Author booths at book expos, fairs, and conferences are excellent ways to get visibility. Expecting your sales to be sufficient to pay for the expenses, however, may be unrealistic. It’s best to consider it as a marketing expense and count any sales as a bonus. This will avoid disappointment and frustration, which authors suffer enough without setting themselves up for it.

Some authors plan their vacations around such events. The good news is that it is then tax deductible! Again, don’t think it will pay for your vacation, because unless you are already famous and making a six-figure income from your books, that’s not likely to happen, especially once you factor in travel expenses.