Deborah Vogts's Blog, page 133
August 1, 2011
Scheduling Book Signings
This summer, I'm sharing "writing tips" on Tuesdays from a series of articles I wrote for CAN (Christian Writers Network). You can read more writing tips from my blog here.
We all know the story of the little engine who didn't think he could make it up the giant hill. That's sometimes how I felt when I thought of everything that was involved in marketing my debut fiction book release with Zondervan. How will I ever accomplish all that I want to do? And what's more, who am I to even try? Though fairly inexperienced with the publishing business, that summer I learned a LOT about promotion and marketing. This week I want to write about scheduling book signings at bookstores, libraries, or other venues. As authors, we dream of the day we will have the opportunity to sign our first books. We consider what we'll write, if we'll use scripture, and we might even practice our signature--I know I did.
Once your book is released, your readers will want to know where they can find your book and have you sign it for them. I've found this especially true in my local area or region. So what do you do, little engine? Do you go out and try to schedule these signings on your own, wait for them to call, or leave it to your publisher to take care of?
Let's face it, unless you are a best-selling author with a huge readership, your publisher is probably not going to schedule you for a book tour. Sorry to break the news to you, little engine. What does that mean for you? In plain terms, it means you must do the footwork and make it happen on your own. But it's not that difficult and if done correctly, it can be quite rewarding.When Snow Melts in Spring released with Zondervan in 2009, my in-house publicist sent out press releases to local and national media. This along with a personal email from me helped to garner some local attention for my books—and because of that, I had people contact me about doing book signings.That's easy planning. Simply work out how many events you want to do or can handle each month and go from there. I always ask myself:1) How far am I willing to travel? Is the time away from home and family, and my writing worth the friendships I'll make or books I'll sell? How many readers might I reach at this event?2) Does the event collide with other activities I have planned? Or am I stretching myself too thin by scheduling events too close together? 3) Will I sell my own books or will the host take care of it for me? There are pros and cons to both of these. I'll make more hands-on money if I sell books at my author discount, but those sales will not go toward my royalty sales. 4) Will any of my expenses be reimbursed? Some places will offer to reimburse my travel expenses, which is always nice. If this is not the case, then I'll need to evaluate whether I have the necessary funds to cover my expenses.Note here: Five months after the release of my first book I found myself wearing down and in need of some recuperation time. If you find that's the case, simply cut down on the number of events you schedule. Do what needs to be done to stay healthy and happy.But how do you schedule book signings? Again, if stores aren't contacting you, and this is something you want to do, contact them.
When my first book released, I took two road trips across Kansas to attend ICRS and the ACFW conference. I decided to use that time to visit bookstores along the way and introduce myself to the owners or managers. Rather than just show up unexpected, I sent emails to those on my route as a pre-introduction to let them know that I would be passing by their store and planned to stop in to say hello.As the time approached to visit the stores, I went bearing gifts. I baked Snickerdoodle cookies and packaged them by the dozen to give to the store managers along with media kits.My media kit consisted of: a nice folder with a picture of my book cover on the front; a news release about my book series that also included a bio; a bookmark or flyer about my series; a business card; a pen with my contact information on it; and a book (should they not carry it in their store). Fortunately, all the stores I stopped at did carry my book so I didn't have to give any away. And most of the stores were very happy to have me sign the books they had in stock. If they don't ask you to do this, be sure to offer to do it for them.From these simple visits, I did two things: I made contact with the store owner/manager and hopefully encouraged a friendship/partnership in the business, and I made myself available to them for future book signing events.Another thing you should consider when you schedule a book signing is to be sure that some sort of publicity is going to be done—either through the local media (news/radio) or through flyers at the store or even through store newsletters. The more the event is publicized the better. Then, even if you only have two people at the signing, you'll have at least gotten your name out to the public, which could turn into future sales.
One such event occurred at a book signing I did in Hays, KS. I happened to be traveling through and knew this would be the only chance for me to have an event at this store. So we scheduled it for a Wednesday morning—knowing full well that it would probably not get a lot of attention. But what it did get was attention from the Hays Daily Newspaper, which did a nice front page article in their paper. From there, it was added to an Associated Press list and attracted attention in other papers statewide—going so far as to scroll at the bottom of public television broadcasts for an entire month! Now that was a book signing worth going to! And the friendships I made in Hays were invaluable as well—truly lovely people there.
