Publicity Speed Dating Practice Sessions Available
NVNR 2026 Publicity Speed Dating (Virtual Edition)
May 7, 2026 on Zoom
There is still limited space available for the upcoming NVNR Publicity Speed Dating virtual event on May 7. Bookstores interested in expanding their events programs will have a chance to pitch their stores to a Zoom room of publicists from both large and small publishing houses.
Cost to attend is $35. Bookstores must be SIBA members and have a publicity kit to share with publicists. Register here.
Come prepared!
SIBA is offering two practice sessions for registered booksellers who would like to try out their store pitches before making their presentations to publicists:
- Tuesday, April 28, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
- Wednesday, April 29, 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Sign up here
Practice sessions are 20 minutes long. You can use your session to try out your pitch and get feedback on your store publicity kit. SIBA staff will offer advice and answer any questions you have about your presentation or what to expect from the event.
Don't wait to create your publicity kit! A "kit" is a double-sided PDF document that highlights your space, your event partners, your customer base, and your current events. Store publicity kits are due by April 27. Stores that do not provide a kit will not be allowed to present.
Your store publicity kit and the pitch you create to go with it are tools you can use throughout the year. Participating in Publicity Speed Dating not only introduces your bookstore to the people responsible for setting up author tours, but it is also good prep work for speaking to publishers and publicists during sales calls or when you meet with them at the NVNR Annual Conference in August in Baltimore.