Brydie Wright's Blog - Posts Tagged "poo-book-blog"
8. May, 2017 A Facebook Party Guide: What, Why and How?
As followers of my social media feeds may be aware, I took part in a Facebook Party on Sunday 7 May. It was a lot of work but I really enjoyed it and I used my 'Guest Author’ forum to launch my new Book Trailer for Daddy and the World’s Longest Poo.
A Facebook Party is a useful tool for promoting yourself as an author or blogger but
What exactly is it?
Why would you use it? (and)
How do you get it right?
Over the next three weeks, I’m going to blog about my experiences and share some tips to help others who may be keen to try the format but nervous about its capabilities and limitations.
The party I’m going to use as a reference point is Michelle Dennise’s Cover Reveal Facebook Party, a page which is still live and filled with great content across seven different children’s authors. It's a good working example of the format and I’m going to preface this blog by saying that I was very impressed with the host’s execution of this party and any experiential knowledge taken from it, will be used here purely for constructive purposes.
And, I should mention that I’ve also been to one other Facebook Party, hosted by a popular writer’s group. I attended as a guest, so I now have user experiences from both the hosting and joining perspectives. There is good and bad in the format, regardless of how well it is executed, and I’ll do my best to present a balanced representation as a kind of ‘beginner’s guide’ to the what, why and how.
In this week’s post, I’ll be musing on a common reaction to the format:-
What on earth is a Facebook Party?
I think your reaction to a Facebook Party invite might depend on whether you are using social media for professional or private purposes. Case in point, my professional author/blogger contacts tended to take my invitations to join a Facebook Party in their stride, or they weren’t letting on to me if they didn’t understand what I was talking about. On the other hand, close family members I invited were terrified of the offer. Maybe that says something about my personal ‘pull’ but I think it was more likely a healthy skepticism on their part as ‘personal’ users of social media. What am I being roped into? Do I have to be on camera in a live party situation? Would I attend this party if the host wasn’t my relative/friend?
So, if you’re considering a Facebook Party invitation and wondering if you should go, let me clear up some possible misconceptions. The beauty of the format is that it can be as ‘live’ an experience as you want it to be, for the participant. You don’t have to break the safety of your anonymous, social media cocoon. You can wear your PJs and sit behind the computer screen chowing down on the snack of your choice with gay abandon, though you will need one hand spare to hit the ‘refresh’ button (more on that in coming weeks!). And, you can dip in and out and be as social or as antisocial as you want to, during the party. You can even miss the party and come back as a voyeur later, if the page remains published by the host.
While live video streaming might be employed if you’re 'techie' enough, the host would use this function at their own peril. Technical gremlins might freeze or delay the feed, especially if you’re at one of those elusive Facebook Parties with 'very high traffic'. Most author parties online would still play it safe and conduct most of the interaction through a series of posts on which guests can comment, as per usual Facebook behaviour, except you know that your host will (or should) be there ‘live’ to respond to your queries.
So hopefully, I’m conveying the idea that a Facebook Party is more like a silent disco with headphones, than a face-to-face, raucous concoction of music, laughter and alcohol. It’s more of an intellectual, knowledge exchange party, you might say, usually with prizes, like a kid’s party! Content can be shared by the host and participants (to varying degrees) via text-based posts, text and photo posts, memes, emojis, clip art, pre-recorded video and links to YouTube and other weird and wonderful places. Live engagement with posts is also encouraged via the commenting function within posts, or visitor posts and page reviews.
To Fly Solo or Co-host?
From an author’s, or Facebook group's perspective, you may ponder whether to host solo or share the spotlight and invite others to ‘co-host’ or ‘guest host’. There are pros and cons to both and I’ll talk more about this when I look at ‘why host a Facebook Party’ in the blog next week. Whichever option you choose, the content you post is designed to impart information about your product, services or group, in the most engaging way possible. A healthy mix is needed between instructive posts, information sharing and inviting audience participation to achieve the interactive and social engagement goals of the party. The most interactive parties encourage ‘live Q&A’, commenting and submitting answers to quiz questions, to enter the draw for promotional prizes.
Varied content and mixed use of audio visual posts, such as pre-recorded video, will liven up what can otherwise be a slow format and as always, asking your guests to compete for ‘free stuff’ will get the party started instantly. Trivia-based giveaways work particularly well when you have an existing group in attendance, with prior knowledge and affiliation with the ‘product’ the party is promoting.
So, the next time you are asked to attend a Facebook Party, don’t freak out. It’s a little like attending comedy or live theatre. Those who love audience participation book front row seats and those who prefer a one-way, observational experience will sit as far from the front as possible. The more of yourself you commit to a Facebook Party, whether host or guest, the more rewarding the experience will be but you might equally prefer to be a fly of the wall and there is no better party for introverts.
And now that you’ve been brave and clicked ‘Going’ to your Facebook Party invite, come back next week for more blogging wisdom on why you might choose this format to promote your writing wares.
A Facebook Party is a useful tool for promoting yourself as an author or blogger but
What exactly is it?
Why would you use it? (and)
How do you get it right?
Over the next three weeks, I’m going to blog about my experiences and share some tips to help others who may be keen to try the format but nervous about its capabilities and limitations.
The party I’m going to use as a reference point is Michelle Dennise’s Cover Reveal Facebook Party, a page which is still live and filled with great content across seven different children’s authors. It's a good working example of the format and I’m going to preface this blog by saying that I was very impressed with the host’s execution of this party and any experiential knowledge taken from it, will be used here purely for constructive purposes.
And, I should mention that I’ve also been to one other Facebook Party, hosted by a popular writer’s group. I attended as a guest, so I now have user experiences from both the hosting and joining perspectives. There is good and bad in the format, regardless of how well it is executed, and I’ll do my best to present a balanced representation as a kind of ‘beginner’s guide’ to the what, why and how.
In this week’s post, I’ll be musing on a common reaction to the format:-
What on earth is a Facebook Party?
I think your reaction to a Facebook Party invite might depend on whether you are using social media for professional or private purposes. Case in point, my professional author/blogger contacts tended to take my invitations to join a Facebook Party in their stride, or they weren’t letting on to me if they didn’t understand what I was talking about. On the other hand, close family members I invited were terrified of the offer. Maybe that says something about my personal ‘pull’ but I think it was more likely a healthy skepticism on their part as ‘personal’ users of social media. What am I being roped into? Do I have to be on camera in a live party situation? Would I attend this party if the host wasn’t my relative/friend?
So, if you’re considering a Facebook Party invitation and wondering if you should go, let me clear up some possible misconceptions. The beauty of the format is that it can be as ‘live’ an experience as you want it to be, for the participant. You don’t have to break the safety of your anonymous, social media cocoon. You can wear your PJs and sit behind the computer screen chowing down on the snack of your choice with gay abandon, though you will need one hand spare to hit the ‘refresh’ button (more on that in coming weeks!). And, you can dip in and out and be as social or as antisocial as you want to, during the party. You can even miss the party and come back as a voyeur later, if the page remains published by the host.
While live video streaming might be employed if you’re 'techie' enough, the host would use this function at their own peril. Technical gremlins might freeze or delay the feed, especially if you’re at one of those elusive Facebook Parties with 'very high traffic'. Most author parties online would still play it safe and conduct most of the interaction through a series of posts on which guests can comment, as per usual Facebook behaviour, except you know that your host will (or should) be there ‘live’ to respond to your queries.
So hopefully, I’m conveying the idea that a Facebook Party is more like a silent disco with headphones, than a face-to-face, raucous concoction of music, laughter and alcohol. It’s more of an intellectual, knowledge exchange party, you might say, usually with prizes, like a kid’s party! Content can be shared by the host and participants (to varying degrees) via text-based posts, text and photo posts, memes, emojis, clip art, pre-recorded video and links to YouTube and other weird and wonderful places. Live engagement with posts is also encouraged via the commenting function within posts, or visitor posts and page reviews.
To Fly Solo or Co-host?
From an author’s, or Facebook group's perspective, you may ponder whether to host solo or share the spotlight and invite others to ‘co-host’ or ‘guest host’. There are pros and cons to both and I’ll talk more about this when I look at ‘why host a Facebook Party’ in the blog next week. Whichever option you choose, the content you post is designed to impart information about your product, services or group, in the most engaging way possible. A healthy mix is needed between instructive posts, information sharing and inviting audience participation to achieve the interactive and social engagement goals of the party. The most interactive parties encourage ‘live Q&A’, commenting and submitting answers to quiz questions, to enter the draw for promotional prizes.
Varied content and mixed use of audio visual posts, such as pre-recorded video, will liven up what can otherwise be a slow format and as always, asking your guests to compete for ‘free stuff’ will get the party started instantly. Trivia-based giveaways work particularly well when you have an existing group in attendance, with prior knowledge and affiliation with the ‘product’ the party is promoting.
So, the next time you are asked to attend a Facebook Party, don’t freak out. It’s a little like attending comedy or live theatre. Those who love audience participation book front row seats and those who prefer a one-way, observational experience will sit as far from the front as possible. The more of yourself you commit to a Facebook Party, whether host or guest, the more rewarding the experience will be but you might equally prefer to be a fly of the wall and there is no better party for introverts.
And now that you’ve been brave and clicked ‘Going’ to your Facebook Party invite, come back next week for more blogging wisdom on why you might choose this format to promote your writing wares.
16. May, 2017 A Facebook Party Guide: Why Host One?
Thanks for tuning in again to the second in this tri-series of blogs on Facebook Parties and what on earth to do with them. Last week, I kicked off with a description of WHAT to expect from a Facebook Party. I’m hoping to de-shroud the mystery around the format.
In this post, I’ll explain WHY the format might be a good one for authors and bloggers, looking after their own PR.
A Facebook Group Celebrating a Birthday or Anniversary
It just so happens I attended another Facebook Party during the week, as a guest, so I’m well-stocked with experiential advice. The party I refer to was an anniversary celebration for a children’s writers' group. The virtual get-together was used as an internal group promotion, to strengthen the collegiate networking spirit between members. As with all Facebook Groups, members can dip in and out of conversations, often contributing to a ‘bystander’ feeling, rather than a sense of 'ownership' re the group’s objectives.