Last summer, I planned a two-day signing event with fellow Kansas authors, Deborah Raney and Kim Vogel Sawyer. We scheduled an event in Hillsboro, KS on Friday night, and then hit McPherson and Newton the next day. Even though each place was considered a "small" gathering, we attracted many readers to these local events. Was it worth our time? Every bit. The contacts made with the store owners and managers help to gain a return invitation AND they tend to be more willing to sell your books to their readers. If you have other suggestions on how to plan or make a book signing more productive, please share in the comment section of this blog. Next Tuesday, I'll write more about author events and table displays. Until then, keep chugging up those hills!
We all know the story of the little engine who didn't think he could make it up the giant hill. That's sometimes how I felt when I thought of everything that was involved in marketing my debut fiction book release with Zondervan. How will I ever accomplish all that I want to do? And what's more, who am I to even try? Though fairly inexperienced with the publishing business, that summer I learned a LOT about promotion and marketing. This week I want to write about scheduling book signings at bookstores, libraries, or other venues. As authors, we dream of the day we will have the opportunity to sign our first books. We consider what we'll write, if we'll use scripture, and we might even practice our signature--I know I did.Once your book is released, your readers will want to know where they can find your book and have you sign it for them. I've found this especially true in my local area or region. So what do you do, little engine? Do you go out and try to schedule these signings on your own, wait for them to call, or leave it to your publisher to take care of?
Let's face it, unless you are a best-selling author with a huge readership, your publisher is probably not going to schedule you for a book tour. Sorry to break the news to you, little engine. What does that mean for you? In plain terms, it means you must do the footwork and make it happen on your own. But it's not that difficult and if done correctly, it can be quite rewarding.When Snow Melts in Spring released with Zondervan in 2009, my in-house publicist sent out press releases to local and national media. This along with a personal email from me helped to garner some local attention for my books—and because of that, I had people contact me about doing book signings.That's easy planning. Simply work out how many events you want to do or can handle each month and go from there. I always ask myself:1) How far am I willing to travel? Is the time away from home and family, and my writing worth the friendships I'll make or books I'll sell? How many readers might I reach at this event?2) Does the event collide with other activities I have planned? Or am I stretching myself too thin by scheduling events too close together? 3) Will I sell my own books or will the host take care of it for me? There are pros and cons to both of these. I'll make more hands-on money if I sell books at my author discount, but those sales will not go toward my royalty sales. 4) Will any of my expenses be reimbursed? Some places will offer to reimburse my travel expenses, which is always nice. If this is not the case, then I'll need to evaluate whether I have the necessary funds to cover my expenses.Note here: Five months after the release of my first book I found myself wearing down and in need of some recuperation time. If you find that's the case, simply cut down on the number of events you schedule. Do what needs to be done to stay healthy and happy.But how do you schedule book signings? Again, if stores aren't contacting you, and this is something you want to do, contact them.
When my first book released, I took two road trips across Kansas to attend ICRS and the ACFW conference. I decided to use that time to visit bookstores along the way and introduce myself to the owners or managers. Rather than just show up unexpected, I sent emails to those on my route as a pre-introduction to let them know that I would be passing by their store and planned to stop in to say hello.As the time approached to visit the stores, I went bearing gifts. I baked Snickerdoodle cookies and packaged them by the dozen to give to the store managers along with media kits.My media kit consisted of: a nice folder with a picture of my book cover on the front; a news release about my book series that also included a bio; a bookmark or flyer about my series; a business card; a pen with my contact information on it; and a book (should they not carry it in their store). Fortunately, all the stores I stopped at did carry my book so I didn't have to give any away. And most of the stores were very happy to have me sign the books they had in stock. If they don't ask you to do this, be sure to offer to do it for them.From these simple visits, I did two things: I made contact with the store owner/manager and hopefully encouraged a friendship/partnership in the business, and I made myself available to them for future book signing events.Another thing you should consider when you schedule a book signing is to be sure that some sort of publicity is going to be done—either through the local media (news/radio) or through flyers at the store or even through store newsletters. The more the event is publicized the better. Then, even if you only have two people at the signing, you'll have at least gotten your name out to the public, which could turn into future sales.
