As you all know, a traditional book fair is an exhibit of books typically by a group of publishers or book-dealers for promoting sales and stimulating interest, often authors are also featured with their own booths and engages with readers. It takes place at a certain venue over a specific period of time and requires those who are exhibiting their books to be physically present, as well as those attending the book fair.
An online book fair in contrast takes place on the internet, but with the same underlined principle as a traditional book fair, to exhibit books for promotion of sales and stimulating interest, typically designed to provide access for those who are unable or unavailable to attend traditional book fairs.
The main objectives with the Africa Online Book Fair will be building relationships, networking, creating a fun and relaxed environment where authors and readers can engage with each other. A place where authors can share information, have Q&A’s and create interest in their books through prizes, gifts, giveaways, competitions, promotional discounts, etc. So definitely something for readers too.
The online book fair is for romance authors who are from Africa and authors who write romances set in Africa. Stories can be set in Africa while authors are abroad and local authors can write romances set in other locations. The idea behind the fair is to showcase African authors and their books online.
This Africa Online Book Fair will feature Romance Authors from SA and the rest of the African continent. Our event will be hosted on Facebook by using their Events tool and spans over 3 days with scheduled timeslots for each author.
There’s amazing talent and stories from the authors we have lined up, so keep an eye out!
#AfricaOnBookFair
Interview Questions:
What is event?
The Africa Online Book Fair: Romance Authors & Books is a weekend event, featuring authors and interviews with an aspiring romance authors. Each day will have a certain amount of authors that will showcase their books and who they are.
Where can you find past events?
The online book fair takes place on Facebook. Here's a link to the event page.
https://www.facebook.com/events/372063406523550/
Can you tell us more about what readers can be expect at the event?
Readers can come and go as they please since they don’t have to pay a ticket to enter or register. They can come and meet their next favorite author when our next online book fair goes live. We’ll always have discounted & free books, play games, readers can win Amazon Gift Cards.
Attending the online book fair and how it works is straightforward, especially for readers who’ve attended Facebook book parties. But also for readers who use the social network site daily. All readers need to do is go to our Event and click 'Going'. It's that easy!
What is the Africa Online Book Fair: Romance Authors & Books?
I’m glad you asked ☺
But first let me introduce myself, my name is Inge Saunders and I’m the founder of the Africa Online Book Fair: Romance Authors & Books. I’m a South African romance author and had my first book contracted in 2013, a year after I decided to start writing. I reside in, Worcester, a bustling town situated in Breed River Valley, completely surrounded by majestic mountains. Worcester serves as the business hub for the surrounding small towns with a Mall and Casino. But enough about my small town, you want to know about the book fair.
What inspired the fair?
As a romance reader I didn’t come across prolific romance stories set in Africa, that didn’t have tinges of colonialism or was written in the words of the colonialist (for lack of a better word).
The stories weren’t inherently diverse. I had to hunt for romances written that were multicultural or even interracial—romance that showcases the beauty and scope of the landscape as well as the people of the continent. And also the authors that were born here.
Because romance authors in Africa write contemporary novels set in bush or urban settings, they write steamy reads about fairies and werewolves, local heroes and heroines making a life abroad. Nail biting suspense and mystery romance novels. Science Fiction and Fantasy. Young Adult and New Adult stories. They interpret characters from different genders, races, cultural backgrounds and religions.
I asked myself, where you would find books and authors with so much diversity amongst them. Where was a place you could walk into, get book deals and meet your next favorite African romance author?
But because Africa is a big continent, how do you get all of these terrific romance authors and their stories together in one spot for readers to discover?
Online was the easiest and fastest way. Everyone around the world owns a device they could use to access the internet and therefore, gain access to a book fair that showcases African romance authors.
Why just the focus on romance authors & books?
I’m a romance author and I’m also a romance reader. I mentioned before that I live in a small town in South Africa. This limits the variety of romance novels I have access to I reasoned if I’m struggling with getting my hands on multi-cultural stories written by authors in Africa that were set in Africa, than someone else might be too.
I do most of my book buying online. I felt like the fair would hit two birds with one stone. Showcase authors from the continent who write romance and make shopping for diverse, multi-cultural books simpler.
Our Authors.
The online book fair geared towards romance authors who are from Africa and authors who write romances set in Africa. Stories can be set in Africa while authors are abroad and local authors can also write romances set in other locations with African characters. The idea behind the fair is to showcase African romance authors and their books online. The only restriction we have are on books that are erotica, since we have authors who write Young Adult novels and we would like the online fair to be accessible to teenagers as well.
If you are a romance author or romance publisher with authors who fit into the criteria of the Africa Online Book Fair and want more information about taking part in our next online book fair you can contact us via email at africaonbookfair@gmail.com
Join the Facebook group if you want updates on future online book fairs from us. By joining the group you also stand a chance to win a 20$ Amazon Kindle Store GC.
Instagram: @africaonlinebookfair
Ever since she can remember Marie Dry wanted to travel. She had had the privilege of living in Zambia, Morocco, and Spain and sees herself as a bit of a gypsy. Every few years she gets restless and has to be some place new.
She read romances since she was nine and was fairly young when she decided she would write the perfect story that had all the elements she looked for in a romance. In 1997 she decided to go all out with her writing and to get published. Being published by Black Opal Books is a dream come true for her.
There are several wonderful moments in her life that she would never trade for anything. One of them is meeting President Nelson Mandela and the second being published.
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In a bleak future where government systems are breaking down and lawless bands of men terrorize the country, botanist Natalie Hanson fears for her life and hides in a cave in the Rocky Mountains. When she is captured by human raiders, a fierce alien appears and slays her attackers. Natalie is now held captive in her own cave by the sexy and striking alien commander, Zacar, who informs her that she will be his breeder. Natalie soon realizes that these aliens worship strength. So what will happen when Zacar finds out she has severe asthma?
http://amzn.to/2GzKWEp
