Meet Cute
May 16Sunday, 10am to 4pm
a book-only market
Plot Fest
Authors, artists, bookish makers, food trucks, and thousands of readers in and around the store. Four Sundays a year. Free to attend.
It started as the Love Story Market in our parking lot and grew into something that draws readers from all over the Inland Northwest. In 2027 it gets a name, a hand-picked lineup, and four editions that run from spring to the holidays.
- Freeentry, every edition
- 4Sundays a year
- 46booths each market
market day in the lot2027
Four editions. One love story.
Slow Burn
July 11Sunday, 10am to 4pm
Plot Twist
Sept 19Sunday, 10am to 4pm
Happily Ever After
Nov 7Sunday, 10am to 4pm. Snow date Nov 14
Free entry, no ticket, no RSVP. 8927 N Hess St, Suite A, Hayden, Idaho 83835, in and around the store. Park in the surrounding lots and look for the signs on market day.
what you’ll find
Walk in. Wander. Leave with a stack.
Author Alley
Romance and romantasy authors with signed stock, bundles, and new releases. Meet the person behind the book you stayed up for.
Art Alley
Prints, originals, stickers, and character art, all made by a person. Some artists draw live. Commissions happen.
Bookish Maker Row
Candles, jewelry, 3D prints, textiles, paper goods, apothecary. Every single thing on the table is book themed, or it isn’t here.
Food trucks
Trucks, carts, and bakers. Grab something, find a spot, and read a chapter.
Readings and panels
Short author readings and reader panels every hour. The schedule is posted the week of each market.
The café
Open the whole time. Drinks named after books, like always.
Everything on every table is book related. Every item, not most of them. That’s the whole idea.
for vendors
Be part of Plot Fest.
We’re looking for romance and romantasy authors, artists who make bookish art, makers whose whole table is book themed, and food trucks and carts. From anywhere. We read every application and pick the lineup by hand, and a spot is held only when your signed agreement and fee are both in.
Who we’re looking for
- Romance and romantasy authors, indie and traditionally published, from anywhere
- Artists who make bookish art: prints, originals, stickers, character art, fan art of your own making
- Makers whose whole table is book themed: candles, jewelry, 3D prints, textiles, paper goods, apothecary
- Bookish experiences done on the spot: permanent jewelry, hat bars, braids, tarot, spell jars
- Food trucks, carts, bakers, and candy makers
Not a fit
- Items that aren’t book related. Every item on the table, not most of them
- MLM products, resale of mass-produced goods, or drop-shipped items
- Coffee or drink vendors. The café has that covered
- Booksellers. Authors sell their own titles in Author Alley, but for now we’re the only bookstore at the market, and that includes Blind Date with a Book
the fine print, in plain words
Rules every vendor agrees to
Each one is a checkbox on the application and appears again in the vendor agreement.
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1
Everything on my table is book related
Every item, not most of them. Anything that isn’t bookish comes off the table.
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2
My art and imagery are made by people
Covers, prints, labels, and signage. Authors name their cover artist, and we may ask to see process work.
-
3
I make, write, or source what I sell
Handmade, self-published, or small press. No MLM, resale, or drop-shipping.
-
4
A spot is held only with a signed agreement and a paid fee
Both are due by the date in my invitation, or the spot goes to the waitlist.
-
5
Fees are non-refundable after the lineup locks
Before lock, a fee can move to a later 2027 edition once. No refunds for weather.
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6
I show up for every edition I’m confirmed for
A no-show forfeits the fee and future invitations.
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7
I stay set up until close
No early teardown.
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8
I send photos and a bio by the assets deadline
Authors send a headshot and covers.
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9
I hold the permits my category needs
Food vendors: a Panhandle Health District event permit. Everyone: Idaho sales tax.
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10
I’ll be kind
To readers, vendors, and staff.
what happens after you apply
From application to market day
-
1
You apply
Dates, what you make, photos. You get a confirmation email.
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2
We read it
Invitations go out in January, in waves, starting with May. You hear either way.
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3
You’re invited
Sign the agreement and pay the fee within two weeks, or the spot goes to the waitlist.
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4
We feature you
Four weeks out, send photos and a bio. Authors: headshot and covers.
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5
You get your spot
One week out: vendor map, booth, load-in, parking.
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6
Market day
Load in, sell, stay until close, load out.
questions
The quick answers.
Is it really free?
Yes. No ticket, no RSVP, no catch. Come for ten minutes or all day.
What are the hours?
10am to 4pm, every edition.
Where do I park?
In the lots around the store. We’ll have signs up on market day.
What if the weather turns?
The November market has a snow date of November 14. If weather moves a market, it moves to the snow date.
Can I vend if I’m not local?
Yes. Authors, artists, and makers are welcome from anywhere, and the application asks where you’re traveling from and whether you’ll stay overnight.
I’m a vendor. Where will my booth be?
Placement is assigned by Plot Fest for each edition, and you’ll get your spot with the vendor map the week before.
I have a question that isn’t here.
Email hello@lovestorybooksandcafe.com. We answer within two business days.
apply
Vendor application
Pick your dates, tell us what you make, and show us photos. It takes about ten minutes and opens in a new tab.
We read every application and pick the lineup by hand. A spot is held once your signed agreement and fee are both in.
Hand-picked. Book-only. Four Sundays a year.