By publicising a 1-hour slot for a Facebook Party on a certain date, at a certain time, it’s a kind of friendly ‘Call to Action’ from the hosts of the group, giving all members a chance to actively take part in a live discussion. Using a Facebook Party to bring together an already targeted group of followers, is a great tool for strengthening engagement, if done right. I’ll talk more about HOW to pull off a successful party like this, next week. The party I attended gave me some great ideas, I'm keen to share.
A Facebook Party Promoting the Objectives and Services of a Group
An industry group for writers might market itself as a provider of services to its members. It is therefore faced with the ongoing challenge of how to engage members with its information and commercial products.
I’m a member of a great industry group for children’s authors and illustrators, though its Facebook page is more of an information service, rather than a page on which members can freely post, share and self-promote. The first Facebook Party I attended was held as a Birthday celebration for the group but it’s PR purpose was very different from the anniversary party I’ve described above.
The host of the party was skillful in designing the activity as an opportunity for members to become more aware of the resources and services available to them. I don’t want to go too far into the ‘HOW’ of Facebook parties this week but this host chose quiz questions (with book prizes) that mostly required a search of the group’s website. What a clever way to direct targeted traffic to your website (during the party) and highlight your services (commercial or otherwise).
A Facebook Party Promoting an Author’s Wares – the Cover Reveal
If you’ve not yet attended a Facebook Party, you might be wondering if it’s a live video-feed, Q&A format. While these live feeds are used to great effect by writers with public profile, the Facebook Party format is a little different. It’s more structured and less reliant on live video streaming, and often a better tool for emerging wordsmiths with smaller fan bases.
New 'indie' author Michelle Dennise, introduced me to the Cover Reveal as a reason to host a Facebook Party. I put my hand up for one of her 15-min guest author slots. Michelle’s Cover Reveal Party page is still live, if you’d like to take a poke around.
As an individual marketing his/her writing business online, as opposed to a group sharing common interests, the most likely reason to use the Facebook Party format is when you have a new product to promote.
Think a virtual book launch and the Cover Reveal Party is a good example. You might (and hopefully do have) a dedicated Author/Blogger Facebook Page but consistent engagement can be hard to garner. You can set up an event on your page, or publish a separate Party Page, especially useful if you are co-hosting with other authors and need a neutral space. The objective is then that this page will attract its own legion of followers before, during and post-event, all the while cross-posting back to your main Author Page.
When you are a new or relatively unknown author, it’s going to be a tough ask to draw a huge amount of traffic to your Party Page. On the other hand, this might be the best reason to host a party. Why not celebrate your launch or reveal your book cover ? It will create a buzz around you, more so than if you are just sending promotional posts out into the ether.
We’ll talk more about this next week but this is where inviting other 'indie' writers to co-host can be a boon. The aim should be to pool your follower base and cross promote the party as much as possible. and after all, a party of one is no fun!
The Cover Reveal Party is best timed immediately prior to your book launch with the goal of attracting pre-orders and followers to your Author Page, post-party.
Next week in the blog...
So, now that I've planted the seed of hosting your own Facebook Party, you’ll be raring to go but don’t rush in quite yet. If you don’t execute a Facebook Party right, you could damage your personal or group brand. None of us want this.
Drawing on my Facebook Party experiences, I’m going to highlight some key areas that will make a difference to how you come across in your live online platform. I can’t wait to share with you.
Have a good week!
Brydie Wright
In this post, I’ll explain WHY the format might be a good one for authors and bloggers, looking after their own PR.
A Facebook Group Celebrating a Birthday or Anniversary
It just so happens I attended another Facebook Party during the week, as a guest, so I’m well-stocked with experiential advice. The party I refer to was an anniversary celebration for a children’s writers' group. The virtual get-together was used as an internal group promotion, to strengthen the collegiate networking spirit between members. As with all Facebook Groups, members can dip in and out of conversations, often contributing to a ‘bystander’ feeling, rather than a sense of 'ownership' re the group’s objectives.
By publicising a 1-hour slot for a Facebook Party on a certain date, at a certain time, it’s a kind of friendly ‘Call to Action’ from the hosts of the group, giving all members a chance to actively take part in a live discussion. Using a Facebook Party to bring together an already targeted group of followers, is a great tool for strengthening engagement, if done right. I’ll talk more about HOW to pull off a successful party like this, next week. The party I attended gave me some great ideas, I'm keen to share.
A Facebook Party Promoting the Objectives and Services of a Group
An industry group for writers might market itself as a provider of services to its members. It is therefore faced with the ongoing challenge of how to engage members with its information and commercial products.
I’m a member of a great industry group for children’s authors and illustrators, though its Facebook page is more of an information service, rather than a page on which members can freely post, share and self-promote. The first Facebook Party I attended was held as a Birthday celebration for the group but it’s PR purpose was very different from the anniversary party I’ve described above.
The host of the party was skillful in designing the activity as an opportunity for members to become more aware of the resources and services available to them. I don’t want to go too far into the ‘HOW’ of Facebook parties this week but this host chose quiz questions (with book prizes) that mostly required a search of the group’s website. What a clever way to direct targeted traffic to your website (during the party) and highlight your services (commercial or otherwise).
A Facebook Party Promoting an Author’s Wares – the Cover Reveal
If you’ve not yet attended a Facebook Party, you might be wondering if it’s a live video-feed, Q&A format. While these live feeds are used to great effect by writers with public profile, the Facebook Party format is a little different. It’s more structured and less reliant on live video streaming, and often a better tool for emerging wordsmiths with smaller fan bases.
New 'indie' author Michelle Dennise, introduced me to the Cover Reveal as a reason to host a Facebook Party. I put my hand up for one of her 15-min guest author slots. Michelle’s Cover Reveal Party page is still live, if you’d like to take a poke around.
As an individual marketing his/her writing business online, as opposed to a group sharing common interests, the most likely reason to use the Facebook Party format is when you have a new product to promote.
Think a virtual book launch and the Cover Reveal Party is a good example. You might (and hopefully do have) a dedicated Author/Blogger Facebook Page but consistent engagement can be hard to garner. You can set up an event on your page, or publish a separate Party Page, especially useful if you are co-hosting with other authors and need a neutral space. The objective is then that this page will attract its own legion of followers before, during and post-event, all the while cross-posting back to your main Author Page.
When you are a new or relatively unknown author, it’s going to be a tough ask to draw a huge amount of traffic to your Party Page. On the other hand, this might be the best reason to host a party. Why not celebrate your launch or reveal your book cover ? It will create a buzz around you, more so than if you are just sending promotional posts out into the ether.
We’ll talk more about this next week but this is where inviting other 'indie' writers to co-host can be a boon. The aim should be to pool your follower base and cross promote the party as much as possible. and after all, a party of one is no fun!
The Cover Reveal Party is best timed immediately prior to your book launch with the goal of attracting pre-orders and followers to your Author Page, post-party.
Next week in the blog...
So, now that I've planted the seed of hosting your own Facebook Party, you’ll be raring to go but don’t rush in quite yet. If you don’t execute a Facebook Party right, you could damage your personal or group brand. None of us want this.
Drawing on my Facebook Party experiences, I’m going to highlight some key areas that will make a difference to how you come across in your live online platform. I can’t wait to share with you.
Have a good week!
Brydie Wright
A Facebook Party: How to Host a Good Shindig
Welcome to another week and the third and final instalment in my Facebook Party Guide: the WHAT, the WHY and the HOW.
This week: the 'HOW'
Anyone can throw a Facebook Party but as with a real-life party, or launch event, a bad or poorly executed party, could do more harm than good.
If your aim as a writer or writer's group, is to promote and engage, then there are ways to do this to a professional standard. On a public-facing page, we are always on show and every opportunity counts.
From my experiences, as both a party attendee and guest host (and former event manager), I’ve gleaned some trips of the trade, designed to help your party provide a better user experience and return on investment for the host/s.
Timing and Duration
Let’s be real. A virtual party is an awkward format for both the host and the user. Therefore, the best tactic is to keep it short and sweet. One hour works well, as the pace can often be frantic when the activity is live. Your users will appreciate a manageable timeslot they can devote themselves to, around their busy lives.
If you have good reason to make your party longer (for example, you might be co-hosting and providing multiple guest author slots), then keep the schedule tight. Publicise key timings for tuning in (i.e. cover reveals or Q&As) and accept that your audience and engagement will ebb and flow, as with any real-life party over several hours. Just give guests enough reasons to tune in and keep coming back.
If your audience is international, you are never going to please all timezones. As with Michelle Dennise’s recent Cover Reveal Party, the host invited US and Australian guest authors to take part, so found a morning/evening slot that suited US and Australian timezones. If your audience is local, around 8pm on a Sunday evening or weeknight might be a good time, to allow families to get their commitments out of the way before hand.
Inviting co-hosts: the pros and cons
A simple term for inviting other people to co-host your party is ‘group work’. How many projects have I seen fail as soon as responsibility becomes decentralised and the most conscientious person ends up doing all the work?
In terms of hosting a Facebook Party as a professional, promotional tool, it doesn’t have to be this way. Group work in this scenario should mean, strength in numbers, pooled talents, pooled resources, depth of content and variety of approaches. Michelle Dennise’s Facebook Party page is a good example of a group activity making for a richer promotional and user experience. Post-party, the page is still attracting more and more likes by the day!
When you bring others into your project, these tips migh help keep things on track:
◦As host, you are ultimately responsible for how the party plays out, so plan, promote, rehearse and expect the same of your guest hosts.
◦Invite people you know to co-host, or have some sort of vetting process, or agreement from your co-hosts that they will be able to commit to what is required (including cross-promotion of the event on their own feeds).
