The MVHBF's Distant Authors Fund

When I founded the Merrimack Valley Halloween Book Festival in 2015, it was always my intention that it be a FREE event. Free to the public, and free to the authors selling and signing their books. Over the years, I’ve been encouraged to change this ... pretty much constantly. But I will not. As long as I’m doing the festival, it will NOT be turned into a business. The authors make a little money selling books, and everyone donates 10% of their day’s proceeds to the library. The only drawback in presenting the festival this way is that no profit means there is no money to pay the travel expenses of authors I’d like to invite but who cannot afford to attend. Every year, I try to find a balance between familiar faces and newcomers, including those who live further afield. Many authors we’d love to see at the festival simply can’t afford it.

We decided to set up this GoFundMe in an effort to help defray the costs of attending for authors we know you’d like to meet but who can’t manage it without help and we’d like to be able to welcome to the festival. If you’ve been a longtime attendee of the festival, we’re so grateful for your enthusiasm and support. If you’ve been pleasantly surprised in the past that the festival is a free event, please consider donating now. Any donation is appreciated!

(*Note — while we are always interested in your suggestions for authors you’d like to see attend the Merrimack Valley Halloween Book Festival, the names of the authors who receive support from this GoFundMe will not be made public.)

Thank you all, so much!