SLPA at 2024 Spine Bookfair

The SLPA will be part of the 2024 Spine Indie Bookstore & Café Bookfair, coming up on Sunday, Aug. 25, from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. at 1976–1982 Arsenal Street in St. Louis (Benton Park neighborhood). The bookfair is free to the public and there is a small fee for authors to participate.

“The purpose of this bookfair is to foster authors of fiction and nonfiction, and to bring readers and writers together,” said Mark Pannebecker, owner of the bookstore and host of the event.

The SLPA will have a table at the bookfair with literature about the organization. At least two board members will be at hand to let attendees know more about the SLPA and the world of independent publishing. The bookstore will be open for browsing and buying, and the café will offer coffee, cold drinks and snacks.

“This is a great opportunity for SLPA members to showcase their talent and publishing activity,” said SLPA President Andrew Doty, owner of the Editwright publishing services company.

Independent authors from around the St. Louis and Metro East area will sell their books and related items, from bookmarks to photos and artwork to versions of their book characters.

“This is a fun event for authors and readers,” said SLPA communications chair Ruth Thaler-Carter, who has had a display at a previous bookfair. “Authors have a rare opportunity to meet supporters and potential readers in person, learn more about what the public likes about their books, and network with each other. Readers get a kick out of meeting authors in real life and learning what inspires us to write, as well as what’s involved if they have writing projects of their own that they’d like to publish.”

For more information, go to Spine’s Facebook page, or website, or send email to spine314@gmail.com. Authors might still be able to snag a table at the event — the deadline to register is August 23. Authors keep 100% of any proceeds from the event.