Zoë Foster Blake Tour Charges $80 Admission
The author's Group Chat tour, which has stopped in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, has drawn mixed reactions from attendees.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Fashion
Live Poll
Would you pay $80 to attend a celebrity author's book tour event?
Author Zoë Foster Blake is touring Australia to promote her novel Group Chat, with a tour event admission fee of $80. Some attendees have described the events as awkward and underwhelming.
Why it matters
The ticket price and event format have prompted debate among attendees about value for money at author events. Further tour stops are scheduled in Canberra, Brisbane and Adelaide.
The $80 admission compares with the $34.99 paperback price, and guests received a hat and three sample-sized Go-To products with their ticket. Attendance numbers at the events have not been reported.
The players
Zoë Foster Blake
Australian author and beauty entrepreneur who is touring to promote her novel Group Chat.
Tracey Vo
Beauty and lifestyle personality who appeared at the tour event.
Monique Bowley
Journalist who interviewed Zoë Foster Blake during the tour event.
The details
At the Sydney event, journalist Justine Cullen, a longtime friend and former colleague of Zoë Foster Blake, took part, and guests queued for about an hour for book signings. Events feature interviews with journalist Monique Bowley and beauty and lifestyle personality Tracey Vo.
Timeline
Group Chat was published by Allen & Unwin in September 2026.
Guests queued for about an hour for book signings at the Sydney event.
Further tour appearances are scheduled in Canberra, Brisbane and Adelaide.
Market Landscape
Paid, interview-style author events are part of a broader push by Australian publishers and authors to sell books through live experiences. The $80 admission places this tour at the higher end of such events, which is central to the debate among attendees.
Readers planning to attend a tour stop should weigh the $80 admission against the included book and products. Attendance at signings may involve queuing for about an hour.
The takeaway
Readers considering paid author events should compare the ticket price with what is included, such as a book or product samples, and factor in expected wait times.
What happens next
Tour appearances are scheduled in Canberra, Brisbane and Adelaide.
Further reading
For more on lifestyle and personal style coverage, see Fashion.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mail Online.
Live Poll
Would you pay $80 to attend a celebrity author's book tour event?
