Northwest Author Fair to Feature Pleasant Word Author
Karen Jessing, author of Hey God, You Have a Plan, Right? is one of 44 authors and artists who will participate in the 2010 Northwest Author Fair, an annual book signing event in Lincoln City, Oregon.
The literary festival takes place on August 21 from 12-3 p.m.at Bob’s Beach Books, 1747 NW Highway 101, Lincoln City, OR 97367. For information, call 541-994-4467.
For more about Karen Jessing, visit her website, www.karenjessing.com, or her blog, http://karenjessing.authorweblog.com.
Tweet This!Authors Made the Right Choice to Attend ICRS
In these hard economical times, it’s challenging to determine the right marketing choices. Nearly forty WinePress authors chose to attend the 2010 International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) in St. Louis.
ICRS provided face-to-face contact with several hundred book buyers and opportunities for media interviews, and networking with the publishing industry.
Not alone
Thomas Nichols gives a freshly-autographed book to one of his fans.
Thomas Nicholas is one author who feels attending ICRS was the right choice for his book. The author of A Matter of Choice, Nicholas challenges readers to think about the choices they make in new and deeper ways.
Thomas shares about his choice to attend ICRS 2010:
“I can’t begin to express the experiences, the attention and the benefits the convention and WinePress has brought to me and my book. I’ve had so many positive comments as in ‘I must get this book into the hands of my church members’ or ‘that is an attractive cover’ or ‘that is must for my store.’
“The immediate impression I got from ICRS was there are thousands of Christians world-wide doing the same thing–perpetuating the ‘Good News.’ We are not alone in our small corner of the world.”
More about Thomas’ book:
Do we always make wise choices? With the right information and tools for understanding their actions, readers will think about the choices they make in new and deeper ways. A Matter of Choice will challenge, surprise, and liberate your thinking.
A Nobleman’s Daughter
Signing at the Personality Booth
When asked to reflect upon her time in St. Louis, Florence said, “My time in ICRS was fabulous. I urge every writer who can to attend at least once.”
ICRS provided Florence with not only the opportunity to connect with hundreds of different retailers, but also a face-to-face interview with Phil Waldrep of Living with Joy radio. Her interview, which will air at a later date, will be broadcast on 900 Christian stations with an audience in over forty-nine states. Florence looks forward to seeing what other doors will open due to her connections at ICRS.
About The Sicilian Nobleman’s Daughter:
Following World War I, Nobleman Giovanni Calderone must choose alliance with Fascism or The Mafia. Rejecting both evils, he opts to take his family to America, and relinquish great wealth.
About The Author:
Florence Calderone Blake teaches writing courses part-time in Southern Oregon’s Rogue Community College. A part-time reporter for Oregon’s Upper Rogue Independent, she’s also had over 750 articles in national publications including Guideposts Books, Boston Globe, and Mature Living.
5 Tips to Create a Successful Book Signing Event
As a publicist I help authors schedule book signings big and small. Typically, a book signing (unless you’re Glenn Beck or Tony Dungy!) doesn’t automatically draw a huge crowd. However, there is a proper way to approach both scheduling and conducting a book signing that can create positive results.
Here are the “top 5” tips that will guide the process.
1. Be Business Minded
Remember that the bookstore or other organization is serving you by allowing the book signing. Your overall attitude should reflect this.
I cringe sometimes at how first-time authors react when bookstores are not gung-ho about their book. You have to step back and think in a “business” manner, not from an emotional view. Sometimes this is difficult, because you are passionate about your book’s message. However, if you truly want the bookstore to take notice, keep your emotions in check and conduct yourself professionally. It is a business deal and you both should benefit.
2. Be Informed
Don’t just go in and put your book on the counter; have a plan. Make sure you have visited the store and if possible even attended an event there. Get to know the places you want to host your book signing. They will appreciate that you cared enough to do your research. And if they don’t then it’s probably not the right place for you.
3. Be Confident
Just because you shouldn’t insist a bookstore host your signing, doesn’t mean you cannot exude confidence. Here are some “dos and don’ts” to help you in this area.
- Don’t tell the bookstore owner your life story.
- Do share the success of your book with readers (i.e. consumers that would likely visit their store).
- Don’t brag.
- Do share key points that show your book’s potential, such as key endorsers, community or church support, other events you have planned.
- Don’t take things personally.
- Do present your book as a resource for their customers. If you are informed you can properly present, but be willing to accept a “no” also, without an attitude. You never know, you may write another book and will need to return on a good footing.
4. Be Flexible
Make sure you’re willing to work with the store on dates, times, etc. Be ready to adjust your schedule to theirs for the best possible working relationship.
Ask questions like:
- What does your event schedule look like over the next few months?
- How early do you typically schedule events?
