Get the Insider Scoop on Book an Author
February 15, 2025
Todd Burleson | Original article: The Librarian’s Perspective.
Welcome to this special edition of Beyond the Horizon: Where Imagination Takes Flight! Today, I am delighted to spotlight a dynamic and innovative company transforming educational and literary landscapes: Book an Author. As a dedicated educator, teacher-librarian, and now also a library consultant with Book an Author, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of author visits and the vital role of continuous professional development. This interview with the company’s founders offers a behind-the-scenes look at how Book an Author is streamlining author visits, enriching student experiences, and supporting educators in meaningful ways.
Join me as we explore how this forward-thinking platform makes waves in education and discover how it can easily and efficiently enhance your library and classroom programming easily and efficiently.
Tell us about Book an Author and what inspired you to start the company.
Yobe Qiu (YQ): Book an Author is a marketplace that connects authors and publishers with schools, libraries, and bookstores. It is a literary ecosystem that streamlines every step from discovery to payment. Think of it as Airbnb, Faire, LinkedIn, and Eventbrite combined for the publishing and educational industry.
Serena Li (SL): Coming out of the pandemic, we saw an increasing need for in-person literary engagements. There’s nothing that inspires students more than meeting their favorite authors. We also saw a need to conduct business efficiently between authors, publishers, and educational institutions. Amazon, Faire, etc., are these platforms, although wonderful, do not prioritize the literary community or comprehend the challenges faced by the education industry.
We realized the most effective way to benefit the entire publishing and education community was to utilize our network, resources, and professional expertise to create a platform that helps educational institutions discover and book authors based on their requirements and constraints. We want to build an ecosystem that comprehensively offers literary services, from discovery to booking, from bulk orders to fundraising. Our tagline is “Your Gateway to Literary Connections.”
We hope to use technology to disrupt the publishing industry!
What is your background? How do you use that knowledge in your work with Book an Author?
YQ: I started my career as an educator. I had my master of education degree and dove into early childhood education before the pandemic. When the pandemic hit, life had other plans. I channeled my network and creativity and founded a publishing business specializing in books highlighting AAPI stories. I also consulted with various educational institutions and became an active member of my daughter’s PTO (Parent-Teacher Organization). All of these experiences helped me understand the needs of both educators and publishers.
How does Book an Author work with teachers and librarians to support their needs?
YQ: Book an Author is designed to make it easier for teachers and librarians to connect with authors, illustrators, and literary professionals, creating meaningful learning experiences for students.
1. Streamlined Author Discovery & Booking
We provide a curated platform where educators can easily search for authors based on theme, grade level, budget, and event format (virtual or in-person). This eliminates the time-consuming process of finding and vetting authors independently.
2. Flexible Budget & Funding Options
We understand the financial constraints faced by schools and libraries. Our platform helps educators find authors within their budgets, facilitates bulk book orders at discounted rates, and even provides fundraising tools to help schools cover event costs.
3. Engaging, Curriculum-Aligned Experiences
We prioritize authors and speakers who offer engaging, educational presentations that align with school curriculums and literacy initiatives. Whether it’s a STEM-related book talk or a discussion on diversity and inclusion, we help educators find the right fit.
4. Hassle-Free Event Coordination
From inquiry to final booking, our platform simplifies logistics—handling availability, fees, contracts, and communication—so educators can focus on what matters: student engagement.
By bridging the gap between authors and educational institutions, Book an Author ensures that students gain access to diverse voices and inspiring literary experiences, making reading more personal and impactful.
What are some key challenges teachers and librarians face when working with authors, and how does Book an Author address them?
YQ: Schools and other institutions are looking for authors and external resources to enrich students’ learning experiences, but there isn’t a comprehensive platform or directory that makes their job easier. The biggest problem schools face is the lack of time and resources. Finding, connecting with, negotiating with, and scheduling with authors takes time, as does planning literary events for student enrichment. Dealing with logistics for invoicing and payment takes time. In addition, funding must be spent before it expires.
Before Book an Author, librarians must research which authors could be potential options. Google each author’s contact info. Then, they must send cold inquiries to each author’s website or contact their agents. After that, they have to coordinate schedules and negotiate scopes individually with each author until calendars and visions are aligned. And not to mention the mountain of paperwork that follows. This process typically takes months.
Book an Author helps shorten the entire process from months to hours. Recently, we had a successful booking, in which the school could search for an author and finalize the booking within three hours. We help schools find authors faster and easier so you can spend time doing what you enjoy.
Can you walk us through the process of how teachers and librarians can get involved with the authors available through Book an Author?
SL: Book an Author makes it easy to do business with authors. Book an Author’s free Institution Profiles, which allows you to showcase your institutions, define your preferences, and list your requirements. On top of that, as a school, you will never pay for shipping, and you get a money-back guarantee.
We break down the process into three easy steps.
Step 1: Create a free profile to obtain a personalized dashboard.
Step 2: Search the database of authors and narrow down options based on criteria such as budget, genre, and availability
Step 3: Submit your booking inquiry and manage bookings directly in your dashboard!
