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Finding Authors

bqqk makes it easy to discover authors who match your needs. With powerful search and filtering tools, you can quickly find the right author for your students.

Search Basics​

Start with the search bar to find authors by:

  • Author name — If you know who you're looking for
  • Book titles — Find authors by their books
  • Presentation topics — Search for specific themes
  • Bio content — Any relevant terms

The search finds partial matches and handles common misspellings.

Search Results​

Results display key information at a glance:

  • Author headshot and name
  • Tagline or short bio
  • Age ranges they present to
  • Base price or price range
  • Distance from your institution
  • Book covers (first 3 books)
  • Rating (if reviews exist)
  • "Title 1 discount" badge (if applicable)
  • Virtual availability indicator

Filtering Results​

Narrow your search with powerful filters:

Location Filter​

Find authors who can visit without excessive travel costs:

  • Distance options: 25, 50, 100, 250 miles, or "Any"
  • Virtual visits: Include authors who offer remote presentations
  • Distance is calculated from your institution's address
  • Results show exact distance from your location
Travel Costs

Authors within 50 miles often have lower travel costs. Consider expanding your radius for more options or including virtual visits.

Age Range Filter​

Match authors to your student population:

  • Pre-K — Early childhood
  • K-2 — Kindergarten through 2nd grade
  • 3-5 — 3rd through 5th grade
  • 6-8 — Middle school
  • 9-12 — High school

Select multiple age ranges to see authors who present to any of them.

Price Range Filter​

Stay within your budget:

  • Under $500
  • $500-$1,000
  • $1,000-$2,000
  • $2,000+
  • Any price

Additional options:

  • Title 1 discounts only — Show only authors offering Title 1 rates
  • Virtual presentations may have different pricing

Availability Filter​

Find authors available when you need them:

  1. Select your desired visit date or date range
  2. Results filter to available authors
  3. Choose "Flexible dates" if you don't have a specific date yet

Availability indicators:

  • Available — Open on your selected dates
  • Limited — Some availability in your window
  • Unavailable — Not available on selected dates

Presentation Style Filter​

Find authors who offer what you need:

  • Assembly — Large group presentations
  • Classroom — Small group sessions
  • Workshop — Interactive, hands-on
  • Virtual — Remote presentations
  • Writing Residency — Multi-day engagements

You can also filter by topic/theme categories.

Evaluating Authors​

Profile Review​

Click any result to see the full author profile:

  • Complete bio and background
  • Full book catalog with descriptions
  • All presentation offerings with details
  • Pricing and travel information
  • Photos and videos from past visits
  • Awards and honors
  • Recent visit history
  • Reviews from other institutions

Reviews​

Look at what other institutions say:

  • Overall rating — Aggregate score
  • Category ratings — Presentation quality, engagement, etc.
  • Written reviews — Detailed feedback
  • Verified badge — Confirms real platform bookings

Learn more about reviews

Comparing Authors​

Open multiple profiles in separate tabs to compare:

  • Presentation offerings
  • Pricing
  • Age range compatibility
  • Reviews and ratings
  • Availability

Saving and Organizing​

Favorites​

Save authors you're interested in:

  1. Click the heart/star icon on any profile or search result
  2. Access favorites from your dashboard
  3. Review later when making decisions

Saved Searches​

Save search criteria for easy access:

  1. Configure your filters
  2. Click "Save Search"
  3. Name your search (e.g., "Elementary authors under $1,000")
  4. Re-run saved searches with one click

Email Alerts​

Get notified when new authors match your criteria:

  1. Save a search
  2. Enable email notifications
  3. Receive alerts when matching authors join the platform

Recommendations​

Based on your profile and activity, bqqk suggests authors:

  • "Recommended for You" — Matches based on your institution profile
  • "Similar to past bookings" — Authors like ones you've booked before
  • Location-based — Active authors in your area

Recommendations update as you use the platform.

Tips for Finding the Right Author​

  1. Start broad, then narrow — Begin with essential filters (age range, location)
  2. Read reviews — Past experiences predict future visits
  3. Check availability early — Popular authors book up fast
  4. Consider virtual — Expands your options significantly
  5. Look at presentation options — Match their offerings to your needs
  6. Review pricing — Ensure fit before reaching out
  7. Save favorites — Keep track of promising authors