Tracy C. Gold

Book events mean book swag! If you’re an author trying to figure out what supplies you need before a busy season of book events, I’m here to help! I have a full post about this on Dawn Prochovnic’s blog, “Have Swag, Will Travel.” Here, I have links to buy some of these products. These are mostly affiliate links. I bought a lot of these products a long time ago, so sometimes I’ve swapped a link when something is not available. That said, I need to restock for this year, so I’ll come back and change things around if I find out a product isn’t great.

Here we go!

A folding wagon and/or rolling bag: This will save you if you have loads of stuff to bring in! I’m still looking for my dream wagon, but I have a Hulken bag (bought on Prime Day sale–and yes, I totally fill up the large size) and one of these wagons–heads up, neither of these has a brake to lock it in place like a stroller.

Scissors: Look, always have a pair of scissors. These are a great cheap option if you are like me and lose all your belongings. I also do crafts involving scissors and get kid-scissors in bulk. Most places where I have events do have some basics like kid scissors, so I don’t need a thirty-pack, but that exists too. The kid-scissors definitely get lost and incorporated into my household. I suggest blunt tips unless you’re working with older children.

Crayons: The crafts I bring involve crayons. I like having little packs to hand out so kids aren’t searching through a pile of crayons making a mess. If the crayons get returned, great, if not, they were cheap.

Tape: In my normal life I always have duct tape in my truck, but for kids crafts, I go with Scotch. This can come in really handy for table set up, not just crafts.

Mesh/clear bags to keep everything organized: I like these laundry bags for bigger things, and these more structured bags for smaller craft supplies. I do go through the multipacks, but only because I use them around my house as well. Note that I do not have bags for purchases. People are pretty used to bringing their own bags these days.

Clear bins: I like Container Store brand clear bins because they fit into my Ikea Kallax shelving at home, but it is great to have small, stackable bins to hold all this stuff. Make sure that your bins fit into your wagon or vice versa!

Sharpies: Huge must-have for making signs and signing books! If you have a board book, hot tip: metallic sharpies work the best.

Post-it notes: I mostly use these to practice writing names before I sign!

Little white board: Make a sign on the spot! I like how this one has a little clip so I am less likely to lose the marker.

Book stands: So helpful for vertical displays!

Personal amplifier: To save your voice, especially if you’re outdoors!

Sign holders: Clear acrylic holders help keep things organized! See Dawn’s blog for what kind of signs you need!

Baskets: I have bought baskets to hold craft supplies online in the past, but I’d highly recommend hitting up your local thrift store, as they tend to be overflowing with all kinds of cute baskets. Foldable is great for easy transport. I collect wicker baskets so that I’m always equipped to make a bundle of books for a silent auction.

Tablecloth: Again, this is a great thing to find in a local thrift store, but you can be more particular about colors online. Don’t bring anything that you don’t mind getting ruined by Sharpies/crayons!

I know this seems like a lot. If you don’t have it all on day one, that’s ok. You can slowly thrift/scrap/repurpose and figure out what you need for the specific kinds of events you do most.

Remember to hop over to Dawn’s blog about book events and check out the full breakdown of what to bring!

What: Authors Amanda Rowe and Tracy C. Gold are so excited to welcome you to Tranquillity Manor Farm for a spring story time with critters. Bring a blanket or chair and we’ll bring snacks, books, and critters to pet and feed.

Who: Babies through 8-year-olds will enjoy experiencing books surrounded by animals. Older children are welcome, too! Please bring enough adults to keep children closely supervised and safe. This is a working farm with tractors, trucks, and many animals that are in training or rehabbing from injuries.

When: 11 am – 12 pm, Saturday May 23, 2026

Where: Tranquillity Manor Farm, 4101 Stansbury Mill Road, Monkton, Maryland. Drive all the way down the driveway, past the rings and large indoor arena, until you see a cluster of barns. Leave 5-10 extra minutes for the long and bumpy driveway. Drive slowly; anyone walking with or riding a horse has the right of way.

Why: Have fun building your child’s literacy while they enjoy the farm animals!

Weather: This event is rain or shine! If it is raining, we will gather inside a barn.

How much: Free! Books are available for purchase ahead of time or at the event.

Feel free to show up last minute, but we appreciate RSVPS so we can provide the right amount of fun snacks for humans and animals. RSVP and preorder books here: https://form.jotform.com/260553733013045.