You can read more in our FAQs: www.bookanauthor.com/institutions/
What makes Book an Author different from other author-visit services or author-based platforms?
SL: First, based on our market research, we are currently ranked #1 among all competitor platforms regarding user count.
Second, we provide schools with peace of mind regarding security and privacy. Authors cannot flood your inbox with unsolicited messages. Transactions are handled through Stripe, ensuring a smooth and reliable payment process.
Third, we offer a money-back guarantee if the product or service you receive does not meet your expectations.
Our self-service model lets you control communication, ensuring that more money goes directly to the authors rather than an intermediary.
How does Book an Author support virtual author visits, and what are some benefits of these over in-person visits?
YQ: You can easily search for authors who offer virtual author visit services on Book an Author. Click on the “Virtual Visits” category to discover authors that fit your criteria.
There are many benefits to virtual author visits:
- Cost-Effective: Schools save on travel, lodging, and logistical costs, making author visits more budget-friendly.
- Greater Accessibility: Educators can connect with a broader range of authors, including those who may not be available for in-person visits due to location constraints.
- Flexible Scheduling: Virtual visits offer more options for timing, making it easier to fit into school schedules.
- Larger Reach: Schools can invite multiple classrooms or even host district-wide events without physical space limitations.
- Eco-Friendly: No travel means a reduced carbon footprint, supporting sustainable education practices.
At Book an Author, we support both virtual and in-person visits. We aim to help more students experience the magic of meeting authors, no matter where they are.
How do you select the authors who are featured on the platform? What makes an author a good fit for your service?
YQ: While we welcome new and experienced authors to list on our platform, we conduct a rigorous review process to ensure that those with the ‘Featured Author’ tag are credible, experienced, and aligned with our mission. We collaborate with a team of educators, former educators, librarians, and author coaches to ensure that the authors offering services on our platform meet the high standards we uphold.
How do you ensure that the content of author visits aligns with the curriculum needs and learning objectives of teachers and librarians?
SL: At Book an Author, we prioritize aligning author visits with teachers’ and librarians’ curriculum needs and learning objectives. Here’s how we ensure high-quality, relevant experiences:
1. Curated Author Selection
We carefully vet authors, particularly those with the “Featured Author” designation, to ensure they have experience delivering educational and engaging presentations. Many of our authors are educators or former educators.
2. Subject & Grade-Level Matching
Our platform allows educators to filter authors by subject matter, grade level, and themes that align with specific curriculum goals, such as STEM, social-emotional learning, or cultural diversity.
3. Collaboration with Educators & Librarians
We partner with teachers, librarians, and curriculum specialists to review and recommend authors who meet academic standards and literacy objectives. We also have specialists who coach authors on developing lesson plans. We are about to roll out Book an Author University, which offers dedicated training for authors who provide school visits.
4. Customizable Visit Outlines
You can chat directly with the authors you send inquiries to in your dashboard before the booking is confirmed and paid. Authors can provide detailed visit outlines, including key learning outcomes, discussion topics, and interactive elements, so educators can select visits that best fit their students’ needs.
5. Pre-Visit Planning & Resources
Many authors offer pre-visit materials such as lesson plans, discussion guides, and activities to help educators integrate the visit into their lesson plans for maximum impact.
What types of resources or follow-up materials do you provide after an author visit, and how can teachers use them to extend the learning experience?
YQ: We do not require the author to provide leave-behind materials, such as lesson plans, discussion guides, or activity sheets, so teachers can continue to use them. However, many authors add additional props and giveaways to help make the visit engaging and memorable.
Of course, we are always available to receive school feedback to improve the school visit experience. Schools can reach us directly at founders@bookanauthor.com, and I am just a phone call or email away.
Can you share any success stories or feedback from teachers or librarians who have worked with Book an Author?
“Book an Author completely transformed the way I schedule author visits—what used to take me four months of back-and-forth now takes just a few hours. The platform made it incredibly easy to discover, compare, and book the perfect author in one place, saving me countless hours of research and coordination!” – St. Cloud Elementary.
“Booking a virtual author visit through Book an Author was an incredible experience for our daycare! The author brought so much energy, and the kids were completely engaged—especially with the fun kit of props she sent in advance. It made the session interactive, exciting, and truly memorable for our little learners!” – Oxbridge Preschool.
“Book an Author ” made it easy to find the perfect author for our company’s Family Day! The author captivated both kids and parents with an engaging, interactive session. The entire booking process was seamless, and the experience was a huge hit with our employees and their families!” – Eisner Amper Family Day.
“Thank you again, Book an Author team! We got a lot of positive reviews from the classrooms! We look forward to book read-alouds with Book an Author again.” – Josiah Quincy Elementary.
How do you support school libraries specifically, and what unique offerings do you provide for them?
SL: Besides author visit booking services, Book an Author offers other solutions to help school libraries connect with the literary community.
