Information for Festival Authors
Welcome!
Thank you for participating in the 2025 Sunshine State Book Festival. On this page, you will find information about the day-long event on Saturday, February 1, 2025, where you will meet readers and sell and sign your books.
Note: All exhibitor spaces are sold out. Click here to sign up for the wait list.
Friday Workshop Intensive
A day-long Intensive learning experience will be presented by subject matter experts from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on January 31, 2025, in the Cross Creek room. Registration for the workshop is separate from the Book Festival Exhibitor registration and there are still some seats available.
You do not have to be an exhibitor to register for the workshop. Click here to register for the Workshop Intensive.
Friday Reception
All authors are invited to attend the Friday night reception on January 31, 2025, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Best Western Gateway Grand lobby, so join us to meet and mingle with fellow authors and interested members of the public.
Saturday Festival
February 1, 2025
Author exhibits will be in the Best Western Gateway Grand ballroom and pre-function area.
Author check-in begins on Saturday at 8:00 a.m. Please be checked in by 9:30 a.m.
Festival is open to the public 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Participants should not take down their exhibits before 4:00 p.m.
Exhibit spaces
Each author’s exhibit space is 36 × 30 inches (one half of a six-foot-long table). Chairs, tables, and extra-large tablecloths that double as skirting are provided. This will allow authors to hide empty boxes and extra inventory under their tables.
If you have multiple titles, plan ahead by measuring out a 36 × 30 inch area on a table at home to test different display configurations. You can use multi-step racks or small boxes to create vertical tiers.
There is no room to stand easels in front or behind your table. Please do not bring them. A cloth banner/sign that drapes over the front of your table is permitted so long as it does not encroach on the other author’s space.
Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi is available throughout the conference center. However, electrical outlets will not be available at your table, so if you’re accepting credit cards, etc., charge up those devices ahead of time.
Food
This year the Sunshine State Book Festival is providing a continental breakfast of pastry and beverages as well as free lunch for participating authors. Authors must wear their festival nametags to be served meals. Sorry, but we cannot offer meals to spouses or guests. There are several nearby restaurants and one in the hotel.
Rules
At registration, all exhibitors agree to abide by our Terms of Exhibitor Participation.
Prize Drawings
Attendees can win free books that have been donated by authors exhibiting at the festival.
This drawing creates traffic to your tables because visitors have to get at least ten authors to initial their entry form.
If you would like to donate a book for the drawing, just bring it to the registration table after you check in on Saturday morning.
Books that aren’t given away by 4:00 p.m. can be reclaimed by the author.
Check-in procedure
Author check-in begins Saturday, February 1, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. Please be
checked in by 9:30 a.m.
Directions and map
4200 NW 97th Blvd. Gainesville, Florida.
The Best Western Gateway Grand is located on NW 97th Blvd. which is one block west of the I-75 NW 39 th Ave. exit. If you are traveling west on NW 39th Avenue, the road is on your right just past the I-75 interchange. If you reach the traffic light at NW 98 th Street, you have gone too far. Make a U-turn
Approaching NW 97th Blvd. from either the east or west, watch for book festival yard signs to alert you where to turn. Festival Ambassadors wearing bright yellow vests will be on hand to guide you.
To ensure ample parking for festival visitors, all authors are to park in the grass field adjacent to the hotel. (Except vehicles with Handicap tags.)
You may unload and leave your books at the festival registration table in the hotel’s main lobby before parking. Festival Ambassadors will be on hand to watch your books while you move your car to the grass lot. After you have moved your car and returned to the lobby, a Festival Ambassador will show you to your assigned table space.
