Tassie Indie Author Book Fair
By Sheelagh Wegman
On Saturday 14 May, the Tassie Indie Authors held their (now) annual book fair where independent self-publishing authors gather to sell their books and exchange ideas. Alex Sutherland, Sabine Borgis and Sheelagh Wegman from Editors Tasmania joined more than 60 indie authors at the Brooke Street Pier on the Hobart waterfront. We were there to promote IPEd and editing in general.
Trade seemed to be brisk with a range of genres on offer: memoir, fantasy, cosy mysteries, wellbeing/self-help, travel, military history, railways, historic fiction, children’s comics. And that’s just some of the publications on display.
The committee of Tassie Indie Authors made us welcome and they are very keen to establish networks with independent writers, writing groups, editors and publishers in Tasmania. Sponsors included two local bookshops and a couple of Tasmanian publishers.
During the day we visited the various tables and chatted about editing and there were some worthwhile conversations and questions. Several authors already have their works professionally edited. Some were thinking of editing as a career or a “side hustle”, others wanted to know how the editing process works, and a newcomer from France inquired about editing translations and poetry.
I was pleased to overhear one well-known author telling her customer to be sure to use an editor. “They can polish and see things that you’ve missed.”
There was some excellent “cross-pollination” between tables as other participants told their customers, “You need to go and talk to the editors – they’re over there!” We referred several newbies to the small publishers who cater for independents.
Editors Tasmania members Sabine Borgis, Sheelagh Wegman and Alex Sutherland outside the Brooke Street Pier. Photo credit: Sheelagh Wegman.
Editors Tasmania President Alex Sutherland at the IPEd display in the Brooke St Pier. Photo credit: Sheelagh Wegman.