◦Guest hosts are responsible for the success of their individual slots but don’t assume anything, as people’s knowledge of the technical capacities of Facebook will differ. If you are main host, make sure everyone involved is clear on the ground rules for posting and interaction and that they understand how to navigate and use the party page effectively, BEFORE the party goes live.
◦Maintain pre-party communication with your co-hosts and perhaps set up a chat group on messenger (useful during the party, in particular). Don’t be afraid to ask for segment outlines from your group, so you know all is well in advance, or can help, if potential glitches seem to be arising.
◦Provide 'trouble shooting' guidelines for your co-hosts, so they are aware of the technical gremlins that can plague Facebook Parties. For example, attendees need to regularly refresh their pages, so that they can see the newest content. Co-hosts will also do well to pre-schedule some posts and rehearse and plan the best way to post video material in the feed.
How to Deliver A Fun Party When You Are Live
For my money, here’s a summary of some do's and don’ts to get the most of your Facebook Party.
Don’ts
◦Don’t leave too much to chance. Know what you are going to post, when you are going to post it and how. Audience interaction should be 'by the seat of their pants' but your's as host should be controlled wherever possible.
◦Don’t leave too much time between posts. Think carefully of the user experience. How long will it realistically take attendees to read and interact with the post, leaving some buffer for delays and technical issues? If you leave it too long before your next post, it will break momentum and leave those with good WIFI connections and reflexes, bored.
Do's
◦As with any event, provide some simple and friendly housekeeping rules for your attendees (and co-hosts). If they’ve never been to a Facebook Party before, they’ll appreciate it. The main thing is to manage EVERYONE’s expectations. Technology/WIFI is our friend but can also be our greatest foe. The more traffic to your site at one time, or the weaker a participant's internet connection, the more delays you might expect. Let everyone know upfront, that new posts will go up regularly and to keep refreshing their pages every few minutes to stay in touch with the latest posts.
◦Use a wide variety of posts to enrich your content delivery including text, colourful or meaningful graphics, text with graphics, funny/cool gifs, book trailers, cover reveals, short presenter videos (pre-record preferably) and quizzes with prizes.
◦Did someone say trivia and prizes!! This is a terrific drawcard and engagement tool and I’ve seen it used expertly by the Just Write for Kids and Creative Kids Tales Facebook pages for their group parties. The latter upped the ante and competitive spirit, by asking questions that required a live visit to its webpage. The former chose a fantasy theme, Lewis Carroll’s Alice Through the Looking Glass, to keep all of us writerly types enthralled and engaged.
◦If you run a quiz, I do think it’s rewarding for those in attendance, to award a prize at the end of the event but you might also like to keep an avenue open for post-party engagement to the page. This could be done by running another competition for those who couldn’t attend and keep it open for a certain amount of time post-party.
◦Invite real interaction from the audience, to make guests feel involved in the party and not just bystanders. A great technique I learned is to ask your guests to introduce themselves when they arrive and share their professional Facebook Pages. Writers love this!! Another idea is to run a live Q&A segment, or generally invite comments to any post. As host/s, try to reply during the party if possible and if not, acknowledge and respond to comments/questions after. Reward and thank people for their participation.
I hope that the experiences I’ve shared have been constructive. I appreciate not everyone might agree, or you might have better ideas on how to pull a crowd and achieve a high return on investment from a Facebook Party.
I’d love to hear from you either via a comment on my website (www.brydiewright.com) or you might like to comment in the Facebook feeds where I share this post.
To all who’ve taken the time to read (and the parties I've cited as inspiration), thank you.
Now, good luck and get partying!
This week: the 'HOW'
Anyone can throw a Facebook Party but as with a real-life party, or launch event, a bad or poorly executed party, could do more harm than good.
If your aim as a writer or writer's group, is to promote and engage, then there are ways to do this to a professional standard. On a public-facing page, we are always on show and every opportunity counts.
From my experiences, as both a party attendee and guest host (and former event manager), I’ve gleaned some trips of the trade, designed to help your party provide a better user experience and return on investment for the host/s.
Timing and Duration
Let’s be real. A virtual party is an awkward format for both the host and the user. Therefore, the best tactic is to keep it short and sweet. One hour works well, as the pace can often be frantic when the activity is live. Your users will appreciate a manageable timeslot they can devote themselves to, around their busy lives.
If you have good reason to make your party longer (for example, you might be co-hosting and providing multiple guest author slots), then keep the schedule tight. Publicise key timings for tuning in (i.e. cover reveals or Q&As) and accept that your audience and engagement will ebb and flow, as with any real-life party over several hours. Just give guests enough reasons to tune in and keep coming back.
If your audience is international, you are never going to please all timezones. As with Michelle Dennise’s recent Cover Reveal Party, the host invited US and Australian guest authors to take part, so found a morning/evening slot that suited US and Australian timezones. If your audience is local, around 8pm on a Sunday evening or weeknight might be a good time, to allow families to get their commitments out of the way before hand.
Inviting co-hosts: the pros and cons
A simple term for inviting other people to co-host your party is ‘group work’. How many projects have I seen fail as soon as responsibility becomes decentralised and the most conscientious person ends up doing all the work?
In terms of hosting a Facebook Party as a professional, promotional tool, it doesn’t have to be this way. Group work in this scenario should mean, strength in numbers, pooled talents, pooled resources, depth of content and variety of approaches. Michelle Dennise’s Facebook Party page is a good example of a group activity making for a richer promotional and user experience. Post-party, the page is still attracting more and more likes by the day!
When you bring others into your project, these tips migh help keep things on track:
◦As host, you are ultimately responsible for how the party plays out, so plan, promote, rehearse and expect the same of your guest hosts.
◦Invite people you know to co-host, or have some sort of vetting process, or agreement from your co-hosts that they will be able to commit to what is required (including cross-promotion of the event on their own feeds).
◦Guest hosts are responsible for the success of their individual slots but don’t assume anything, as people’s knowledge of the technical capacities of Facebook will differ. If you are main host, make sure everyone involved is clear on the ground rules for posting and interaction and that they understand how to navigate and use the party page effectively, BEFORE the party goes live.
◦Maintain pre-party communication with your co-hosts and perhaps set up a chat group on messenger (useful during the party, in particular). Don’t be afraid to ask for segment outlines from your group, so you know all is well in advance, or can help, if potential glitches seem to be arising.
◦Provide 'trouble shooting' guidelines for your co-hosts, so they are aware of the technical gremlins that can plague Facebook Parties. For example, attendees need to regularly refresh their pages, so that they can see the newest content. Co-hosts will also do well to pre-schedule some posts and rehearse and plan the best way to post video material in the feed.
How to Deliver A Fun Party When You Are Live
For my money, here’s a summary of some do's and don’ts to get the most of your Facebook Party.
Don’ts
◦Don’t leave too much to chance. Know what you are going to post, when you are going to post it and how. Audience interaction should be 'by the seat of their pants' but your's as host should be controlled wherever possible.
◦Don’t leave too much time between posts. Think carefully of the user experience. How long will it realistically take attendees to read and interact with the post, leaving some buffer for delays and technical issues? If you leave it too long before your next post, it will break momentum and leave those with good WIFI connections and reflexes, bored.
Do's
◦As with any event, provide some simple and friendly housekeeping rules for your attendees (and co-hosts). If they’ve never been to a Facebook Party before, they’ll appreciate it. The main thing is to manage EVERYONE’s expectations. Technology/WIFI is our friend but can also be our greatest foe. The more traffic to your site at one time, or the weaker a participant's internet connection, the more delays you might expect. Let everyone know upfront, that new posts will go up regularly and to keep refreshing their pages every few minutes to stay in touch with the latest posts.
◦Use a wide variety of posts to enrich your content delivery including text, colourful or meaningful graphics, text with graphics, funny/cool gifs, book trailers, cover reveals, short presenter videos (pre-record preferably) and quizzes with prizes.
◦Did someone say trivia and prizes!! This is a terrific drawcard and engagement tool and I’ve seen it used expertly by the Just Write for Kids and Creative Kids Tales Facebook pages for their group parties. The latter upped the ante and competitive spirit, by asking questions that required a live visit to its webpage. The former chose a fantasy theme, Lewis Carroll’s Alice Through the Looking Glass, to keep all of us writerly types enthralled and engaged.
◦If you run a quiz, I do think it’s rewarding for those in attendance, to award a prize at the end of the event but you might also like to keep an avenue open for post-party engagement to the page. This could be done by running another competition for those who couldn’t attend and keep it open for a certain amount of time post-party.
◦Invite real interaction from the audience, to make guests feel involved in the party and not just bystanders. A great technique I learned is to ask your guests to introduce themselves when they arrive and share their professional Facebook Pages. Writers love this!! Another idea is to run a live Q&A segment, or generally invite comments to any post. As host/s, try to reply during the party if possible and if not, acknowledge and respond to comments/questions after. Reward and thank people for their participation.
I hope that the experiences I’ve shared have been constructive. I appreciate not everyone might agree, or you might have better ideas on how to pull a crowd and achieve a high return on investment from a Facebook Party.
I’d love to hear from you either via a comment on my website (www.brydiewright.com) or you might like to comment in the Facebook feeds where I share this post.
To all who’ve taken the time to read (and the parties I've cited as inspiration), thank you.
Now, good luck and get partying!
The Sunshine Blogger Award
I, Daddy, from Daddy and the World’s Longest Poo, would like to thank the academy for this most auspicious of accolades. My author, Brydie Wright, would like to take the credit for this Sunshine Blogger Award but without my character, she’d be nothing and her book wouldn’t be the success it is (or could be one day).
But even I must give credit where credit is due. Without a nomination from Kim M Watt, blogger extraordinaire, my blog may well have been overlooked. Kim’s own interview for the Sunshine Blogger Award, won on behalf of Layla, the world-dominating cat, is one of the most entertaining I’ve seen in recent years.
I read it on the loo where all my best thinking is done.
And It is now my pleasure to carry on the Sunshine Blogging tradition and answer the interview questions Kim M Watt wrote for me, before my author can get a word in.
i. Is your author disproportionately cruel to you, or does she enjoy embarrassing you for comic relief?
