Event Recap: Alabama and Atlanta Writers Workshops
TRANSPARENCYEVENT RECAP
Ok I am running way behind on this one, apologies. Life has been hectic, and I've been in a weird sort of funk.
Anyway, I had the pleasure of teaching workshops at a pair of events: The Alabama Writers Workshop and the Atlanta Writers Workshop. It's not my first time at either event, but my first time since 2024 (I was in New York during the 2025 workshops). I fucking love doing these events. I get to do a ton of mentoring, I get to sell some books, I end up with rooms full of people who have to listen to me. Seriously, my ego's cup runneth over.
I have a few small thoughts.
I was shocked to find just how many folks had been scammed by hybrid presses. It was seriously disgusting. Fuck hybrid presses.
I seem to recall that I always sell better in Alabama than Atlanta. I think its because I tend to be busier in Atlanta, and spend less time loitering around my books.
There were multiple people that I got to do long one on one mentor sessions with. This was nothing official, it was just me sitting down at a table in the general area, and folks having the courage to come ask me things.
I met a really delightful woman who's job as acting as a House Mother to a sorority. Who knew that was a job?!
I taught 4 classes:
How to Get Published in 2026: This is my usual class where I teach folks the different pathways to publication. I also work in words of warning around AI and Hybrid Presses cough scams cough cough. I taught this one twice, once in Bham, then again in Atlanta.
Networking for Authors: I have never taught this before, and fuck did I love it. And folks seemed to really enjoy it as well! But yeah, it's what it says on the tin: I gave tips and tricks for networking as an author. This one was Atlanta only.
Worldbuilding as Character Development: This one I was not supposed to teach. The teacher had something come up, so I was asked if I could step in. I said I could, and I did. I have a long history with freelance worldbuilding. I did end up being a little shorter than I had wanted, as there were no questions from the crowd on the subject really, so I just opened it up to follow up questions from the other classes I had taught. That got a lot of questions. Atlanta only.
So this isn't really a selling type of thing, I make my money mostly from getting paid to teach and such. But...you know your boy is gonna try to sling some books. And I did! Here are the numbers:
Event Sales Numbers:
Alabama: $328.00
Atlanta: $140.00
Tales by Bob Sales Numbers By Item:
Bringing Home The Rain: 5
Omnibus 1: 5
Omnibus 2: 2
Southern Saudade: 2
Create: 4
Honorariums:
Alabama Class: 150.00
Atlanta Class (x3): 450.00
Critique (x2): 100.00
Travel: 75.00
Total:
Sales: $468.00
Honorariums: $775.00
Total: $1,243.00
Fixed Expenses:
Badge: $0.00
Booth Fee - $30.00
Parking - $0.00
Hotel - $101.45
Other - $0.00
Total - $101.45
Grand Total Profit: $1,141.55
