Tips For Being “In Conversation” With an Author for a Book Event

June 18, 2026

By Erin Keane, faculty, creative nonfiction and poetry

Back when my first books of poems were published, a bookstore reading was a standard promotional event. You (and, perhaps, an opening reader or two) would read from the book, then answer a few questions and sign copies at the end. These still happen, of course. (Popular novelists with established audiences, for example, are still a draw for solo events, as far as I can tell). But by the time my debut memoir, Runaway: Notes on the Myths That Made Me, was published in 2022 and I began planning my book tour, “in conversation” events—the author and another writer, talking to each other about the book’s subject and themes—had become the in-store norm.

Conversation events make sense. It’s like a live interview, but always friendly and a bit more casual. The bookstore gets two authors to promote, one of whom is a known quantity to the store’s events manager, with an established base of support to draw upon. And the audience gets a nice overview of the new book through a (hopefully) lively back-and-forth that can also range far beyond the covers of the book itself.

Over the course of a dozen or so events on that book tour, most of them in person but a handful on Zoom, I got very used to having live, spontaneous conversations about my work in front of audiences of all sizes. Since then, I’ve been an in-conversation partner many times at my local indie outlet, Carmichael’s Bookstore in Louisville, Kentucky. I’ve also conducted hundreds of interviews in my career as a journalist, including for live broadcast. If you plan on being part of an in-conversation event—whether you are promoting your new book or have been paired with an author as their partner—here are some ways you can set yourself up for a smooth event.

Planning the conversation

If you are the author and have been asked to find a conversation partner, start with a short list of nearby authors you have a connection to. Ideally, your writing shares some common bond. Readers who enjoy their work will have good reason to believe they’ll like your new book, too. They don’t have to be dear old friends; maybe you’ve been published in the same journal or anthology, or you were on a panel together at a conference. A top choice would be someone with whom you have a good rapport, who lives locally, and is both active in the literary community and an enthusiastic fan of your work. You may extend the request and secure a commitment from the other author before pitching the event to the bookstore, but perhaps an events manager (or your publicist) will do that legwork. Be sure someone on your side (you, your publicist, your editor) provides your partner with a copy of your new book so they can prepare.

If you are the conversation partner, send a digital headshot and short writer’s bio when you confirm your participation. Tell your friends, students, writing group, and social media followers! You’re putting your stamp of approval on this book and author, and you want them to show up and see for themselves.

How to be a good conversation partner to a touring author

It should go without saying, but please don’t wing it. Read the book. Google interviews with and essays by the author to get a broader overview of their body of work. Be the conversation partner you wish to have for your next book.

Write your questions out ahead of time and bring them with you. I would not suggest sending the questions to your partner in advance, unless they ask. (I would never agree to that as a journalist conducting a live interview, but the conversation partner role is different.) An over-rehearsed event can sound stale. But offering the broad strokes of your topics can be helpful to calm nerves. Ask if they’d like to read a page or two to start the event, and if so, cue your first question from their selection.

The conversations I’ve been part of are typically one-hour events, which includes time for audience Q&A and book signing at the end. Knowing that, I typically plan for about thirty-five minutes of talking. (Check with the store to know whether there’s a hard stop time and adjust accordingly if there’s a big crowd. You may prepare many brilliant talking points, but the main point of the event is to sell and sign books.)

This is just a suggestion, but I like to prep my conversations into rough thirds. The first third is directly about the new book: the topic, any research or specialty work that went into its creation, and the author’s style and craft choices. I will always ask myself why this book is timely, why it matters to the moment we are in, and craft some prompts around its relevance. That can also serve as a bridge to the second third, which revolves around the author’s publication path and/or career evolution. Audiences are often fascinated with the publication process—fans may only see Hollywood depictions of the industry, and fellow writers and editors tend to enjoy shop talk. For debut authors, the path to first book can prompt meaningful exchanges about persistence, resilience, and the role failure can play in our creative work. Which feeds into the final third of the conversation: a more freewheeling discussion about the author’s current life and new work, their writing and creative process, who they’re reading, and what they’re drawing inspiration from. These thirds don’t have to be even; some books and authors may lend themselves more to some segments than others.

Throughout the event, remember this is a conversation, not an interrogation. Listen to your partner’s answers and respond naturally before going on to the next prompt. Give insights into your own work when appropriate, but I like to keep in mind that we are there to talk about their book, first and foremost, and to always turn the focus back on them when possible.

A fine way to segue to the audience Q&A is to ask the author, “What did you wish I had asked you today?” which can cue a delightful reveal. Keep an eye on the clock during the Q&A and close it out by encouraging folks to stick around to get their book signed.

A few pitfalls to avoid

Keep your questions about the book mostly at a high level, while occasionally drilling down to fun or significant details. You want to avoid spoiling plot points or big revelations. (Generally speaking, the first half of the book is fair game.)

Avoid questions that can be answered with a yes or a no. Nothing’s worse than a one-word answer that has no follow-up. Similarly, vague questions get vague answers. Have an idea of the direction you’re trying to go in and take you both there.

At the same time, don’t be afraid to be a little basic. You are the audience’s proxy. Feel free to prompt with questions you already know the answer to but think the folks in attendance would want to know. That said, your prompts aren’t the place to show off how smart you are, either. Keep the focus on the other author. Let them shine.

Remember why you’re doing this

For me, one way I can be a good literary citizen is by saying yes to an invitation to be in conversation with a fellow writer if I’m available. Not only is it a way to give back to my local bookstore, but it’s an occasion to connect with my community over a great book. And I always learn something from our conversation, including the audience’s questions, which is its own reward.

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Erin Keane is the author of three collections of poetry and the memoir Runaway: Notes on the Myths That Made Me (Belt Publishing), one of NPR’s best books of 2022. She is chief content officer at Salon.com and editor of The Louisville Anthology (also from Belt), a collection of poems and essays about her adopted hometown.