Yes, I think my author is cruel to me. Everyone deserves a bit of privacy when they are in the loo, bathroom, toilet – whatever you want to call it. For some of us, it’s a haven; a world away from our troubles. Can’t a grown man have five minutes’ peace without his author holding his bowel movements up for public ridicule?
ii. Are you named for someone in your author’s life? Why?
My name is Daddy. I have a sneaking suspicion that my author must have had a daddy like me at some stage or maybe even a husband. The more I think about it, it’s probably the latter. She seems to have a lot of ideas about why husbands spend ages on the loo. She thinks we are doing some sort of gigantic poo but it’s just secret men’s business and there’s nothing funny in that. Just good harmless reading, thinking or listening to our iPods.
iii. What quirks has the author given you that you really wish they hadn’t?
Where do I start? My author portrays me as this secretive dad hanging out in the toilet for hours on end, neglecting my domestic duties. When have I ever done that? Can I help it if nature calls, or I just need some time out? I’m a regular sort of guy and when you need to go, you need to go.
iv. Do you feel confident that you’re going to make it into a sequel? Why/Why not?
Isn’t anything sacred anymore? What could my sequel possibly be? Daddy and the World’s Longest Pee? I think my author needs to leave me in peace. Having said that, I’m a pretty interesting guy and there’s a lot more to me than my toilet behaviour. If there was a sequel about my son and my wife, then I’d have to be in it. Come to think of it, I I heard my author saying something about a short story she’s written, starring me and my son, all about our gardening exploits. Stay tuned for this later in the year…
v. How do you justify not doing what your author tells you to?
Pass. I seem to always end up doing what my author wants me to do.
vi. What is one thing about you that your author has edited out/is going to edit out, but you’d like to tell us?
Well, I think it’s important to say that my wife is not perfect either. Sometimes I catch her hiding from my son, watching The Bold and the Beautiful in bed. You know what they say, people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. We all have our own ways of trying to find a little peace.
vii. What’s the most interesting thing about you?
Maybe you should ask my son. He follows me around everywhere, even when I’m in the toilet. He’s always asking me questions. I think what you could say about me is I know when to take five and just breathe. I think it’s important for everyone to find their own place to meditate and have some ‘me’ time away from the family. The toilet is that place for me. It’s usually very peaceful, until my son discovered my hiding place.
viii. If you’re not the protagonist, do you wish you were? Why/ why not?
My son seems to be the protagonist but I think I steal the show. After all, it’s called Daddy and the World’s Longest Poo, not The Little Boy Who Wonders What His Daddy is Doing in the Loo. That title just wouldn’t work.
ix. Do you have a sidekick or helper? Who are they?
My son is my shadow, my sidekick and my helper. One day he’s going to grow up just like me… he’ll appreciate the toilet too.
x. What would you like to tell your author?
I think my author is on the right track naming her books after me and making me a central character but next time, spare a thought for my privacy please. I’m the laughing stock of my dads' circle now. As if they don’t love the toilet too. I’ll say it again, people who live in glass houses…
But even I must give credit where credit is due. Without a nomination from Kim M Watt, blogger extraordinaire, my blog may well have been overlooked. Kim’s own interview for the Sunshine Blogger Award, won on behalf of Layla, the world-dominating cat, is one of the most entertaining I’ve seen in recent years.
I read it on the loo where all my best thinking is done.
And It is now my pleasure to carry on the Sunshine Blogging tradition and answer the interview questions Kim M Watt wrote for me, before my author can get a word in.
i. Is your author disproportionately cruel to you, or does she enjoy embarrassing you for comic relief?
Yes, I think my author is cruel to me. Everyone deserves a bit of privacy when they are in the loo, bathroom, toilet – whatever you want to call it. For some of us, it’s a haven; a world away from our troubles. Can’t a grown man have five minutes’ peace without his author holding his bowel movements up for public ridicule?
ii. Are you named for someone in your author’s life? Why?
My name is Daddy. I have a sneaking suspicion that my author must have had a daddy like me at some stage or maybe even a husband. The more I think about it, it’s probably the latter. She seems to have a lot of ideas about why husbands spend ages on the loo. She thinks we are doing some sort of gigantic poo but it’s just secret men’s business and there’s nothing funny in that. Just good harmless reading, thinking or listening to our iPods.
iii. What quirks has the author given you that you really wish they hadn’t?
Where do I start? My author portrays me as this secretive dad hanging out in the toilet for hours on end, neglecting my domestic duties. When have I ever done that? Can I help it if nature calls, or I just need some time out? I’m a regular sort of guy and when you need to go, you need to go.
iv. Do you feel confident that you’re going to make it into a sequel? Why/Why not?
Isn’t anything sacred anymore? What could my sequel possibly be? Daddy and the World’s Longest Pee? I think my author needs to leave me in peace. Having said that, I’m a pretty interesting guy and there’s a lot more to me than my toilet behaviour. If there was a sequel about my son and my wife, then I’d have to be in it. Come to think of it, I I heard my author saying something about a short story she’s written, starring me and my son, all about our gardening exploits. Stay tuned for this later in the year…
v. How do you justify not doing what your author tells you to?
Pass. I seem to always end up doing what my author wants me to do.
vi. What is one thing about you that your author has edited out/is going to edit out, but you’d like to tell us?
Well, I think it’s important to say that my wife is not perfect either. Sometimes I catch her hiding from my son, watching The Bold and the Beautiful in bed. You know what they say, people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. We all have our own ways of trying to find a little peace.
vii. What’s the most interesting thing about you?
Maybe you should ask my son. He follows me around everywhere, even when I’m in the toilet. He’s always asking me questions. I think what you could say about me is I know when to take five and just breathe. I think it’s important for everyone to find their own place to meditate and have some ‘me’ time away from the family. The toilet is that place for me. It’s usually very peaceful, until my son discovered my hiding place.
viii. If you’re not the protagonist, do you wish you were? Why/ why not?
My son seems to be the protagonist but I think I steal the show. After all, it’s called Daddy and the World’s Longest Poo, not The Little Boy Who Wonders What His Daddy is Doing in the Loo. That title just wouldn’t work.
ix. Do you have a sidekick or helper? Who are they?
My son is my shadow, my sidekick and my helper. One day he’s going to grow up just like me… he’ll appreciate the toilet too.
x. What would you like to tell your author?
I think my author is on the right track naming her books after me and making me a central character but next time, spare a thought for my privacy please. I’m the laughing stock of my dads' circle now. As if they don’t love the toilet too. I’ll say it again, people who live in glass houses…
Perfect Father’s Day Gift Idea for Cheeky Mums & Kids
It’s that time of year again. The time dads in the UK, US and Canada, feign surprise on Father’s Day, as they open tool and gardening related gifts from their kids.
I’m an advocate for Father’s and Mother’s Day, so don’t get me wrong. I know it’s highly commercialized but we need to teach kids to show appreciation and to GIVE to others, even if it means putting their hands in their piggy banks. And sure, I agree, giving and showing appreciation needs to be a behavior demonstrated all year round, not just on one commercially decreed day.
Still, we live in a commercial society and most parents will go through the motions of choosing a present with their children, to give to their dads on the third Sunday in June (that’s 18 June this year).
A popular gift idea, apart from tools, or hand-made goods, is books about dads and grandads. I remember on my baby son’s first Father’s Day, giving a touching book about a baby bear and a grandad bear, to my father. I also remember my parents giving a copy of My Aussie Dad, a fabulous book from Yvonne Morrison and Gus Gordon, to my staunchly English husband, on his first Father’s Day in Australia. Fortunately, we are a bit cheeky in our family, so the joke was well received and we loved reading the adventures of a BBQing, sports-loving dad. They have those in England too, so it wasn’t that much of a stretch.
And what, might you be asking, is my point in all this?
I’m a children’s book author, so I would advocate giving a book to Dad or Grandad this Father’s Day, especially if your son or daughter need assistance with reading. Childhood literacy is important and experts acknowledge that the power of a male role model reading books to themselves, or to their sons, in particular, has an incredible influence on young boys, who may naturally favor more physical pursuits.
Humour is also a useful tool for encouraging young children to read and dare I say it, a funny book might just encourage parents and grandparents to read more with their kids.
So, can you take a joke? Are you ready to laugh at yourselves? I would venture that if you’re a parent or a grandparent, with precocious four to seven year-olds in your life, a sense of humour is the key to sanity.
My debut picture book, Daddy and the World’s Longest Poo (Lulu Publishing), is for every family who has ever laughed at a certain someone who sits on the toilet for too long. It’s for a Mum who’s ever wondered where her husband was hiding out for hours on end. It’s for a child who finds poop hilarious and most of all, it’s for a cheeky dad or grandad, who can laugh at himself.
Daddy and the World’s Longest Poo is averaging 4.5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads with 16 member reviews and 5 stars on Amazon with 8 customer reviews.
"Daddy and the World's Longest Poo is a wonderfully whimsical book about one of life's greatest mysteries. Both children and adults alike will enjoy the authors wicked sense of humor as she explores where and why dads disappear for such long periods of time. With bright beautiful illustrations that at times reminded me of Dr. Seuss' art style bringing the funny story to life. Children and adults of all ages will enjoy this delightfully entertaining book." – Amazon Customer Review (5 stars).
For Northern hemisphere shoppers, Daddy and the World’s Longest Poo is available to buy online at Lulu.com (in paperback and eBook) and Amazon (in paperback). Don't miss out for Father's Day - order your copy now.
Daddy and the World's Longest Poo
I’m an advocate for Father’s and Mother’s Day, so don’t get me wrong. I know it’s highly commercialized but we need to teach kids to show appreciation and to GIVE to others, even if it means putting their hands in their piggy banks. And sure, I agree, giving and showing appreciation needs to be a behavior demonstrated all year round, not just on one commercially decreed day.