One such event occurred at a book signing I did in Hays, KS. I happened to be traveling through and knew this would be the only chance for me to have an event at this store. So we scheduled it for a Wednesday morning—knowing full well that it would probably not get a lot of attention. But what it did get was attention from the Hays Daily Newspaper, which did a nice front page article in their paper. From there, it was added to an Associated Press list and attracted attention in other papers statewide—going so far as to scroll at the bottom of public television broadcasts for an entire month! Now that was a book signing worth going to! And the friendships I made in Hays were invaluable as well—truly lovely people there.Last summer, I planned a two-day signing event with fellow Kansas authors, Deborah Raney and Kim Vogel Sawyer. We scheduled an event in Hillsboro, KS on Friday night, and then hit McPherson and Newton the next day. Even though each place was considered a "small" gathering, we attracted many readers to these local events. Was it worth our time? Every bit. The contacts made with the store owners and managers help to gain a return invitation AND they tend to be more willing to sell your books to their readers. If you have other suggestions on how to plan or make a book signing more productive, please share in the comment section of this blog. Next Tuesday, I'll write more about author events and table displays. Until then, keep chugging up those hills!
Mailbox Monday
Here's another letter to share from someone who read both of my books in the Seasons of the Tallgrass series. Enjoy and Happy Monday! Dear Deborah,
I just wanted to let you know that I love your first two books. Snow Melts in Spring really brought back so many memories from my childhood. I was raised on a farm outside Emporia, Kansas. Then around the time I started the 3rd grade we moved into Emporia, where I lived until I married and moved out of state. But my heart has always belonged to my homeland of Kansas. When I read your book it really made me feel like I was home again. Thank you for being such a good writer that you could bring that home to me through your words. I wait and look forward to your next book and hope that you write quite a few of them. Thank you so much. ~ Home grown Kansas girl
July 29, 2011
Cherry Almond Coffee Cake
1 package sour cream cake mix
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup water
3 eggs
1 - 21 oz. cherry pie filling
1/4 cup slivered almonds
Glaze (recipe below)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl, mix together cake mix, sour cream, water and eggs. Beat for 3 minutes. Spread mixture into a greased jelly roll pan. Drop pie filling in twelve generous spoonfulls. Bake for 25-30 minutes until cake springs back when touched. Cool. Spread with glaze and sprinkle with almonds. Serves 15
Glaze:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup water
3 eggs
1 - 21 oz. cherry pie filling
1/4 cup slivered almonds
Glaze (recipe below)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl, mix together cake mix, sour cream, water and eggs. Beat for 3 minutes. Spread mixture into a greased jelly roll pan. Drop pie filling in twelve generous spoonfulls. Bake for 25-30 minutes until cake springs back when touched. Cool. Spread with glaze and sprinkle with almonds. Serves 15
Glaze:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
July 27, 2011
County Fair 2011
My family and I made it through another county fair week, despite ridiculous temperatures that ranged between 103-106 most days. It's always fun to see how year-long 4-H projects culminate in the judging arena, and now that we're down to one daughter in 4-H, it isn't nearly as time-consuming or challenging as it once was when we had three daughters in sewing and cooking. (Those were the days!)
Here are a few pictures of our youngest daughter's 4-H projects.
FOODS - She made a peach pie, an herb cheese ring, and an Italian cream cake. Watch for recipes here in the weeks ahead.
PHOTOGRAPHY - This was her first year in photography, but she's had lots of practice the last two years taking pictures for me on this blog. She won Reserve Champion in Open Class on this photo of a honey bee.
MEAT GOATS - A fun project that began in March when she purchased two goats at four months old. She sold them at auction the last day of the fair and will put the money into her college scholarship fund.
