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The 2nd Annual Local Authors Book Fair

Meet local authors from South Florida in an immersive writers book fair.

Join Main Library for our second annual Local Authors Book Fair as part of the Local Authors Program of Broward County Libraries and in recognition of National Authors' Day and Indie Author Day. Want to become a Local Authors Program member? Learn more about the application process here.

Book Fair Agenda (11am-3pm)
The book fair consists of a local authors' showcase on the 1st floor and a series of three workshops for writers on the 6th floor. 

11am - 3pm: Authors Showcase
1st Floor Lobby, Broward County Main Library

Book Fair Workshops (11am-2pm)

11:30am - 12:30pm: Break Through the Noise: Your Blueprint for a Bestselling Book Launch with Tresa Chambers
6th Floor, Broward County Main Library 

In today's saturated publishing landscape, even exceptional books can disappear without a trace. With millions of new titles published each year, talent alone isn't enough—you need a strategic launch plan that cuts through the digital chaos and connects your book with its ideal readers.

This intensive workshop reveals the proven launch strategies that turn unknown authors into bestsellers, drawing from real-world experience helping self-published authors achieve remarkable success. Whether you're self-published or traditionally published (and feeling like your publisher's marketing support has limits), these battle-tested techniques will transform how you approach your book launch.

You'll discover:

• Pre-launch foundation building that creates momentum before your book even exists
• The essential components of a launch that actually drives sales, not just buzz
• Post-launch strategies that sustain growth and build lasting readership
• How to leverage limited resources for maximum impact
• The critical mistakes that doom most book launches—and how to avoid them
• Walk away with: A complete, actionable launch blueprint customized to your genre, budget, and goals. No theory, no fluff—just the practical strategies that move books off virtual shelves and into readers' hands.

Perfect for authors who refuse to let their hard work get lost in the noise. Your book deserves readers—this workshop shows you exactly how to find them.

Tresa L. Chambers, M.S., is a publishing strategist, brand marketer, and former Time Magazine journalist with over 25 years of experience in writing, editing, and project management. She is the founder of Tenth Muse Enterprises, LLC, which provides strategic communications services to authors, artists, and creative entrepreneurs preparing to launch their latest project. Tresa is a graduate fellow of Pace University's  Master’s in Publishing program and has led product launches and rebranding efforts for major corporations.  She holds a leadership role in the Women's National Book Association, has been a member of the American Book Producers Association, and constantly seeks opportunities to connect with fellow writers and creatives. An aspiring memoirist, she is an alumni of the Hurston/Wright Foundation’s Black Writers' Week, where she was mentored by award-winning authors.

12:30 - 1:30 pm: How to Write a Book in 15 Minutes with Jayne Mills
6th Floor, Broward County Main Library

Join author Jayne Mills for an interactive workshop. Learn how Jayne wrote a novel in short increments of time. (And you can, too!)

Are you excited every day to start writing? Are you making steady progress? Are you growing as a writer? Let's talk about it! 

• Do You Know Your Why? - How to stay focused, committed, and enthused over long periods of writing time.
• When Are You Most Productive? - Examine your habits for more satisfying productivity.
• What To Do When You're Stuck - Maybe there's no such thing as writer's block.
• The How of It - You may know what to do, but do you know how to do it?
• A Special Where - Could you benefit from a Sacred Writing Space?
• Bring a notebook and an open mind for a lively discussion with Jayne and your fellow writers. Writing should be fun!

Jayne Mills has always been a storyteller at heart. While her career as a financial advisor kept her busy, she secretly nurtured a lifelong dream of writing fiction. She honed her voice through Financial Wellness Monthly, a newsletter blending finance, yoga, and meditation, and developed The Wealth-Wellness Connection, a program exploring the emotional side of money. Now, with her debut novel, she’s stepping fully into the world of storytelling.  

Jayne holds degrees in journalism and finance and is a registered yoga teacher. When she’s not writing, she’s hard at work on her quest to visit every national park. She lives and writes in the peaceful surroundings of St. Augustine, Florida.

1:30 - 2:30pm: Author Talk by The Memoir Writers Group
6th Floor, Broward County Main Library

Helen Rubin will facilitate a conversation with a special guest author. (The guest author is TBA. Please stay posted.)

Memoir Writers Group at the Main Library has been facilitated by Helen Rubin since July 2022, when the group returned to in-person meetings.

Helen is a British trained elementary school teacher, she later educated her two sons at home, and now supports her three home educated grandchildren. Her passion is the early care of babies and young children, following the work of two special Hungarian ladies: Emmi Pikler MD, and Magda Gerber (Magda brought Pikler’s ideas to the US.) Books, reading, and writing, have played a big part in Helen’s life; moreso since leaving school.

Helen has discovered a full and varied life as an immigrant to the US, starting with compiling and publishing the first US Edition of the UK’s well known Reed’s Nautical Almanac with her late husband, Martin, in 1973-1974. The twists and turns of life compelled Helen to document the various facets of her early life in England, plus her years in the US. Several books are in the works!

This program is made possible by the Friends of the Fort Lauderdale Libraries. 

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