Still, we live in a commercial society and most parents will go through the motions of choosing a present with their children, to give to their dads on the third Sunday in June (that’s 18 June this year).
A popular gift idea, apart from tools, or hand-made goods, is books about dads and grandads. I remember on my baby son’s first Father’s Day, giving a touching book about a baby bear and a grandad bear, to my father. I also remember my parents giving a copy of My Aussie Dad, a fabulous book from Yvonne Morrison and Gus Gordon, to my staunchly English husband, on his first Father’s Day in Australia. Fortunately, we are a bit cheeky in our family, so the joke was well received and we loved reading the adventures of a BBQing, sports-loving dad. They have those in England too, so it wasn’t that much of a stretch.
And what, might you be asking, is my point in all this?
I’m a children’s book author, so I would advocate giving a book to Dad or Grandad this Father’s Day, especially if your son or daughter need assistance with reading. Childhood literacy is important and experts acknowledge that the power of a male role model reading books to themselves, or to their sons, in particular, has an incredible influence on young boys, who may naturally favor more physical pursuits.
Humour is also a useful tool for encouraging young children to read and dare I say it, a funny book might just encourage parents and grandparents to read more with their kids.
So, can you take a joke? Are you ready to laugh at yourselves? I would venture that if you’re a parent or a grandparent, with precocious four to seven year-olds in your life, a sense of humour is the key to sanity.
My debut picture book, Daddy and the World’s Longest Poo (Lulu Publishing), is for every family who has ever laughed at a certain someone who sits on the toilet for too long. It’s for a Mum who’s ever wondered where her husband was hiding out for hours on end. It’s for a child who finds poop hilarious and most of all, it’s for a cheeky dad or grandad, who can laugh at himself.
Daddy and the World’s Longest Poo is averaging 4.5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads with 16 member reviews and 5 stars on Amazon with 8 customer reviews.
"Daddy and the World's Longest Poo is a wonderfully whimsical book about one of life's greatest mysteries. Both children and adults alike will enjoy the authors wicked sense of humor as she explores where and why dads disappear for such long periods of time. With bright beautiful illustrations that at times reminded me of Dr. Seuss' art style bringing the funny story to life. Children and adults of all ages will enjoy this delightfully entertaining book." – Amazon Customer Review (5 stars).
For Northern hemisphere shoppers, Daddy and the World’s Longest Poo is available to buy online at Lulu.com (in paperback and eBook) and Amazon (in paperback). Don't miss out for Father's Day - order your copy now.
Daddy and the World's Longest Poo
'To PR or Not to PR'. That is the Question...
You’re an independent author and you’ve self-published your first book, via Print on Demand or an online publishing service.
When considering your public relations campaign, you may be asking: - do I pay a professional to publicise my book, or do I market it myself, through all possible ‘word of mouth’ channels?
I have seen questions appear in ‘indie’ author group threads, asking for recommendations on cheap publicity services. I think we need to be aware as self-publishers, that there is a difference between relatively affordable publicity opportunities like a Goodreads Giveaway, or a twitter book promo on Shout My Book, and an end-to end publicity service from a public relations professional. The latter will cost you and there is no cheap option and unfortunately, no guarantee of return on investment.
I’m coming at this from hiring a PR company to manage and execute a six- week traditional and social media campaign, for my debut picture book. I was prepared to invest money in a third-party professional service to promote my self-publishing project. I did not have the wherewithal at the time, to promote it myself.
Did I succeed? Do I have regrets? Well, I certainly have a lot of mixed emotions but for the purposes of this blog post, I’m going to offer my verdict on the value of a traditional media vs. a social media book campaign.
This week I’ll cover my traditional media PR experience (epic fail!) and next week, the outcomes of my social media campaign. That’s where the gems of true wisdom lie, so stay tuned…
Traditional Media Campaign – What to Expect
Traditional media is considered media that was around before online i.e. TV, radio and print magazines and newspapers.
Once you have contracted a publicist for an agreed period of service, they will read your book, interview you and write a press release to send out on ‘the wires’. This will be visible to media outlets (within the agreed geographical parameters) and they may pick up the story of your book’s publication.
This could take the form of requesting an interview with you for print, TV or radio, or asking for a ‘review copy’ of your book, to profile on their media service. The press release blast will be followed with a systematic plan of personal approach from the publicist, to targeted media outlets, identified as good prospects for interest in your book.
Sounds great, huh?
Even in adversity, I live in hope of triumph, so I would always encourage you to shoot for the stars. However, my biggest take-away from my traditional media campaign is manage your expectations. Your publicist may even warn you that media relations are a tenuous process. Best believe them.
My press release, which went out to media in five US cities and Sydney, was re-posted by a small handful of US media outlets on the day of release. Furthermore, there were two interview enquiries (one from a local newspaper in Sydney) and one other enquiry for a review copy. None of the enquries came to anything.
What I’ve Learned From This Type of Campaign
Fact. My book is not going to appeal to everyone and I accept that the traditional media campaign may have failed because my book missed the mark and lacked media appeal.
As an ‘indie’, what I also need to understand is that there is a big wide world of professional publishing out there and there are systems in place for traditionally published books to reach the right media channels through a publishing house or an agent’s PR.
It is also less likely that an unknown, first time author, who has published their own work, will be of any traditional media interest, or will be considered marketable, or saleable to the book-buying public. After all, who do you like to read about in the traditional media?
People you know.
My Verdict on Traditional Media Publicity Services
I would not recommend that an emerging, self-published author invest in a third party's traditional media PR services.
You are likely to know your own local media networks best, so approach editors with a copy of your book and gauge their interest. Don’t expect anything and be pleasantly if something comes through. After all, a mention in a real-life traditional media source is still the best feeling and offers ‘cred’ for your work. I’ve seen many a traditionally published author get excited by this type of exposure.
Next week – Should I Pay for PR on Social Media?
Many indies I know are masterful at the art of self-promotion on social media and may laugh at me for paying someone to promote my work. I envy their nouse.
I also see questions on indie group boards from many who are struggling to understand how to best market themselves online. Next Tuesday, I’d invite you to return to this blog to hear my experiences with a professional social media PR campaign. This is where things started to look up for me, so don’t worry, there’ll be loads of constructive advice and you won't have to pay for it.
Have a wonderful week.
Brydie Wright
When considering your public relations campaign, you may be asking: - do I pay a professional to publicise my book, or do I market it myself, through all possible ‘word of mouth’ channels?
I have seen questions appear in ‘indie’ author group threads, asking for recommendations on cheap publicity services. I think we need to be aware as self-publishers, that there is a difference between relatively affordable publicity opportunities like a Goodreads Giveaway, or a twitter book promo on Shout My Book, and an end-to end publicity service from a public relations professional. The latter will cost you and there is no cheap option and unfortunately, no guarantee of return on investment.
I’m coming at this from hiring a PR company to manage and execute a six- week traditional and social media campaign, for my debut picture book. I was prepared to invest money in a third-party professional service to promote my self-publishing project. I did not have the wherewithal at the time, to promote it myself.
Did I succeed? Do I have regrets? Well, I certainly have a lot of mixed emotions but for the purposes of this blog post, I’m going to offer my verdict on the value of a traditional media vs. a social media book campaign.
This week I’ll cover my traditional media PR experience (epic fail!) and next week, the outcomes of my social media campaign. That’s where the gems of true wisdom lie, so stay tuned…
Traditional Media Campaign – What to Expect
Traditional media is considered media that was around before online i.e. TV, radio and print magazines and newspapers.
Once you have contracted a publicist for an agreed period of service, they will read your book, interview you and write a press release to send out on ‘the wires’. This will be visible to media outlets (within the agreed geographical parameters) and they may pick up the story of your book’s publication.
This could take the form of requesting an interview with you for print, TV or radio, or asking for a ‘review copy’ of your book, to profile on their media service. The press release blast will be followed with a systematic plan of personal approach from the publicist, to targeted media outlets, identified as good prospects for interest in your book.
Sounds great, huh?
Even in adversity, I live in hope of triumph, so I would always encourage you to shoot for the stars. However, my biggest take-away from my traditional media campaign is manage your expectations. Your publicist may even warn you that media relations are a tenuous process. Best believe them.
My press release, which went out to media in five US cities and Sydney, was re-posted by a small handful of US media outlets on the day of release. Furthermore, there were two interview enquiries (one from a local newspaper in Sydney) and one other enquiry for a review copy. None of the enquries came to anything.
What I’ve Learned From This Type of Campaign
Fact. My book is not going to appeal to everyone and I accept that the traditional media campaign may have failed because my book missed the mark and lacked media appeal.
As an ‘indie’, what I also need to understand is that there is a big wide world of professional publishing out there and there are systems in place for traditionally published books to reach the right media channels through a publishing house or an agent’s PR.
It is also less likely that an unknown, first time author, who has published their own work, will be of any traditional media interest, or will be considered marketable, or saleable to the book-buying public. After all, who do you like to read about in the traditional media?
People you know.
My Verdict on Traditional Media Publicity Services
I would not recommend that an emerging, self-published author invest in a third party's traditional media PR services.
You are likely to know your own local media networks best, so approach editors with a copy of your book and gauge their interest. Don’t expect anything and be pleasantly if something comes through. After all, a mention in a real-life traditional media source is still the best feeling and offers ‘cred’ for your work. I’ve seen many a traditionally published author get excited by this type of exposure.
Next week – Should I Pay for PR on Social Media?
Many indies I know are masterful at the art of self-promotion on social media and may laugh at me for paying someone to promote my work. I envy their nouse.
I also see questions on indie group boards from many who are struggling to understand how to best market themselves online. Next Tuesday, I’d invite you to return to this blog to hear my experiences with a professional social media PR campaign. This is where things started to look up for me, so don’t worry, there’ll be loads of constructive advice and you won't have to pay for it.
Have a wonderful week.
Brydie Wright
To PR or Not to PR? Part 2 - Social Media for Self-Publishers
Last week, I shared the limited results of my traditional media PR campaign, for my self-published picture book. The feedback I’ve received from readers, many of whom are independent authors, has been encouraging. This is a topic ‘indies’ want to know more about and not just the success stories.