FINE ARTS - She loves to sketch pictures from old photographs. This is one of Ann Frank, and another of her great-grandma (Tallman) when she graduated from 8th grade. It received Grand Champion and will go on to the Kansas State Fair.
READING - As an author, could I have a daughter who wasn't enrolled in reading? I think not! Here is a poster she created to promote the project.
HORSE - Her final event took place on Sunday with riding events in horsemanship, western pleasure, reining, and trail.
All in all, great job, kiddo! She stayed at the fair all week caring for her animals in the extreme heat, making sure they had plenty of water and were comfortable. Hopefully next year will be cooler. How about you? Are any of you participating in a county fair? Please share in the comments below.
Here are a few pictures of our youngest daughter's 4-H projects.
FOODS - She made a peach pie, an herb cheese ring, and an Italian cream cake. Watch for recipes here in the weeks ahead.
PHOTOGRAPHY - This was her first year in photography, but she's had lots of practice the last two years taking pictures for me on this blog. She won Reserve Champion in Open Class on this photo of a honey bee.
MEAT GOATS - A fun project that began in March when she purchased two goats at four months old. She sold them at auction the last day of the fair and will put the money into her college scholarship fund.
FINE ARTS - She loves to sketch pictures from old photographs. This is one of Ann Frank, and another of her great-grandma (Tallman) when she graduated from 8th grade. It received Grand Champion and will go on to the Kansas State Fair.
READING - As an author, could I have a daughter who wasn't enrolled in reading? I think not! Here is a poster she created to promote the project.
HORSE - Her final event took place on Sunday with riding events in horsemanship, western pleasure, reining, and trail.
All in all, great job, kiddo! She stayed at the fair all week caring for her animals in the extreme heat, making sure they had plenty of water and were comfortable. Hopefully next year will be cooler. How about you? Are any of you participating in a county fair? Please share in the comments below.
July 26, 2011
Planning a Book Launch
This week I want to go over planning a book launch. A book launch is a fun and exciting event--a celebration of something you've longed for and awaited. *Taken from a series of articles on the CAN Marketing Blog.Finally, the day arrives when your book is released from your publisher. You hold it in your hand. You want to celebrate with friends and family, or even with your church or your community. And you should! A book launch is the perfect opportunity to do this.
Little Engine, this part of the journey is all downhill. Take a break, relax and enjoy the scenery.When my debut book Snow Melts in Spring came out with Zondervan in 2009, I'd given a lot of thought about what I wanted to do to celebrate its launch. Because the Seasons of the Tallgrass series is set in the Flint Hills of Kansas, my first thought was to hold the launch in Cottonwood Falls, a wee little town in the heart of the Flint Hills, which was also the basis for my fictional town of Diamond Falls.I made some phone calls and started planning. I shared my thoughts with Sue Smith, the owner of the Emma Chase Cafe in Cottonwood Falls. Sue was delighted with the idea and offered to host me for a two-day book signing during their Flint Hills Folklife Celebration, one of their biggest attractions of the year.She set up signings for the Friday night music event and then again the next day during the Festival, going so far as to provide Snickerdoodle cookies and punch for the reception. (For those who aren't aware, I provide a recipe for Snickerdoodles in the back of Snow Melts in Spring.)
After a few more phone calls, I managed to collect two awesome giveaways for the event--a one night stay at the 1874 Stonehouse B&B and a dinner for 2 at the Grand Central Hotel.Both offered to me at no charge. I never could have imagined such generosity. I was amazed and so thankful!Once we had the plans set, I began collecting a list of librairies and bookstores in the area that might be interested in promoting the event. With the help of my publisher, fliers and posters were sent to these places, and a media release went out to radio and newspapers in the area.In the end, the event was a wonderful success. Not only did I celebrate the launch of my book in this lovely place in the beautiful Flint Hills of Kansas, but I made new friends and gained new book readers.
I also held a local book launch at my hometown church. This, too, was a lovely celebration with friends and family who were unable to attend the first launch. For this event, we had music, a decorated cake, a chocolate fountain and two more giveaways--a handmade quilt and a lovely teapot. Local newspapers promoted the event.