- What kind of events have you seen the most success with?
5. Be Creative
This is a huge key to success. You have to think “outside the box” to serve the store and the consumers.
- Can you teach a class about your book or about writing?
- Could you dress up or read your book to children?
- Is there a musical aspect to your book?
- Are there other local authors that you could share the time with?
- Is there an upcoming holiday that would help promote your book? (You can check out this link to see what’s happening each month: http://www.holidayinsights.com/ )
There are limitless ideas to help pep up your book signing, so be creative and draw in those crowds!
If you do your homework and put the work in, you can have a successful book event!
If any authors have success stories to tell, please send to publicity@winepressgroup.com. We’ll look them over and possibly post your ideas as a follow up to this blog post. Thanks!
Abigail Davidson has worked with WinePress Publishing since February of 2005. She helps promote WinePress authors through radio, television, print and Internet.
She also works closely with other WinePress staff on advertising and marketing to help WinePress authors build a publicity campaign that makes sense for their unique needs.
Tweet This!Jean Coleman Book Signing in NC
Jean Coleman, author of I Met Him in My Overalls: Life Lessons from the Master Gardener, has two upcoming book signings:
Saturday January 30, 2010
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
NoFo
2014 Fairview Rd
Raleigh, NC
Saturday February 6, 2010
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Everyday Creations
144 West Main St.
Washington, NC
Tulips, daffodils, zinnias . . . breathtaking flowers abound in Jean Coleman’s garden—and life. But her path wasn’t always radiant. For years she cultivated external excellence, wearing many hats to please many people, only to find loneliness sprouting in her soul.
Life changed when she moved to the country and began growing flowers for market. Little did she know she’d not only grow flowers in that tilled field, but God would grow her. Donning overalls, and with dirty hands, aching muscles, and itchy bug bites, Jean met her Master Gardener, and by His unconditional love, grace is budding on the abundant branches of her life, each blossom bearing the imprint of her Gardener’s hand.
Some lessons God cultivated:
- Seeds, like us, spend time in darkness, growing healthy roots before sprouting new growth in the light.
- Lush from afar but damaging to the desirable plants, weeds show how our seemingly good activities can crowd our spirit, leaving us weak.
- Just as pruning helps flowers flourish, God uses life’s trials to build, strengthen, and develop our souls.
- God’s transforming grace converts our compost pile of sins into useful, life-giving fertilizer.
- Arranging flowers allows a glimpse of God’s perspective as He places us in His arrangement.
- Hand-made bouquets, a cow-print apron, and a welcome smile made Jean’s farmer’s market booth a success—and opened her eyes to how God markets us for His purpose.
How to Stay on Your Local Bookseller’s Good Side
By Athena Dean
Over the years I’ve heard of writers going to great lengths to become a successful author. 
While some of the stories are borderline comical, others make me cringe. I’ve also known authors who have discovered great professional ways to support their local stores. Authors should build relationships with local booksellers and become a resource to them, not become someone they want to cross the street to avoid!
Here are eight guidelines to help you make friends with your local bookstore staff.
1. Introduce Yourself
If you don’t already know the folks at your local Christian store, stop by and introduce yourself. Let them know about your book, and that you’d love to make yourself available for a signing or special event. Don’t take a lot of their time, be brief and to the point.
2. Don’t Be Overzealous
Don’t call or stop by more than once every few weeks to ask how your book is selling. Your zeal can come across as nagging if you’re not careful.
3. Don’t Push Them to Hand-Sell Your Book
Don’t ask the sales staff at your local bookstore to hand-sell your book or recommend you to local church leaders. That kind of suggestion is best coming from them as a result of their excitement about your message.
4. Don’t Assume They’ll Read Your Book
Don’t constantly ask if each staff member has read your book yet. If they want to, they will read it, and if they are sold on it, you’ll be the first to know.
5. Don’t Push Your Book on Store Customers
When you are in the store and there are other customers browsing, don’t try to talk them into buying your book. Nothing will alienate the staff more than this kind of behavior.
6. Send Friends to the Store
Do send people in to buy your book. If your local Christian store is going to stock your book, then support them in return by sending customers in to buy your book.
7. Help Promote Your Book Signing
Should they set a book signing for you, find out what their goals might be and see how you might help meet them. To help advertise the event provide the store with bag stuffers and posters prior to your signing?
8. Make Your Book Signing an Event to Remember
If possible, develop a festive theme or workshop event that you can provide your local booksellers to build around your book signing. 
This gives them a special event to offer, rather than a simple book signing. Customers look for an experience. Think of creative ways you can turn a book signing into a unique happening for those who attend.
Athena Dean is a Solutions Advisor for the Pleasant Word division. She works with new authors who need to test the market for their book using custom print-on-demand technology.
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