Book Fairs appear to be growing in popularity. These are gatherings of large numbers of authors for the purpose of signing and selling books to the reading public. Authors pay for a table at these events. Sometimes readers have to pay an entrance fee and sometimes the events are free entry. 
These are not the same as Literature/Book Festivals where there is a program based around authors speaking about their books. Nor are they the same as events like The London Book Fair which is principally for the publishing industry, not the reading community.
There has been some discussion amongst the members of the New Street Authors Collective about whether Book Fairs are financially worthwhile. Tables usually cost upwards of £25 with those located in prime spots, and thus receiving the most footfall, priced higher. Many events cost significantly more than that. Adding in the cost of travel, parking and food and drink increases the financial outlay even more. Depending on how much authors charge for their books, the profit per book over cost price may be around £3. The sheer number of authors at these events means that competition is fierce and therefore the number of books sold may well only be in single figures. This means that many authors won’t make money at these events.
I’ve never attended one of these book signings and so I asked my fellow writers what the attraction was, given that they were likely to end up out of pocket.
F. D. Lee – “You don’t get many sales but more often than not you do get fans and fans will be loyal to you whatever you do.”
Dawn Abigail – “For me it’s a question of having some ulterior motive, i.e., Do I want to go, irrespective of how much I sell? If so, then sales are just a bonus.”
Jill Griffin – “It’s a good way to meet other authors and share information.”
Lee Benson – “I enjoy meeting people in the flesh and, at the shows I’ve attended, I’ve always sold books as well as getting school performance bookings and meeting other authors who want to be interviewed for my radio show and vice versa.”
The attraction of Book Fairs for authors is not wealth and riches – we all know that the average writer earns a pittance from his work – but the social aspect of mixing with other bookish people and comparing notes.
If you’d like to dip your toe into this world, whether as an author or a reader, here are a few places to try:
Book Extravaganzas (Midlands) organised by Rosie’s Retro Bazaar and Fantom Publishing
Book Signing Events in the UK A range of genres and locations
UK Book Signing Events Private Facebook Group
Sally Jenkins 
#1 by margaretholbrook1 on February 15, 2025 - 9:11 am
Good morning Sally,
I always find your posts interesting and the one about book fairs struck with me as Book fairs are something I try to do, particularly if they’re not too far distant. I don’t like to travel for more than a couple of hours.
Some are easier to sell at than others. I attended one where I was told I would be inside, (it was books after all) and I was outside under a covered stall. All good until it poured for about ten minutes. I got most of my books to safety but lost a few- I am not doing anything outside again unless the weather is guaranteed!
But there is a plus, one of your comments said as much, you get to see some of your reading public and you can get bookings to attend other events or speak somewhere. I look at my fee for a stall as a form of advertising where you can get some return on the day and hopefully long term rewards in the future!
All best,
Margaret Holbrook
#2 by Sally Jenkins on February 16, 2025 - 9:41 am
Hi Margaret, Thanks very much for taking the time to comment. Selling outdoors in the dodgy British weather does not sound like a recipe for success! I do like your philosophy of seeing the stall fee as a form of advertising which may not cover costs immediately on the day but may reap benefits in the future in terms of repeat purchases or bookings to speak.
Wishing you well, Sally.