Last summer when I launched my second book, Seeds of Summer, I again chose to celebrate in the beautiful Flint Hills. Because my main character is a former Miss Rodeo Kansas, I decided to hold the event at the Flint Hills Rodeo in Strong City, KS. I shared a booth with the Fellowship of Christian Cowboys who gave away free New Testament Bibles. I couldn't have chosen a better vendor to be with.
Again, my publisher sent out flyers and posters, plus they provided some amazing prizes for drawings--$$ gift certificates to local western stores. I also awarded a special prize to the winner of the Rodeo Princess Contest, which was a lot of fun.
So, from all this, my best advice is to be creative with your launch and have fun. If possible, draw elements from your book that will bring meaning to the event. Enjoy this moment and celebrate with your family and friends!Next Tuesday I'll go over scheduling book signings! Until then, keep chugging up those hills . . .
Little Engine, this part of the journey is all downhill. Take a break, relax and enjoy the scenery.When my debut book Snow Melts in Spring came out with Zondervan in 2009, I'd given a lot of thought about what I wanted to do to celebrate its launch. Because the Seasons of the Tallgrass series is set in the Flint Hills of Kansas, my first thought was to hold the launch in Cottonwood Falls, a wee little town in the heart of the Flint Hills, which was also the basis for my fictional town of Diamond Falls.I made some phone calls and started planning. I shared my thoughts with Sue Smith, the owner of the Emma Chase Cafe in Cottonwood Falls. Sue was delighted with the idea and offered to host me for a two-day book signing during their Flint Hills Folklife Celebration, one of their biggest attractions of the year.She set up signings for the Friday night music event and then again the next day during the Festival, going so far as to provide Snickerdoodle cookies and punch for the reception. (For those who aren't aware, I provide a recipe for Snickerdoodles in the back of Snow Melts in Spring.)
After a few more phone calls, I managed to collect two awesome giveaways for the event--a one night stay at the 1874 Stonehouse B&B and a dinner for 2 at the Grand Central Hotel.Both offered to me at no charge. I never could have imagined such generosity. I was amazed and so thankful!Once we had the plans set, I began collecting a list of librairies and bookstores in the area that might be interested in promoting the event. With the help of my publisher, fliers and posters were sent to these places, and a media release went out to radio and newspapers in the area.In the end, the event was a wonderful success. Not only did I celebrate the launch of my book in this lovely place in the beautiful Flint Hills of Kansas, but I made new friends and gained new book readers.
I also held a local book launch at my hometown church. This, too, was a lovely celebration with friends and family who were unable to attend the first launch. For this event, we had music, a decorated cake, a chocolate fountain and two more giveaways--a handmade quilt and a lovely teapot. Local newspapers promoted the event.
Last summer when I launched my second book, Seeds of Summer, I again chose to celebrate in the beautiful Flint Hills. Because my main character is a former Miss Rodeo Kansas, I decided to hold the event at the Flint Hills Rodeo in Strong City, KS. I shared a booth with the Fellowship of Christian Cowboys who gave away free New Testament Bibles. I couldn't have chosen a better vendor to be with.
Again, my publisher sent out flyers and posters, plus they provided some amazing prizes for drawings--$$ gift certificates to local western stores. I also awarded a special prize to the winner of the Rodeo Princess Contest, which was a lot of fun.
So, from all this, my best advice is to be creative with your launch and have fun. If possible, draw elements from your book that will bring meaning to the event. Enjoy this moment and celebrate with your family and friends!Next Tuesday I'll go over scheduling book signings! Until then, keep chugging up those hills . . .
July 25, 2011
Book Drawing ~ Canary Island Song
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingCanary Island SongHoward Books; Original edition (July 5, 2011)byRobin Jones Gunn
Robin Jones Gunn was born in Wisconsin and lived on a dairy farm until her family moved to southern California when she was five years old. She grew up in Orange County and spent her summers at Newport Beach with friends from her church youth group. After attending Biola University and Capernwray Bible School in Austria, Robin and Ross were married and spent the next two decades working together in youth ministry.It was the young teens at Robin's church who challenged her to write stories for them. She hadn't thought much about being a writer, but took their request to heart and set her alarm for 3am, three days a week. With two small children it was the only time she could find to write the first story about Christy Miller. After two years and ten rejections the novel Summer Promise was accepted for publication in 1988. Robin hasn't stopped writing since. Over 4 million copies of her 75 books have sold and can be found in a dozen translations all over the world.
