Who can apply?

Any author who has written and published a physical book professionally or independently may apply.  We like to present a mix of new and veteran authors to the Tuscarawas County community.

 

If you are a new author, this is a great first festival to attend. We give you a lot of information prior to the event to help guide you through your first experience.

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And if you are a veteran author our goal is to make the event an enjoyable experience for all of our authors with helpful staff and volunteers, and a hospitality table. After all you are our VIP's.

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Author Guilds / groups with a physical book may also apply. Please fill out the application with information about your Guild.

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How are Applicants Selected? *new info*

In June the committee will meet to review authors and their books. We receive more applicants than we can accept each year. We review the submitted books for content and quality. We want the overall festival to have a variety of genres. We do try to bring in books we have not had previously so that repeat attendees have new books to choose from. You can still be selected if you have attended previously and do not have new books. We also make sure there is space for debut and indie authors. We want this festival to be a good starting point for new authors.

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When is the Application Deadline?

Applications must be received by May 31st

Submission of a review copy of your latest book must be sent (postmarked) by May 31st.

After completing your application please mail a review copy of your latest book to:

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Canal Town Book Festival

Dover Public Library

525 N. Walnut St.

Dover, Ohio 44622

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The submitted book will not be returned and may be used as a raffle prize at the event.

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What Does the Committee Provide?

We will provide one six foot table, and 2 folding chairs. We will have a hospitality table with snacks and beverages free to all authors and their table helpers. You will have an author profile on the Canal Town Book Festival website. You will be featured in a social media post on the Canal Town Book Festival Facebook page. You will be included in the festival booklet given to attendees and pre-festival marketing.

* new info*

(Previously we printed out price lists for each author, but we will not be doing that this year since authors are not limited to 3 titles. Here is a Canva Link if you would like to use the template we have used in previous years, but you can make your price list however you like. To use the Canva template you will want to make a copy so click "Use Template for New Design". Do not request Edit Access as that would change the template for everyone.)

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We will still make author name cards that can be flipped over to indicate you are away from your table, as well as author lanyards.

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Can I have more than 1 table?

No

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Author Profiles

All of our authors will have a detailed profile page on our website, as well as information published in a booklet for the festival. This information will also be used in social media posts leading up the event. Please fill out the application as completely as possible, exactly as you would like it to be printed.

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Location

Dover High School Gym

520 N Walnut St, Dover, OH 44622

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Book Sales * new info*

Authors will be managing their own sales this year. This means you will be able to sell as many unique titles as you want as well as swag related to your books. This also means that you will be responsible for collecting your own sales tax.

(Previously we used a single point of sale and authors were limited to 3 titles. We are NOT doing single point of sale this year.)

 

Book Sourcing * new info*

You will be responsible for bringing your own books to the festival on the day of the event.  If you need help unloading please let a staff or volunteer know and we will assist you. (We are not sourcing books from publishers this year since we are not doing the single point of sale.)​

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Marketing

We market the festival to our community with posters at local businesses, newspaper and radio ads, and through social media. To further our reach and inform your unique group of fans that you will be at the festival we will be sending you social media friendly images for you to share. By sharing with your fans that you will be at the Canal Town Book Festival, you will be inviting people we may not be able to reach, who already have an interest in your work. It is always a treat for fans to meet authors they follow, in person and have the opportunity to get a signed copy of their books.

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Panels * new info*

We will have 3 author led panels about writing and publishing. If you would like to be part of a panel there is a section in the application where you can pitch the topics you are knowledgeable about and would like to speak about. The panels will be held in 2 different rooms so that panelists will have time to set up and time to talk with lingering attendees. Panel 1 will be in Room A from 10:30 - 11:30, Panel 2 will be in Room B from 12:00 - 1:00, and Panel 3 will be in Room A from 1:30 - 2:30.

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Panels typically have 3 panelists. The committee will choose authors who have indicated interest in speaking about related topics, from different perspectives. For example a panel on publishing that includes both traditional publishing and self publishing perspectives.

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Panelists are encouraged to bring their books to the panel to display while they speak.

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We do not select authors for the festival based on panel ideas. We first select the authors based on their books then we review panel topics submitted by selected authors to find common threads for interesting panels. Do not feel pressured to pitch a panel idea if public speaking is not your thing.

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Raffles

To encourage attendees to purchase from our authors, attendees will be given a raffle ticket for every $5 they spend on books. Raffle prizes are provided by author book submissions, local businesses, sponsors, and the committee. 

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How Does the Book Festival Make Money? * new info*

... we don't. The point of the Canal Town Book Festival is to give authors a space to connect with their community. This is not a library fundraiser. Currently we do not require participating authors to pay for their table and we do not take a cut of author sales. The space we use is generously provided by the Dover City Schools. We do fundraisers and accept sponsorships by local businesses to pay for renting the tables and chairs, marketing and printing materials, food for the authors and other items. This year we will be selling some items made in the Makers Lounge to help fund the festival. As long as we are able to operate the festival at no cost to authors we will.

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Book Donations * new info*

We do accept book donations from authors to be included in the library collection, if that is something you are able to do.

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