I’m learning more in this author journey from the obstacles I’ve faced, than the boosts I’ve had along the way. If you hit pay dirt from the outset with self-publishing, kudos but does this mean everyone can replicate your path to success?
What problems do ‘indies’ face with online marketing?
There are themes that arise frequently in discussion threads in Facebook groups for independent authors. Do the sample queries (below) sound familiar?
Hi, I’m just starting out in self-publishing and I have no idea how to market my work. How do I get my book out there on social media? I only use Facebook and I don’t really know how to use Twitter or anything else. Do I have to blog? Advice please.
Hi, I don’t really know how to use social media and I don’t have much time to promote my work. Any recommendation on people who don’t charge much to do your social media for you?
Social Media Public Relations (PR) and Marketing
I paid for a six-week professional social media PR campaign, to run alongside a six-week traditional media campaign.
It. Was. Not. Cheap.
I may never recoup this cost from royalties for the book aligned to the campaign. I realised this going in, though I hoped it might be the catalyst for putting my book ‘on the map’. At the time, I did not have the necessary social media skills, nor a developed author platform, to market the book myself, to a wider audience than Facebook friends and family.
So, if I had my time over again, I would do what the canny self-publishers do and build my online author platform, well in advance of publishing.
What if you don’t have the time or the skills for social media?
You need to somehow make time, i.e. build a manageable weekly schedule for interacting online professionally, whether 30 mins a week, or 30mins a day.
You also need to upskill yourself in the effective usage of some social media platforms, if not all.
Now, here’s the kicker for indies. If you don’t have social media and marketing skills from your day job and you can’t see a way forward, then:
a) you may have to pay for training, and/or
b) you may have to invest in some targeted third-party social media promotions for your book. Examples include a Goodreads giveaway or a boosted/sponsored post on Facebook.
Remember, if you are in business (or a commercial hobby), where you expect to make money off the sale of your work, I’m not sure if you can ever avoid spending money to make money. The degree to which you apply this is entirely up to you.
What can you expect from a social media campaign?
From my own experiences with a book PR campaign, I could have refrained from paying for traditional media approaches and concentrated my efforts (and funds) on social media promotion. The online space offers legitimate, visible channels for marketing and selling your work these days, even if you are an unknown. It is about finding your target audience (and I'm not pretending that is always easy).
To my initial surprise, the PR manager for my social media campaign did not blog, create my Facebook author page, or tweet anything for me.
She advised a schedule of weekly book blog topics and spent one hour each week in a video call, training me in social media platforms, tools and marketing strategies.
In other words, she taught me how to run my own social media campaign in the short-term and strategies for maintaining and building my long-term author presence online.
I asked sheepishly if she would post or blog for me, as part of the service. Response: this was not the firm's policy. There wasn't time or resource to devote to this level of service, within the confines of the package I had purchased.
What this meant in real terms is, you would need to pay more, a lot more, for a professional PR manager to execute your social media presence. Does this answer the question whether there is a cheap option for someone to do your social media for you?
What was the objective of the social media campaign? Was it met?
The point of the social media campaign service was to empower me as a writer and independent publisher, to manage and execute my own schedule of strategic social media interactions. It was also to understand how to blog as a promotional tool.
After all, I’m a writer, so shouldn’t I be able to frame creative posts on social media and put together a regular, coherent blog piece? And who better to know what I want to say to my audience than me?
What I may not understand as a writer, unless I’ve worked in this field, is how to effectively market my product and how to use social media tools, to at least an intermediate level. This is why I sought professional assistance.
After a six-week paid campaign, I have been professionally trained in how to use Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Hootsuite and Google+. I have also been taught blogging strategies for building audience engagement. This for me, has been worth its weight in gold, though I am not advocating that every indie should pay for a professional PR campaign.
My advice is to acknowledge you need a social media marketing strategy. You need to skill yourself to execute this, within your means, time and budget.
I have broken the first rule of my blogging training (keep it to about 500 words or less), so if you are still reading and caring, thank you.
Next week, I’ll share some specific tips and examples from my campaign, that may provide you with a starting point for planning your own approach.
Have a productive week!
I’m learning more in this author journey from the obstacles I’ve faced, than the boosts I’ve had along the way. If you hit pay dirt from the outset with self-publishing, kudos but does this mean everyone can replicate your path to success?
What problems do ‘indies’ face with online marketing?
There are themes that arise frequently in discussion threads in Facebook groups for independent authors. Do the sample queries (below) sound familiar?
Hi, I’m just starting out in self-publishing and I have no idea how to market my work. How do I get my book out there on social media? I only use Facebook and I don’t really know how to use Twitter or anything else. Do I have to blog? Advice please.
Hi, I don’t really know how to use social media and I don’t have much time to promote my work. Any recommendation on people who don’t charge much to do your social media for you?
Social Media Public Relations (PR) and Marketing
I paid for a six-week professional social media PR campaign, to run alongside a six-week traditional media campaign.
It. Was. Not. Cheap.
I may never recoup this cost from royalties for the book aligned to the campaign. I realised this going in, though I hoped it might be the catalyst for putting my book ‘on the map’. At the time, I did not have the necessary social media skills, nor a developed author platform, to market the book myself, to a wider audience than Facebook friends and family.
So, if I had my time over again, I would do what the canny self-publishers do and build my online author platform, well in advance of publishing.
What if you don’t have the time or the skills for social media?
You need to somehow make time, i.e. build a manageable weekly schedule for interacting online professionally, whether 30 mins a week, or 30mins a day.
You also need to upskill yourself in the effective usage of some social media platforms, if not all.
Now, here’s the kicker for indies. If you don’t have social media and marketing skills from your day job and you can’t see a way forward, then:
a) you may have to pay for training, and/or
b) you may have to invest in some targeted third-party social media promotions for your book. Examples include a Goodreads giveaway or a boosted/sponsored post on Facebook.
Remember, if you are in business (or a commercial hobby), where you expect to make money off the sale of your work, I’m not sure if you can ever avoid spending money to make money. The degree to which you apply this is entirely up to you.
What can you expect from a social media campaign?
From my own experiences with a book PR campaign, I could have refrained from paying for traditional media approaches and concentrated my efforts (and funds) on social media promotion. The online space offers legitimate, visible channels for marketing and selling your work these days, even if you are an unknown. It is about finding your target audience (and I'm not pretending that is always easy).
To my initial surprise, the PR manager for my social media campaign did not blog, create my Facebook author page, or tweet anything for me.
She advised a schedule of weekly book blog topics and spent one hour each week in a video call, training me in social media platforms, tools and marketing strategies.
In other words, she taught me how to run my own social media campaign in the short-term and strategies for maintaining and building my long-term author presence online.
I asked sheepishly if she would post or blog for me, as part of the service. Response: this was not the firm's policy. There wasn't time or resource to devote to this level of service, within the confines of the package I had purchased.
What this meant in real terms is, you would need to pay more, a lot more, for a professional PR manager to execute your social media presence. Does this answer the question whether there is a cheap option for someone to do your social media for you?
What was the objective of the social media campaign? Was it met?
The point of the social media campaign service was to empower me as a writer and independent publisher, to manage and execute my own schedule of strategic social media interactions. It was also to understand how to blog as a promotional tool.
After all, I’m a writer, so shouldn’t I be able to frame creative posts on social media and put together a regular, coherent blog piece? And who better to know what I want to say to my audience than me?
What I may not understand as a writer, unless I’ve worked in this field, is how to effectively market my product and how to use social media tools, to at least an intermediate level. This is why I sought professional assistance.
After a six-week paid campaign, I have been professionally trained in how to use Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Hootsuite and Google+. I have also been taught blogging strategies for building audience engagement. This for me, has been worth its weight in gold, though I am not advocating that every indie should pay for a professional PR campaign.
My advice is to acknowledge you need a social media marketing strategy. You need to skill yourself to execute this, within your means, time and budget.
I have broken the first rule of my blogging training (keep it to about 500 words or less), so if you are still reading and caring, thank you.
Next week, I’ll share some specific tips and examples from my campaign, that may provide you with a starting point for planning your own approach.
Have a productive week!
To PR or Not to PR? Part 3: Lessons Learned
In this tri-series of blogs on the value of a professional PR campaign, I’ve shared the degrees of failure and success I’ve had with traditional and social media campaigns.
To wrap the series, I'll share the lessons I've learned from the investment I’ve made in a social media PR campaign.
Building an Author Platform
Create your presence online via dedicated professional pages, rather than personal pages. For example, anyone who is interested in your work should be able to 'like' and follow your Facebook Author Page, rather than send you a friend request.
Facebook is a good channel for click-throughs to your Author website, so as minimum presence, I would recommend a website (including a blog page) and an author page on Facebook, for sharing content from your website. Use the two in tandem for cross-promotion, enlisting page likes and website subscribers (if your website is set up for the latter).
Instagram and Pinterest are popular methods for building your community online but they rely on catchy images. Are your marketing messages best told through images/photos, or better conveyed through words, images and web links.
What about Twitter? How many platforms do I need to use?
If your time capacity permits, I would recommend having at least two social media platforms in addition to your website. I would include Facebook, Twitter and Instagram in the core group because of their popularity and reach. Each of these platforms rely on different approaches but the key to building engagement on all is commenting and sharing posts from other users, not just ‘liking’.
Google+ and Pinterest are other platforms to consider, if you have capacity. The advantage of Google+ is that it has the best SEO results for your blog posts but it is harder to build a community. And though I have LinkedIn and have for many years, this is a serious professional networking site (an online CV), rather than an informal sharing site, so be aware of this.
What is Goodreads All About?
If you are a writer and presumably a reader first, you should be on Goodreads. It’s a dedicated social media networking site for book nerds. Set up a personal page but if you have a published book, you need to take advantage of the Goodreads Author Dashboard service (your own Author Page) and list your book.
