 1st, including stocking your own inventory for delivery to the show. After this date, your books will display as “Out of Stock” for pre-orders if you have not stocked your own inventory.

If you have stocked inventory, each time a reader purchases a book after October 1st, it will be deducted from your total until stock runs out.

Sales made via The Signing Store will be remitted—minus the Stripe processing fee—45 days after the event ends. We do not profit from the sale of your book.

We’ll reach out after the event to collect your PayPal details for payment.

You’ll also have access to your customer data, including names and emails.

Outside The Signing Store, it is up to you how you'd like to collect payments made during the event. We recommend having a few options available to readers so they can choose what they prefer (e.g., cash, Venmo, chip reader). 

If you decide to bring your own stock instead of using our print-on-demand system, here are your two options for getting it to the show:

1. Bring it Yourself:
   • If you’re driving and hauling your stock to the venue yourself, you won’t incur additional costs.
   • Important: We will not have storage space available before the show opens, so plan accordingly.
2. Ship it Independently:
   • You can ship your stock and booth setup items to our expo company, and they’ll handle getting everything to the event for you.
   • We will send you the appropriate shipping label. Shipping begins in mid-October.
   • Important: You must use the provided label to ensure successful delivery to the venue. Drop-shipping items (e.g., from Amazon) directly to the expo company or the hotel without proper labels is as risky as roulette and may result in missing materials.

We are dedicated to fostering an event environment that is inclusive, safe, and free from discrimination of any kind. Our Code of Conduct applies to all participants (including authors, readers, influencers, speakers, volunteers, and staff members), and ensures respect for individuals regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, transgender status, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, political affiliation, or any other classification protected by law.

Please review our full Code of Conduct prior to attending the event here. 

Policy Enforcement:

Violations of this policy may result in removal from the event without a refund.

Reporting a Violation:

If you witness or experience a violation of this Code of Conduct:

• Submit a confidential report to our Professional Conduct Committee here or via the QR code displayed at the event.
• We will follow up within 24 hours with next steps.

Thank you for helping us create a safe and welcoming space for everyone!

Table Refunds:

• Tables are fully refundable up to August 30th, 2026.

• After that date, the amount you paid will be automatically transferred to a table for the 2027 event.

• To request a refund or transfer, please email us at hello@authorventuresllc.com.

Authors can begin setting up their tables for Saturday's signing at 8:00 AM, with doors opening to readers at 10:00 AM.

The signing will run from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. All tables must be broken down by 5:00 PM.

Yes, we will have a FedEx table with 20- and 50-pound boxes ready to ship any unsold books or materials you'd like to send home. 

We’d love for you to share your participation in #ReaderNation with your audience—whether that’s through email, your website, social media, or any other way you like! Feel free to get creative:

• Highlight an upcoming book launch or Kickstarter campaign that coincides with the event.

• Announce a special edition or exclusive item you’ll be signing.

• Share why you’re excited to be at Reader Nation and what fans can look forward to.

We know how busy author schedules can get, which is why we’ll provide:

• A personalized graphic designed for Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
• Pre-written examples of captions, email copy, and suggested hashtags to make promotion quick and simple.

We’ll also be sharing the love! Each signing author will have a dedicated post on our official accounts announcing their presence at the event.

Please email us at hello@authorventuresllc.com with comments, questions, concerns.