Robin and her husband now live in Hawaii where Ross is a counselor and Robin continues to write to the sound of tropical birds chattering in the palm trees outside her window. Their children are grown but manage to come to the islands with their families every chance they get. Robin's awards include: three Christy awards for excellence in fiction, a Gold Medallion finalist, Mt. Hermon Pacesetter and the Mt. Hermon Writer of the Year award. Robin travels extensively and is a frequent key-note speaker at various events around the world. She serves on the Board of Directors for Media Associates International and Jerry Jenkin's Christian Writer's Guild.
ABOUT THE BOOK
When Carolyn's grown daughter tells her she needs to "get a life," Carolyn decides it's time to step out of her familiar routine as a single woman in San Francisco and escape to her mother's home in the Canary Islands. Since Carolyn's mother is celebrating her seventieth birthday, the timing of Carolyn's visit makes for a perfect surprise. The surprise, however, is on Carolyn when she sees Bryan Spencer, her high school summer love. It's been seven years since Carolyn lost her husband, but ever since that tragic day, her life has grown smaller and closed in. The time has come for Carolyn to get her heart back. It takes the gentle affection of her mother and aunts, as well as the ministering beauty and song of the islands to draw Carolyn into the fullness of life. She is nudged along by a Flamenco dance lesson, a defining camel ride and the steady gaze of Bryan's intense blue-gray eyes.
Is it too late for Carolyn to trust Bryan? Can Carolyn believe that Bryan has turned into something more than the wild beach boy who stole her kisses so many years ago on a balmy Canary night? Carolyn is reminded that Christopher Columbus set sail from the Canary Islands in 1492 on his voyage to discover the New World. Is she ready to set sail from these same islands to discover her new life? If you would like to read the first chapter of Canary Island Song, go HERE.
Please leave a comment below to enter this week's book drawing for Canary Island Song. A winner will be selected on Sunday, July 31.
*Void where prohibited. Open only to US residents. Odds of winning depend on number of entrants. Comments must be made on this blog . Social network comments are not valid.
July 22, 2011
Fried Rice
(Works best if rice is prepared one day before use.)
3 cups boiled rice
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup minced onion
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup chopped ham
1 cup frozen peas
3 eggs, beaten
1/3 cup soy sauce
In a large skillet, heat oil until hot. Toss in boiled rice and cook until hot and golden. Add onion, salt, pepper, ham and peas. Cook until peas are tender. Hollow out center of skillet and add beaten eggs. Scramble until semi-cooked and stir into rice mixture. Sprinkle with soy sauce. Very good. This recipe can also be made into a main dish by adding more meat such as chicken, pork, or beef. Serves 8-10
July 20, 2011
Flint Rock and Limestone
Here are some more pictures from a recent trip I took to the Kansas Flint Hills. I'm labeling this post
Flint Rock and Limestone
.
Flint Rock in the Pasture
An Abandoned Stone Cabin (Used for an opening scene in Blades of Autumn)
Old Stone Fence (Can you imagine how much work went into building this fence?)
Stone Ridge
Limestone Brace Post
Stone in Pasture
Old Limestone Shed
Abandoned Limestone House
Stone Bank Creek Bed
Flint Rock in the Pasture
An Abandoned Stone Cabin (Used for an opening scene in Blades of Autumn)
Old Stone Fence (Can you imagine how much work went into building this fence?) 
Stone Ridge
Limestone Brace Post
Stone in Pasture
Old Limestone Shed
Abandoned Limestone House
Stone Bank Creek Bed
July 19, 2011
Preparing a Media Campaign
This week I want to go over the basics for preparing a media campaign. Again, while some publishing houses may take care of this for you, it's always good to combine your efforts as a team, even brainstorming ideas if possible. *Taken from a series of articles on the CAN Marketing Blog.