Readers can follow you and rate and review your books here and it is not based on verified and unverified reviews, like Amazon. If you think that Amazon is the only place you need reviews, you are missing a trick. I value the exposure and networks I have accessed on Goodreads far beyond my extremely low-ranking, almost invisible indie author Amazon page.
Having said this, if your book is being sold on Amazon, set up an author page via Author Central, so that people who do visit your page can follow you.
Why have a website AND multiple pages on social media?
The above-mentioned platforms, except a website with a registered domain name, are FREE channels for author exposure. I am not recommending you join more social media platforms than you can handle but I am suggesting that the more channels on which you have a presence, the wider the reach for your content (blogs and book WIPs) and community building. And think of it this way… what if a publisher pulls your book from a slush pile and cares enough to Google you and see what they can find out? Will they find you?
How much time should I spend on social media?
Don’t obsess over rules. Follow sensible and achievable advice and adapt to your life. Only you understand what your time, skill and budget capacities are for driving your author platform.
My PR campaign manager said I did not have to be omnipresent on social media. I breathed a sigh of relief. Her advice was to build a consistent schedule of blogging/posting and interaction every week, whether it be 30mins total, or 30mins on each platform, each day.
The amount of time is not as important as the consistency and the quality of your interaction. Remember, comment and share. Don’t just 'like'. Another trick is to use your scheduled slot to pre-schedule posts on Facebook, so you can post content regularly without having to be online at the time.
Where can I market my book for FREE online?
Remember to class your author pages as FREE promotional channels but don’t just self-promote to your followers. There are an infinite number of FREE targeted marketing opportunities online, as there are an equal number of options for you to invest in commercial book promotion services.
Part of the journey for you is doing your own research on these options and weighing them up for yourself. Many options promise more than they can deliver, so manage your expectations and if you are going to invest money, ask for recommendations and work out what you want to achieve by paying for a service. Beware measuring success only in sales figures as you are likely to be disappointed. Brand awareness for you and your books is the endgame for an emerging author.
My Biggest Gem of Advice
SEIZE targeted opportunities for promotion on social media. Though I have invested money in a PR campaign, I have taken just as many FREE opportunities for promoting my work. You can see them listed on my website in Breaking News and the Links to Press page.
One advantage of devoting consistent slot/s to building your online platform is getting to know other writers and accepting offers of interviews, Facebook page shares, FREE book listings etc.
The golden rule is RECIPROCATE. If someone gives you a free promotional opportunity, don’t take it for granted. Share the mention and tag in the page on which it originated. Thank people and offer to promote them when the opportunity arises.
Build goodwill and strong content and you’ll find yourself with an Author platform. You might then just find yourself with sales.
Daddy and the World's Longest Poo
To wrap the series, I'll share the lessons I've learned from the investment I’ve made in a social media PR campaign.
Building an Author Platform
Create your presence online via dedicated professional pages, rather than personal pages. For example, anyone who is interested in your work should be able to 'like' and follow your Facebook Author Page, rather than send you a friend request.
Facebook is a good channel for click-throughs to your Author website, so as minimum presence, I would recommend a website (including a blog page) and an author page on Facebook, for sharing content from your website. Use the two in tandem for cross-promotion, enlisting page likes and website subscribers (if your website is set up for the latter).
Instagram and Pinterest are popular methods for building your community online but they rely on catchy images. Are your marketing messages best told through images/photos, or better conveyed through words, images and web links.
What about Twitter? How many platforms do I need to use?
If your time capacity permits, I would recommend having at least two social media platforms in addition to your website. I would include Facebook, Twitter and Instagram in the core group because of their popularity and reach. Each of these platforms rely on different approaches but the key to building engagement on all is commenting and sharing posts from other users, not just ‘liking’.
Google+ and Pinterest are other platforms to consider, if you have capacity. The advantage of Google+ is that it has the best SEO results for your blog posts but it is harder to build a community. And though I have LinkedIn and have for many years, this is a serious professional networking site (an online CV), rather than an informal sharing site, so be aware of this.
What is Goodreads All About?
If you are a writer and presumably a reader first, you should be on Goodreads. It’s a dedicated social media networking site for book nerds. Set up a personal page but if you have a published book, you need to take advantage of the Goodreads Author Dashboard service (your own Author Page) and list your book.
Readers can follow you and rate and review your books here and it is not based on verified and unverified reviews, like Amazon. If you think that Amazon is the only place you need reviews, you are missing a trick. I value the exposure and networks I have accessed on Goodreads far beyond my extremely low-ranking, almost invisible indie author Amazon page.
Having said this, if your book is being sold on Amazon, set up an author page via Author Central, so that people who do visit your page can follow you.
Why have a website AND multiple pages on social media?
The above-mentioned platforms, except a website with a registered domain name, are FREE channels for author exposure. I am not recommending you join more social media platforms than you can handle but I am suggesting that the more channels on which you have a presence, the wider the reach for your content (blogs and book WIPs) and community building. And think of it this way… what if a publisher pulls your book from a slush pile and cares enough to Google you and see what they can find out? Will they find you?
How much time should I spend on social media?
Don’t obsess over rules. Follow sensible and achievable advice and adapt to your life. Only you understand what your time, skill and budget capacities are for driving your author platform.
My PR campaign manager said I did not have to be omnipresent on social media. I breathed a sigh of relief. Her advice was to build a consistent schedule of blogging/posting and interaction every week, whether it be 30mins total, or 30mins on each platform, each day.
The amount of time is not as important as the consistency and the quality of your interaction. Remember, comment and share. Don’t just 'like'. Another trick is to use your scheduled slot to pre-schedule posts on Facebook, so you can post content regularly without having to be online at the time.
Where can I market my book for FREE online?
Remember to class your author pages as FREE promotional channels but don’t just self-promote to your followers. There are an infinite number of FREE targeted marketing opportunities online, as there are an equal number of options for you to invest in commercial book promotion services.
Part of the journey for you is doing your own research on these options and weighing them up for yourself. Many options promise more than they can deliver, so manage your expectations and if you are going to invest money, ask for recommendations and work out what you want to achieve by paying for a service. Beware measuring success only in sales figures as you are likely to be disappointed. Brand awareness for you and your books is the endgame for an emerging author.
My Biggest Gem of Advice
SEIZE targeted opportunities for promotion on social media. Though I have invested money in a PR campaign, I have taken just as many FREE opportunities for promoting my work. You can see them listed on my website in Breaking News and the Links to Press page.
One advantage of devoting consistent slot/s to building your online platform is getting to know other writers and accepting offers of interviews, Facebook page shares, FREE book listings etc.
The golden rule is RECIPROCATE. If someone gives you a free promotional opportunity, don’t take it for granted. Share the mention and tag in the page on which it originated. Thank people and offer to promote them when the opportunity arises.
Build goodwill and strong content and you’ll find yourself with an Author platform. You might then just find yourself with sales.
Daddy and the World's Longest Poo
Weird Father's Day Gift Normal Dads Will Love
It’s that time of year again. The time dads in Australia act surprised on Father’s Day, as they open gifts from Bunnings.
I’m an advocate for Father’s and Mother’s Day, so don’t get me wrong. I know it’s highly commercialized but we need to teach kids to show appreciation and to give to others, even if it means putting their hands in their Angry Birds or Trolls wallets.
But this Father’s Day, Sunday 3 September, how about a novelty gift for Dad? He is usually the man who has everything, so how can you make him laugh? Capitalising on sweeping generalisations about Dads might be a good place to start but I’m not suggesting anything tool or gardening related.
David Moye (HuffPost), wrote an article for Father’s Day in the US, titled Weird Father’s Day Gifts That Even A Normal Dad Will Love.
Yes, there are the standard ‘all-dads-love-beer’ gifts but there’s also a book mentioned and only one book made the list!
It’s my debut picture book, Daddy and the World’s Longest Poo. This article gets the “Poo Book”. It pinpoints the tremendous novelty factor in a book that cheeky mums and kids can buy for the dads (or grandads) in their life.
We have all bought books about the love between a Daddy Bear and a Baby Bear for Dad’s first Father’s Day but what about kids who are getting older and becoming attuned to the world around them?
I have great feedback from parents who love reading Daddy and the World’s Longest Poo with their children – both dads and mums alike. It’s the kind of book that ends up on rotation. Four to seven-year olds love this kind of fun, toilet humour and they are more knowing than we like to think, without getting caught up in higher levels of meaning. The latter is for mums and dads who read the book and if your family has a good sense of humour and can cope with a few mentions of poo, you won’t be disappointed. I’d liken it to the kind of novelty longevity enjoyed by My Aussie Dad (Yvonne Morrison and Gus Gordon, Scholastic).
But is there a more serious point to this blog, apart from a book plug?
I’m a children’s book author, so I would advocate giving a book to Dad or Grandad this Father’s Day, especially if your son or daughter need assistance with reading. They might be a reluctant reader and humour could be the hook that reels them in.
Childhood literacy is important and experts acknowledge the power of a male role model reading books to themselves, or to their sons, in particular. It has an incredible influence on young boys, who may naturally favor more physical pursuits.
Daddy and the World’s Longest Poo (Lulu Publishing), is for every family who has ever laughed at a certain someone who sits on the toilet for too long. It’s for a Mum who’s ever wondered where her husband was hiding out for hours on end. It’s for a child who finds poo hilarious and most of all, it’s for a cheeky dad or grandad, who can laugh at himself.
The book is averaging 4.6 out of 5 stars on Goodreads with 16 member reviews and 5 stars on Amazon with 11 customer reviews.
"Daddy and the World's Longest Poo is a wonderfully whimsical book about one of life's greatest mysteries. Both children and adults alike will enjoy the authors wicked sense of humor as she explores where and why dads disappear for such long periods of time. With bright beautiful illustrations that at times reminded me of Dr. Seuss' art style bringing the funny story to life. Children and adults of all ages will enjoy this delightfully entertaining book." – Amazon Customer Review (5 stars).