Book Fairs (www.bookanauthor.com/bookfairs/)
Book an Author provides the most extensive book selection in the industry, with access to over 2,000,000 traditionally published titles from major publishers and 100,000+ indie titles. We strive to be the go-to alternative book fair partner for schools, offering 20% back on all sales with no minimum purchase required. Additionally, we provide adult book fairs for parents and PTO members, making us unique in serving not just K-12 students but readers of all ages.
Wholesale/bulk orders for books and learning materials
Our platform enables schools to purchase books and educational merchandise at special wholesale discounts set by authors and publishers. Best of all, schools never pay for shipping!
Disaster Relief Book Bank (www.bookanauthor.com/bookbank/)
As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting schools, we’ve launched a Disaster Relief Book Donation Program to help rebuild educational resources for communities affected by natural disasters and other emergencies. Schools and libraries impacted by disasters can apply to receive new book donations from our network of authors and partners. This nonprofit initiative aims to restore vital access to quality educational materials, helping students and communities regain a sense of normalcy through education and imagination.
What professional development opportunities or resources are available through Book an Author for teachers and librarians?
YQ: The Literacy Forum by Book an Author is our certified 501(c)(3) non-profit initiative that brings together literacy experts for in-depth discussions on the latest educational trends and challenges. Each session features thought leaders sharing insights on topics like equitable access to reading materials, innovative teaching methods, and fostering a culture of lifelong learning. The series aims to empower educators, librarians, and PTO leaders with practical strategies to enhance community literacy engagement.
These sessions are free and are led by award-winning librarian influencers like Todd. These librarian consultants help ensure the topics discussed are always relevant to the teachers and librarians.
What professional development opportunities or resources are available through Book an Author for teachers and librarians?
SL: With Book an Author, we are the champion of supporting local, authentic storytellers and supporting diversity, inclusion, and belonging. Coming from the background as creatives of color, we want to take a proactive stance to allow institutions to discover authors based on their criteria.
We do this through the “tags” in the listing, which function like hashtags in social media. For example, an author can tag their profile as “Veteran Owned” or “Black Owned,” which can be easily searchable. Each listing can also be tagged based on themes so authors can find each other and connect, especially those who write on similar topics.
Each listing shows the profile photo of the maker, which gives a human touch.
YQ: By working with traditionally published authors, publishers, and self-published authors, we ensure our marketplace contains more vetted options than any other publishers or competitors can offer.
What tools or resources does Book an Author offer to help teachers and librarians integrate author visits into their classroom or library programs?
SL: We aim to provide authors and institutions resources on topics like “10 steps for crafting a memorable school event,” “10 considerations when booking an author,” and monthly curated bookshelves to help schools celebrate various history months with their students. www.bookanauthor.com/resources/
YQ: Literacy Forum, our non-profit thought leadership arm, also offers engaging webinars on these topics. If you missed our previous events, replays are available! You can learn more at www.bookanauthor.com/events.
What tools or resources does Book an Author offer to help teachers and librarians integrate author visits into their classroom or library programs?
YQ: Since launch, we have been closely monitoring the institution and author sign-ups to ensure everyone is set up for success. For educators, we often provide tech support or payment support. For example, schools sometimes still require paper invoices and check payments, which we quickly accommodate. If any schools have special requests or need help finding an author, our team is here to help. You can contact us at founders@bookanauthor.com
How does Book an Author keep up with trends in education and library services to ensure your offerings stay relevant and helpful?
SL: At Book an Author, we believe in the power of our literary community. We are not just building a platform. We are building a community that helps support and uplift each other. We stay relevant and current because our authors, publishers, educators, and institutional users rely on us to bring the latest technology to them to solve the most significant issues in the industry. Our excellent librarian consultant partners also help ensure our service and products remain top-notch.
What are your aspirations for the company, and what do you hope to accomplish in the coming years?
SL: In the short six months since we launched Book an Author, we’ve seen tremendous growth with only organic reach, and this is just the beginning. We are working on international expansions and technology upgrades to add more functions. We are also working on allowing educational institutions to fundraise for their literary needs so that PTOs and libraries have alternative methods to raise money with more efficiency and less stress. We hope to become your Gateway to Literary Connections!
Is there anything I didn’t ask you that I should have?
YQ: We want to thank you and everyone who has believed in our mission and contributed to this shared vision from the very beginning. Educators tackle critical literacy challenges daily, impacting our nation’s graduation rates. Book an Author is committed to supporting you every step of the way, making your jobs easier and your impact even more fantastic!
Conclusion:
Through this insightful conversation with Book an Author’s founders, it is clear that the company’s mission goes beyond simple logistics. They aim to foster enriching literary experiences, support educators, and bridge the gap between authors and educational institutions. By offering a streamlined platform for author visits, professional development, and literary resources, Book an Author empowers educators and librarians to inspire the next generation of readers.
Whether you’re seeking engaging author visits, practical professional development, or innovative literary resources, Book an Author supports and enhances your educational journey. Together, let’s continue to inspire young minds and take our love for literature beyond the horizon.