The World Book Fair 2025 was an incredible, whirlwind experience—one that I will cherish for a long time. This being my second time handling the behind-the-scenes of the fair with Om Books International, I walked in with a sense of confidence, knowing what to expect. Last year, I was unprepared, thrown into the deep end, navigating chaos without a map. This year, the tables had turned—I was the one guiding the new marketing team, helping them manage the rush and unpredictability of the fair.

From overseeing author sessions at the Author’s Corner set up by the NBT to interacting with readers at our stall, recommending the right books, and supporting authors in promoting their work—every moment was a lesson. Considering that these were also my last few days at Om Books, I poured my heart and soul into every task, determined to leave on a high note. And I did.

Lessons from the Fair

The experience was not just inspiring for the reader in me but also deeply educational. Here are some of the biggest lessons I took away:

📚 The Importance of Networking – My interaction with Neeraj Yadav from The Indian Express stood out the most. As I walked him through our stall, introducing him to our books, his genuine enthusiasm reignited my own excitement for the stories we had published. That single conversation was a reminder of how powerful connections can be in this industry.

📚 The Value of Knowing Your Books – Readers appreciate authenticity. I didn’t just sell books; I recommended them based on their interests, budget, and preferences. Understanding our titles inside out helped me connect readers with the perfect book, making their experience (and mine) more fulfilling.

📚 The Necessity of Trust in Your Authors – I was lucky to interact with authors like Jyoti Barmola Mamgain, Antar Atreya, Prabhu Ram, Swati Desai, Prem Kishore Pathakha ji, and Puneet Gupta. Their unwavering support and trust in my ability to market their books made my work even more rewarding. Their appreciation fueled my enthusiasm, and in return, I was able to help them connect with the right audience.

📚 The Importance of Adaptability – If there’s one thing the fair teaches you, it’s to expect the unexpected. On February 4th, we were informed that the fair would be closed on the 5th due to elections. The announcement came out of nowhere. I had personally convinced an international author to reschedule her flight to attend a panel, and unfortunately, she had to miss it because of this sudden change. It was a hard lesson, but one that taught me an important truth—sometimes, things are beyond our control, and overcommitment in such situations can be risky.

Marketing at the Fair: Survive & Thrive

From the first day itself, the World Book Fair throws you into the deep end of marketing. It’s sink or swim. But if you survive the rush and come out on top, you know you can tackle any challenge in publishing. The fair tests everything—your time management, persistence, critical thinking, memory, and marketing skills. It forces you to think on your feet, adapt, and engage.

One of the most successful strategies I implemented was reader-author engagement. Instead of blindly pitching books to everyone, I took the time to understand each reader—what they liked, what they were looking for, even their budget. Based on that, I introduced them to books and authors that I knew would resonate with them. And it worked. Readers left happy, authors felt supported, and the energy at our stall was electric.

The most rewarding moment? Seeing the impact of my work. When Neeraj Yadav posted about our interaction and when readers came back to buy books I had recommended—it was the ultimate validation.

An Emotional Goodbye & A New Beginning

As the fair ended, so did my time at Om Books International. It was bittersweet. I felt emotional yet excited, nostalgic yet hopeful. This journey has been nothing short of transformative. It has shaped my skills, deepened my love for books, and strengthened my resolve to return to this industry even stronger.

To anyone stepping into the world of publishing and marketing—especially at an event as chaotic as the World Book Fair—here’s my advice: Don’t give up. It will feel overwhelming, but take a deep breath, step back for a moment, and strategize. You will always have opportunities to experiment and implement your ideas. And even if they don’t work for everyone, they will work for someone. No effort goes to waste.

I walked into the fair last year as a newcomer. This year, I walked out knowing my worth. And when I return to this industry, I know I’ll be ready to make an even bigger impact.

Until next time, World Book Fair. You’ve been one hell of a ride. 🚀✨