For Australian shoppers, Daddy and the World’s Longest Poo is available to buy online at Lulu.com (in paperback and eBook). It is also in paperback on Amazon, and all major online book retailers – see here for details.
And if you’re from the Sunshine State, drop in to visit 'Human Bel' and 'Human Jack' at the very cool Little Gnome bookstore and coffee shop in Wynnum. Little Gnome is well stocked with copies of Daddy and the World’s Longest Poo and it’s a great way to avoid postage fees.
Don't miss out for Father's Day - order your copy now.
I’m an advocate for Father’s and Mother’s Day, so don’t get me wrong. I know it’s highly commercialized but we need to teach kids to show appreciation and to give to others, even if it means putting their hands in their Angry Birds or Trolls wallets.
But this Father’s Day, Sunday 3 September, how about a novelty gift for Dad? He is usually the man who has everything, so how can you make him laugh? Capitalising on sweeping generalisations about Dads might be a good place to start but I’m not suggesting anything tool or gardening related.
David Moye (HuffPost), wrote an article for Father’s Day in the US, titled Weird Father’s Day Gifts That Even A Normal Dad Will Love.
Yes, there are the standard ‘all-dads-love-beer’ gifts but there’s also a book mentioned and only one book made the list!
It’s my debut picture book, Daddy and the World’s Longest Poo. This article gets the “Poo Book”. It pinpoints the tremendous novelty factor in a book that cheeky mums and kids can buy for the dads (or grandads) in their life.
We have all bought books about the love between a Daddy Bear and a Baby Bear for Dad’s first Father’s Day but what about kids who are getting older and becoming attuned to the world around them?
I have great feedback from parents who love reading Daddy and the World’s Longest Poo with their children – both dads and mums alike. It’s the kind of book that ends up on rotation. Four to seven-year olds love this kind of fun, toilet humour and they are more knowing than we like to think, without getting caught up in higher levels of meaning. The latter is for mums and dads who read the book and if your family has a good sense of humour and can cope with a few mentions of poo, you won’t be disappointed. I’d liken it to the kind of novelty longevity enjoyed by My Aussie Dad (Yvonne Morrison and Gus Gordon, Scholastic).
But is there a more serious point to this blog, apart from a book plug?
I’m a children’s book author, so I would advocate giving a book to Dad or Grandad this Father’s Day, especially if your son or daughter need assistance with reading. They might be a reluctant reader and humour could be the hook that reels them in.
Childhood literacy is important and experts acknowledge the power of a male role model reading books to themselves, or to their sons, in particular. It has an incredible influence on young boys, who may naturally favor more physical pursuits.
Daddy and the World’s Longest Poo (Lulu Publishing), is for every family who has ever laughed at a certain someone who sits on the toilet for too long. It’s for a Mum who’s ever wondered where her husband was hiding out for hours on end. It’s for a child who finds poo hilarious and most of all, it’s for a cheeky dad or grandad, who can laugh at himself.
The book is averaging 4.6 out of 5 stars on Goodreads with 16 member reviews and 5 stars on Amazon with 11 customer reviews.
"Daddy and the World's Longest Poo is a wonderfully whimsical book about one of life's greatest mysteries. Both children and adults alike will enjoy the authors wicked sense of humor as she explores where and why dads disappear for such long periods of time. With bright beautiful illustrations that at times reminded me of Dr. Seuss' art style bringing the funny story to life. Children and adults of all ages will enjoy this delightfully entertaining book." – Amazon Customer Review (5 stars).
For Australian shoppers, Daddy and the World’s Longest Poo is available to buy online at Lulu.com (in paperback and eBook). It is also in paperback on Amazon, and all major online book retailers – see here for details.
And if you’re from the Sunshine State, drop in to visit 'Human Bel' and 'Human Jack' at the very cool Little Gnome bookstore and coffee shop in Wynnum. Little Gnome is well stocked with copies of Daddy and the World’s Longest Poo and it’s a great way to avoid postage fees.
Don't miss out for Father's Day - order your copy now.
The 'Poo Book' Blog Reviews Bubbles and Puddles
Bubbles and Puddles
By Michelle Wanasundera and Thana-one Yazawa
To be Published Nov 2017 by Lilly Pilly Publishing, Hardback (AU$29.95)
The first book for an emerging author is a monumental thing. The build up to launch day is a bundle of excitement and expectation. The recent Facebook posts of debut author Michelle Wanasundera, have been a joy to read, as she primes her beautiful new ‘book baby’ for launch into the world.
This new book bub is Bubbles and Puddles, with poetry by Wanasundera and illustrations by interior designer and children’s book artist Thana-one Yazawa.
Reading Michelle’s bio puts her book into perspective. She lives in the Blue Mountains with her family; the most perfect place to indulge a love of nature and creativity. Career-wise, Michelle has studied psychology, philosophy and children’s meditation. These skills infuse her writing, with insight into how a child’s mind works and an endless appreciation of the calming wonders of the natural world.
Published in glorious hardback, Bubbles and Puddles makes a statement with its visually -leasing balance of rich colour illustrations and white text backgrounds, for its blocks of poetry. The publication’s design is striking and reminds me of those books from childhood that I wanted to retain as keepsakes, to dip in and out of at my reading leisure. The picture books that impacted me as a young girl were often anthologies of poetry, fairy tales, nursery rhymes or Aboriginal legends but publications like this almost seem to represent a dying art. It is therefore wonderful to see this genre making a comeback with books like Bubbles and Puddles and Magic Fish Dreaming by June Perkins, to name just two.
With scope for classroom and library readings and helpful ‘Teacher’s Notes’ for each poem, this dreamy verse collection is grounded in an understanding of child psychology. It deals beautifully with issues like childhood anxiety (Belly Bubbles) processing big emotions (Waterfall), as well as appreciation for giving to others (Rainmaker) and allowing yourself to ‘be’ in the moment (Little Lights). Wanasundera is a talented poet and while she has a good command of rhyme, also employs free verse, which keeps the collection from falling into any sing-songy traps that would undermine the importance of its messages. Every full-page illustration is a celebration of the poetry within and I hope that Wanasundera and Yazawa continue their partnership which is seemingly a match made in heaven.
Recommended For
The Poo Book Blog would heartily recommend this collection of holistic poetry for sensitive and creative girls, of primary school age. Keen readers ages 5-6 will need their parents help and there is a lot of text, so breaking it down to one or two poems before bed, may be the best way to foster appreciation and a love of repeat reads. For middle-primary readers, able to read independently and developing an interest in poetry, this book is the kind I can see them reaching for frequently, depending on their mood and which poem resonates on any given day. The dream-like illustrations (which conjure up fairy tales of yore), are pure escapist joy and will help ensure this book’s long shelf-life, along with the heartfelt verse, which pays tribute to the way the author’s daughter, Amali, views the world.
Congratulations to the Author/Illustrator team on the soon-to-be launch of Bubbles and Puddles and I look forward to seeing the book’s buddy, Hugs and Bugs.
Follow Michelle on Instagram at michellewanasunderaauthor.
Brydie Wright
By Michelle Wanasundera and Thana-one Yazawa
To be Published Nov 2017 by Lilly Pilly Publishing, Hardback (AU$29.95)
The first book for an emerging author is a monumental thing. The build up to launch day is a bundle of excitement and expectation. The recent Facebook posts of debut author Michelle Wanasundera, have been a joy to read, as she primes her beautiful new ‘book baby’ for launch into the world.
This new book bub is Bubbles and Puddles, with poetry by Wanasundera and illustrations by interior designer and children’s book artist Thana-one Yazawa.
Reading Michelle’s bio puts her book into perspective. She lives in the Blue Mountains with her family; the most perfect place to indulge a love of nature and creativity. Career-wise, Michelle has studied psychology, philosophy and children’s meditation. These skills infuse her writing, with insight into how a child’s mind works and an endless appreciation of the calming wonders of the natural world.
Published in glorious hardback, Bubbles and Puddles makes a statement with its visually -leasing balance of rich colour illustrations and white text backgrounds, for its blocks of poetry. The publication’s design is striking and reminds me of those books from childhood that I wanted to retain as keepsakes, to dip in and out of at my reading leisure. The picture books that impacted me as a young girl were often anthologies of poetry, fairy tales, nursery rhymes or Aboriginal legends but publications like this almost seem to represent a dying art. It is therefore wonderful to see this genre making a comeback with books like Bubbles and Puddles and Magic Fish Dreaming by June Perkins, to name just two.
With scope for classroom and library readings and helpful ‘Teacher’s Notes’ for each poem, this dreamy verse collection is grounded in an understanding of child psychology. It deals beautifully with issues like childhood anxiety (Belly Bubbles) processing big emotions (Waterfall), as well as appreciation for giving to others (Rainmaker) and allowing yourself to ‘be’ in the moment (Little Lights). Wanasundera is a talented poet and while she has a good command of rhyme, also employs free verse, which keeps the collection from falling into any sing-songy traps that would undermine the importance of its messages. Every full-page illustration is a celebration of the poetry within and I hope that Wanasundera and Yazawa continue their partnership which is seemingly a match made in heaven.
Recommended For
The Poo Book Blog would heartily recommend this collection of holistic poetry for sensitive and creative girls, of primary school age. Keen readers ages 5-6 will need their parents help and there is a lot of text, so breaking it down to one or two poems before bed, may be the best way to foster appreciation and a love of repeat reads. For middle-primary readers, able to read independently and developing an interest in poetry, this book is the kind I can see them reaching for frequently, depending on their mood and which poem resonates on any given day. The dream-like illustrations (which conjure up fairy tales of yore), are pure escapist joy and will help ensure this book’s long shelf-life, along with the heartfelt verse, which pays tribute to the way the author’s daughter, Amali, views the world.
Congratulations to the Author/Illustrator team on the soon-to-be launch of Bubbles and Puddles and I look forward to seeing the book’s buddy, Hugs and Bugs.
Follow Michelle on Instagram at michellewanasunderaauthor.
Brydie Wright