When most people think about a media campaign, they think of news and radio. But don't forget about magazines, which is where I want to begin. Your first step is to analyze your book and figure out who your target readership is. Maybe you've written a book about dogs, or perhaps you have a character driving to Texas with a giant statue of Elvis in the back of her car. The readers you might want to target may then be dog-lovers, people who live in Texas, or Elvis fans.
For Snow Melts in Spring , my first book with Zondervan, I determined that I had a handful of reader groups I wanted to target: Horse-lovers, people who lived in Kansas or more specifically the Flint Hills, folks who loved the simple country life, Christian women, and even those who had an interest in veterinary science. For Seeds of Summer , the second book in the Seasons of the Tallgrass series, I added to my list, the Miss Rodeo America organization and rodeo enthusiasts.
Once you have a list of groups, you can then brainstorm magazines that may be interested in what you have written--by way of a feature, interview, or even an article you've written with the intent of promoting through a by-line. A great tool to use for this is a current market guide, which will list nearly every periodical that is published in the United States, often broken down by category. By following these steps, I created a list for my publisher that included the magazine address, the person to contact, as well as their lead time. A lot of magazines will work on their issues three to six months in advance, so you'll want to be aware of this when sending your media information.
Be sure to give this a lot of thought, and be especially aware of the smaller, more regional magazines. I had nice success with my first book, gaining the interest for several feature stories and interviews in both regional and national publications--
Show Me the Ozarks
(a small regional quarterly magazine),
America's Horse
(AQHA member magazine),
Healing Hands
(K-State College of Veterinary Magazine), and
Country
magazine (a Reiman publication).
Country
ended up featuring me in their April/May issue and offered a huge book giveaway to their readers. For the second book, the Miss Rodeo America organization printed an article/review in their member magazine, so you just never know what your efforts may produce.The next step in your media campaign is to create a list of local/regional newspapers, radio, and television stations that might be interested in promoting you. The best tool for this is the Internet. Do a google search of your area and then include contact information for your publisher to send media releases to. If your publisher is unable to do this, always remember that you as the author can do this too. Send your local contacts one of your media kits that we discussed last week. And remember to follow up a few weeks later with a friendly phone call or email.
Again, I had nice success with this, gaining the attention of local and regional media, especially if I had an author event in the area. Interestingly enough, one of the book signings I did had a very small turnout, but I managed to gain the attention of the local media, who ran a nice article in their paper. This itty-bitty event ended up on an Associated Press list and ran in several papers state-wide, as well as scrolled on the bottom of public television screens for over a month! This happened on three different occasions so never underestimate the power of the press!
Next Tuesday I'll go over ideas for planning your book launch! Fun times await! Until then, keep chugging up those hills . . .
July 18, 2011
Book Preview ~ Forever After
Forever After by Deborah RaneyA fire killed his best friend and his lifelong dream of being a firefighter. The same fire killed her husband and hopes for a family. Can new dreams replace old?
Lucas Vermontez was a proud firefighter like his father. Now, not only has he lost his father and his best friend, Zach, in the fire at the Grove Street homeless shelter, but the devoted rookie can no longer do the work he loves after being crippled in the tragic event. When friendship with his buddy's beautiful widow turns into more, he wonders, what could he possibly offer Jenna? Jenna Morgan is trying to grieve her husband's death like a proper widow, but the truth is, she never really loved Zach. His death feels more like a relief to her. But that relief is short-lived when she loses her home and the financial support of her in-laws. Now the secrets of her past threaten to destroy her future. Can the two forget the painful past and discover new reasons to live and love?
DEBORAH RANEY has written more than 20 books. Her first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title. Her books have since won the RITA Award, ACFW Carol Award, HOLT Medallion, National Readers' Choice Award, Silver Angel, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. Forever After, second in her new Hanover Falls Novels series, will release in June from Howard/Simon & Schuster. Deb and her husband, Ken Raney, enjoy small-town life in Kansas. They are new empty nesters with four children and a growing quiver of grandchildren, all of whom live much too far away. Visit Deb's website. 
