July 2025 CPE for First Time Authors: Did You Remember to Pack Your Author Persona?

Today’s post is for authors attending their first CPE, that’s the Christian Product Expo tradeshow coming up in the Atlanta area at Gas South Convention Center, August 10-12.

This event for some may even be their first time to appear in a large public setting as an author.

It can be a bit intimidating.

So, my question to those authors is: Who are you as an author or professional?

Do you need to find your author persona?

I’ve spent most of my career in business, and as a working mom. There were plenty of times on a Sunday night when I planned my Monday knowing I needed that uniform of a suit and heels and appropriate jewelry to get me back to my 15th-floor high-rise corporate self from the Sunday suburban mom self in sweats.

It’s like that for authors too.

I’ve written about this before but am returning to repeat these thoughts.

One year, while I was new to Christian publishing and no doubt in one of those suits I mentioned, I was at a busy tradeshow. On the exhibition floor, I was surprised to spot a woman wearing in a rich jewel-toned velvet cape with some kind of matching hat – possibly featuring a feather — and I was intrigued but mystified.

Then a more experienced colleague explained to me that some authors take on a persona and show up at events in costume.

That didn’t make a lot of sense to me until I remembered learning about an old actor’s trick of letting a costume, or one item of a costume, move you into character.

Then I felt my view shift and I suddenly saw that busy tradeshow from a new perspective, one that could well have been terrifying to an author whose work is in people’s hands for them to evaluate.

Then I could see the wisdom and security of having an author persona.

I never found out but always imagined that woman in the cape wrote historical romance novels.

But even if you don’t feel the need or have the opportunity to show up in costume, if you are an author, or are working your way there, you also have some decisions to make about how you show up to others in the world.

And this also applies in other life and career decisions. Seeking a professional job more responsible than the entry level one you have now? The classic wisdom is to stop showing up in flip flops and jeans and dress like the professional role you want to play in an organization as you prepare yourself to be ready to handle more responsibility.

But back to authors.

For some people, becoming an author is a natural outgrowth of their business, ministry, or profession. They understand a bit about branding and know they need to set the tone and look of their website, get new business cards and other printed pieces done, and possibly even establish another email address.

Some of you authors out there might be thinking you don’t have to worry about this branding stuff now, this can wait until you get a bit more well known before you have to bother with these details. That’s like showing up in jeans and flipflops.

But let’s be honest. You might just be masking your discomfort with a new view of you as an author.

Not sure where you are. Presumably if you are investing time and money in traveling to Atlanta for CPE you’ve gotten a lot of pieces in place, such as business cards and bookmarks with your contact info on them.

A QR code to share on your phone is great, but in settings as busy as a tradeshow, things on paper also really help people to remember you and your book. Everyone meets far too many people to expect others to remember them just from something hidden in their phone.

And the need for this author persona, or professional image if you will, goes beyond preparing for CPE.

A thoughtfully curated author version of you is also handy in other settings. How do you want to show up when you communicate with people about setting up a book signing or placing your books in a local shop? Or presenting yourself as the expert you are and try to persuade them you should be a speaker for their organization?

You may feel as fake as that author in the hat and cape, but you need to think about your professional persona and move to get comfortable with the new you, you the author, and purposefully decide how you will present yourself.

And for CPE — make sure you also have something professionally prepared you can leave with people you meet so they can find you again.