For booksellers
A reading, a longer conversation, a pledge, and a roomful of local readers naming the books that made them. The program is two hours, the asks are short, and S.E. brings most of the work on the road with her.
What the bookstore brings
Two essentials, one optional. None of them are about selling books before the night starts; that part is on S.E.
Space and seating
Ideally an evening slot — long enough for a reading and discussion.
Promotion
Newsletter, social, and in-store posting in the weeks leading up.
Refreshments (optional)
Lovely if they happen, no pressure if they do not.
What S.E. brings
The night is built so that almost everything except the room and the local advance promotion can travel with her.
Promotion
Social plus local traditional media reach when there is a hook to pitch.
A full 2-hour program
A reading, a conversation, the pledge, and a clear call to buy more books.
Press/media kit
Bio, headshot, sample social posts, and a newsletter blurb the bookstore can lift verbatim.
Stock coordination
Advance notice of which books are featured so the store can have copies on hand.
Post-event reading-list email
Sent to attendees with the books featured and the pledge link, the bookstore credited.
Recap photos and a tagged post-event social post
So the night does not vanish the moment the chairs are stacked.
The shape of the night
0:00
A short window of arrival, soft chatter, refreshments if the store made them. The room finds its seats; the staff make any announcements about the shop itself.
0:15
One short piece from her work, chosen to leave room for conversation. Twenty minutes, never longer. The reading is the smallest part of the night, on purpose.
0:40
S.E. tells the story of a book that changed her life, then opens the floor. Readers name theirs. The pledge is offered, not pressed. A clear, cheerful call to buy a book closes the evening.
Two ways forward
There is no booking agent in the loop, which is both the charm and the bottleneck. Look at the rough month/state schedule on the tour page, then send a note about hosting — the next step is short.