How to find local book events

Visiting the local library can be a great way to find opportunities to market your book.  As I came out of the library today I noticed a poster for an upcoming book event and they needed authors to do signings.  I would make it a habit to visit your local library and watch out for events that you may be able to participate in.

Information for this particualr event can be found at www.bookemfoundation.org so if you happen to be in the Charleston area I would check this site out.

Visit your library this weekend and see what you can find! 

Writing Your Way to Recognition

One of the best things you can do to build visibility to your book is to publish your other writings.  Being published in trade journals and magazines can raise your visibility as a writer and thereby raise the visibility of your book.  You can also publish articles on-line as well.

I found the following information in a forum I am involved with that I think can really be of use when trying to find some other outlets to publish your book. 

“1. You can write for sites like Associated Content (www.associatedcontent.com) or Helium (www.helium.com) as a way of getting started. The pay is not a lot ($5 or less in many cases), but it’s a great way of improving your writing.

2. The Writer’s Market book is a wonderful resource and has contact information for many magazines (trade magazines are a great way to get started and there are more magazines listed than you could ever imagine)

3. Media Bistro and Writer’s Weekly are two other spots which list freelance work for people of all experience levels.”

I would definitely recommend giving some of these options a try and seeing if some other work published can help your book!

Success Story – Award Winner

One of the authors I work with, T.K. Garrison, just won the National Indie Excellence Award in the Young Adult Fiction category for his book, The Collin Chronicles: Book 1 – Magic, Bones, and Catacombs.

Here is a link to his website so you can learn more about his book – http://www.tkgarrison.com/

Here is a link to his book on Amazon.com – http://www.amazon.com/Collin-Chronicles-Magic-Bones-Catacombs/dp/1419658875/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210339450&sr=8-7

If you are looking for a book in this category be sure to check his out! 

Using Amazon Upgrade Program to Increase Sales

One of my authors emailed me today to inform me of a new option Amazon has released that may help you get additional sales of your book by allowing customers to purchase a digital version of your book right after they purchase the print version. It is a fairly small fee and allows the customer to start reading the book right away while allowing you to earn a few more dollars on your book. As long as your book is in Amazon’s Search Inside program you can use this feature. If your book is not activated with Search Inside and you are published through Booksurge you simply need to email customerservice@booksurge.com and ask that they activate this Search Inside feature for you. If you are not a Booksurge author and need this feature for your book see this link – http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=14061791

If you are interested in signing up for the Amazon upgrade service you can email digitalbooks@amazon.com.

If you have more questions about this program please visit the FAQ section on Amazon.com – http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=110744011

I hope this program helps get you some incremental sales!

Success Story – Getting on local TV stations

This author was able to get some interest from a local TV station after an article about her book was placed in the local newspaper. It is important to try and build off of your successes and Marta was able to branch one success by getting into the newspaper into another success with getting on TV. In her own words:

The television video coverage of “La Fiesta y el Mariachi” came about soon after our story was placed in the North County Times, a San Diego County area newspaper. This article was very well written and well received. We got many compliments. Channel 10 News in San Diego contacted Mrs. Hawes, the artist, and plans were made thereafter to set a date for us to show the book, read the story, and conduct interviews. Evie Ramos, of 10News.com, was our primary reporter. She was so professional and friendly. All of us felt at ease working with her. The entire taping took forty-five minutes. This positive experience was one Jefferson Elementary students and Dr. VanVooren, the principal, as well as Marsha Hawes and myself, really appreciate. (Recording was conducted 1-8-08/ airing: 1-23-08)

Here is a link to the airing:
www.10news.com/video/15124232/index.html?taf=sand

Here is her book on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Fiesta-y-el-Mariachi/dp/1419663399/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201539421&sr=1-1

Success Story

This author had a writer see her book on a local events list in her area, and was contacted about an interview. In her words, “The free lance writer was referred to me by Booksurge. He saw the booktitle on an events list somewhere in San Diego; so he contacted Booksurge, who gave him my name and info…When he e-mailed me, I sent him a copy of the book, and a few days later, he called me for the phone interview.”

Here is the link where you can see her interview: http://www.laprensa-sandiego.org/current/mariachi.htm

Here is her book on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Fiesta-y-el-Mariachi/dp/1419663399/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-7613588-2714267?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184765769&sr=8-1

Success Story

Here is an email I received from one of my authors – some of the things she did may be of help to everyone:

Hello JohnMark
I wanted to give you a small review on how my first book signing event went. First, I did a great job promoting and marketing the book. I went on 5 different aired Local TV Shows, I passed out flyers, I posted 18X24 posters all over my town and shared my publication announcement with over 7 collaborative groups consist of members from different community based organizations throughout the Hudson Valley area, which includes, Rockland County, Westchester County, Ulster County, Sullivan County, Orange County. I also advertised on all the lower hudson radio stations, live and on their websites. I advertised on the Local Journal news and on News12 New York News Cable website. I also made use of my company email data and sent the announcement to hundreds of people and businesses. As a result I am happy to say that I had over 150 people in attendance and sold 80 books. The Library donated their space. I printed bookmarks and donate to buyers. I signed bookmarks to the children and I catered refreshments. I had a big cake made with an edible book cover printed on top. I also met the Manager of my local Barnes and Nobles recently whom came to attend my book signing. She will be contacting you soon. She seems very interested in having my book on her shelves.
I connected with a Jazz Enterprise promoter that is doing an annual concert in New York City on March 10th, 2007. They offered me an opportunity to make announcements throughout the concert acknowledging my first publication. I admire the gesture and since they are also doing a raffle for the early birds, I have donated two books as door prizes.There is also an organization that is doing a fundraising to raise awareness of the existence of LGBT in the Haitian community. I am their guest of honor and will also donate 3 copies to be sold for their benefits.
In all, I think I am on the right path and my book is starting to smell like success. Thank you all at booksurge for making it simple for starters such as I, to bring our stories to life.
Daniela D. DuCasse, Author

Here is her book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Farewell-Old-Me-Love-you/dp/1427607664/ref=sr_11_1/103-7613588-2714267?ie=UTF8&qid=1173203424&sr=11-1