It can be prohibitively expensive for an author or small publisher to attend a trade show. Booth space, furnishings, and travel expenses add up. CAN helps you get exposure at shows for a fraction of the cost. You must become a member to have your books displayed and marketed by CAN at a trade show.

May 23–25, 2023 Orlando, Florida

The NRB Convention is the world’s largest gathering of Christian communicators and offers a unique opportunity to reach media and ministry professionals. If you want to find media such as Christian radio, podcast, and television shows—this is your opportunity to meet with the those outlets in person. After you sign up, CAN will send you a list of media attending the NRB convention. You can contact them before the show to set up an interview to be performed in the Press Room at the convention. The deadline to sign up with CAN is December 31, 2021.

Registration for 2023 NRB representation will open October 1, 2022.

August 14–16, 2022 Lexington, Kentucky

CAN Members can receive exposure for their books with independent Christian retailers at the Christian Product Expo (CPE). CAN has two options for members: 

• ATTENDING: If you are attending the CPE (CPE charges $150 fee for a two-day badge and $100 for a one-day badge ), please contact Susan Neal at Contact@ChristianAuthorsNetwork.com to set up your FREE book signing at the CAN booth.

 

• NOT ATTENDING: For those NOT attending, CAN will represent your book to retailers so they can order it at the show (or through your book’s publisher or Christian distributor such as Spring Arbor). The cost is $225 for the first book and $75 for the second book. We have space to represent twenty books, so register early. This is a great chance to showcase your books to Christian retail buyers without incurring travel expenses. The CAN CPE trade show representation is only open until June 1. Please complete the following application HERE to reserve your spot, as representation is limited.

 

One of the most excited parts of attending the CPE is being a part of the bookstore/author event now renamed, The Apps & Autographs Event. It will be held on Sunday, August 14, 2022. The event is open to traditionally published authors who have been nominated by their publisher (pending approval). Up to 100 Christian bookstore owners or managers stop by your table to receive a signed copy of your book. Therefore, they may end up carrying your book in their store. You need to complete an application form before the deadline on May 27, 2022. Again, email Susan Neal at Contact@ChristianAuthorsNetwork.com, so she can send you an application to submit. 

 

Whether attending CPE or not, CAN Authors can send  books  for our giveaway bundles to retailers. Please mail your book and branded gift items (before July 1) to:
CAN
5568 Woodbine Road #89
Pace, FL 32571

“If you want to increase book sales, you need to let more people know your book exists. You can do this through different media outlets such as blogs, magazines, podcasts, radio shows, and television. But how do you find these media outlets? Trade shows provide the perfect opportunity. Recently, I attended the Christian Product Expo and National Religious Broadcasting shows.

Christian Product Expo

The night before the Christian Product Expo (CPE), fifty-plus authors displayed their books at the CPE Book Signing Party. Ninety Christian bookstore owners visited each author to receive a signed book. These owners get a great selection of Christian books that they can choose to carry in their bookstore. This event resulted in my IngramSpark sales tripling the next month and my books being carried in numerous Christian bookstores. Therefore, I plan to attend annually.

Attending the CPE also allowed me to meet the director of the Christian Authors Network (CAN), who was representing her members. At the CAN table, a CAN member conducting a book signing met loads of conferees and experienced an incredible book marketing opportunity. Wanting the same exposure, myself, I signed up for membership with CAN.

National Religious Broadcasting Convention

My CAN membership saved me hundreds of dollars off the NRB convention price. I was pleasantly surprised by the opportunities that arose from this conference. Before the conference, the CAN director sent me a long list of Christian media outlets attending this conference. I contacted them for potential interviews resulting in a podcast interview performed at the conference and a Faith Radio interview a couple of weeks later. A radio station I contacted asked if they could use my healthy living YouTube clips on their station in between their shows. Those clips were edited for radio and included my website and contact information.

At the NRB conference, I was filmed for a 10-minute slot on a television show. I was also invited to be on two other Christian television talk shows with expenses paid except airfare. I met numerous hybrid publishers who were interested in publishing my children’s picture book and cookbook. One of those Christian publishers was impressed with my book marketing skills, and we signed a contract for me to create marketing plans for his authors.

Part of the NRB convention included an expo with over 700 exhibitors that took three days to peruse. A press room contained all forms of media that interviewed attendees. Interview opportunities arise while you are there.

My NRB book signing through CAN was announced in the NRB program, and it was so well attended I ran out of books before the hour was over. I also sold my books and met conferees while sitting at the expo CAN table during my daily scheduled times.

In the Christian book publisher’s industry, developing professional relationships is key to expanding your platform and income. I also met two conference directors who showed interest in having me as a speaker next year. The contacts you make at conferences are invaluable, and you have no idea how those contacts will blossom to fruition in the future.

A trade show provides the opportunity to promote your masterpiece and ministry passionately. Attending a Christian trade show is spiritually and monetarily advantageous. Our ultimate goal is to further the kingdom of God and help people. A trade show allows us to spread God’s message through our prose.”