Deb Simpson's Blog, page 22

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News! Deb Simpson @ Fairytales Books 11/19/11

Saturday November 19th 2011 1030 to 1230 Deb Simpson, Pink Place and Blue Blaze Book Reading and Signing Prizes and fun for all kids!  Stop by and see Blue Blaze (The Monster Truck) Crush The Competition!





www.DebSimpsonBooks.com/news.html

Ready? Set? Launch That Book!

8 Ways to Make Your Book Launch Take OffFirst, decide whether you want to run all of your activities on a single day, over the course of a week, or extending to a longer time period. Any of these options is workable, and I encourage you to spread them out if your time is already at a premium. Remember that you're in charge, so you get to decide the exact parameters of your book launch. Here are some things you might include in your book launch:Media Kit – This is essential. It's the established way for you to get your information to book reviewers, media contacts and other bloggers. I won't go through the whole media kit here, but it should include your book launch media release (see below for more information), photo of your book cover, photo of the author, marketing information, sample interviews, and a concise cover letter.
Guest Posts – One of the best ways to bring your message to new groups of readers is by offering to write guest articles for other bloggers. This can be done as part of a blog tour or on its own. In any case, by introducing yourself and your subject to new networks of readers, your book will get more of a boost at its launch.

Book Trailer – Short videos that act like movie trailers for your book have become more and more popular in the last couple of years. Some books seem to lend themselves to this treatment more than others, and some of the most effective I've seen are for fiction, like thrillers and romances.
Media Contacts – One way to help your book get off to a good start is to get the attention of the media. This might be through an interview with the local newspaper or radio station about your book, or it might be articles you submit to magazines or online periodicals in your niche. Developing a list of media contacts who are interested or who have reported in the past about your topic will be very useful for this effort.
Book Reviewers – Planning your review campaign well in advance will allow both print and online reviewers plenty of time to prepare a review about your book. Although we can't dictate the schedule on which these reviews are released, let reviewers know when the launch will be happening and other events scheduled for the time period of the launch.
Contests & Giveaways – One of the techniques that's been used to good effect by lots of authors is to give away a set number of books during the launch period. These may be offered by lottery, for leaving comments on your blog, for posting Tweets about the book launch, or any other way you can dream up to attract people's interest. Free anything is still a powerful pull for lots of people, and getting your book into as many people's hands as possible is the aim of your launch, so get creative here.
Blog Tour – A blog tour organizes the guest posts, giveaways and blogger networking into a formal schedule during your launch period. Setting up guest appearances on blogs, which allows the bloggers to introduce you to their readers, is a terrific way to grow your own reader community and enhance your relationship with lots of bloggers in your niche. You can promote your tour schedule on your own blog and through social media to create some excitement for all the events you've planned.
Media Release – Although your media release is an integral part of the Media Kit I mentioned at the beginning, it's really a key piece of your book launch as well. Why? A well-written and targeted media release will bring together all the best reasons people should be interested in your book, your subject, you and your book launch. And if your book legitimately addresses more than one audience, take your basic media release and re-write the headline and first paragraph to highlight the connection to other groups.
Taken together, putting together a book launch can be a lot of work. But there are a lot of tangible and intangible benefits you get from going through all this trouble. And while our basic aim is to sell books, if you're in this for the long haul, you'll recognize that these benefits will repay your efforts in many ways. For instance, by going through the launch, you can:Create better relations with other bloggers in your field
Better understand your readers and why they respond to you
Explore aspects of your subject that might be of interest to different groups of readers
Learn which approaches work best in driving traffic, and interest, about your book.
Running a book launch can be a demanding, exhausting and exciting adventure. You'll learn a lot, and you'll be able to use that learning for your next book. So give it a try.http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2011/10/top-8-tactics-to-power-your-online-book-launch/

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Little Pink Books at the Country Awards Show in Nashville!

Hello there!

Below are two wonderful updates from the Little Pink Book at Hope Matters Productions.



1. Friday, October 28th at 8pm CST: Join me at the Inspirational Country Music Awards! You can watch the awards thru the links listed below. I'll be walking the Pink Carpet with my heroes---136 breast cancer survivors; then enjoy VIP seating as we become the PINK back-drop for awards stage!

75 of those 136 survivors will be After Breast Cancer Program participants; one of the organizations benefiting from sales of my Little Pink Book entitled When Your Mom Has Cancer. I'll also be walking beside two of my dearest survivor friends, Vicki Kennedy & Tina Henderson. Also honored on this very special evening: precious loved ones whose lives were stolen away too soon. My Little Pink Books will be featured in several surprising ways throughout the awards!



Meet me at the awards through one of these links:

http://www.tln.com/ (Total Living Network)
www.stageit.com/faithfamilycountry ($10 fee to view 115 minutes, full-length of show)
For more viewing options & information, please go to: http://blog.becausehopematters.com/posts/little-pink-book-bound-for-inspirational-country-music/



Major award nominees for this year's honors include: Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts, Ronnie Dunn, The Band Perry, Josh Turner, Randy Travis, Ricky Skaggs, The Isaacs, and George Strait. Artists set to perform include the Oak Ridge Boys, Lee Greenwood, Ricky Skaggs, Guy Penrod, Buddy Jewell, and Chuck Day with additional artist presenters and performers to be announced. 



2. Please also enjoy my latest feature in the Emerald Coast Magazine:

http://emeraldcoastmagazine.com//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=531



I'm SO excited! Thank you all for your encouragement, support & prayers along this entire journey of HOPE---Huge Outcomes are Possible Everyday!



Hugs,

Maryann

P.S. Attending these awards came in part from my book appearing in Martina McBride's music video, "I'm Gonna Love You Through It."

If you haven't seen it yet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxIt70j_SPk


--

Maryann Makekau

Author & Inspirational Speaker Founder, Hope Matters Productions Inc.



PO Box 2021

Fort Walton Beach, FL  32549

http://becausehopematters.com/2011/

Another winner from Amanda Stephan!

Amanda has done it again!



"Lonely Hearts" is a well written tale of finding love later in life, after you're certain it will never again be yours. Injected with gentle humor and fierce faith, it is a story that can be read by all ages without concern.



The interwoven practices of church and prayer and the strong belief in homeschooling tell us much about the heroine, Becky, and the author, Amanda.



With enough twists and turns to keep you guessing and enough joy to make you rejoice, "Lonely Hearts" is a sweet and enriching read.



Thank you, Amanda, for being the author and muse in this story!



Another Success--like "The Price of Trust" (Amanda's first novel...) 













Lonely Hearts

One lonely mother. Two matchmaking kids. Three eligible bachelors and some very yummy apple pie…

Becky Callis is the widowed mother of two, trying to make ends meet. Moving to a new town, things get a little complicated when her mischievous children think she's been lonely far too long and try to take romantic matters into their own hands. 

Amazon launches SciFi Imprint!

Amazon's new imprint




mazon Publishing Launches Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Imprint, 47North
New science fiction, fantasy and horror imprint debuts with 15 books to be published in 2011 and 2012 SEATTLE, Oct 11, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced the launch of 47North, the seventh imprint from Amazon Publishing, focused on science fiction, fantasy and horror. 47North launches with 15 books, including "The Mongoliad: Book One," the first in the ambitious, five-book, collaborative Foreworld series led by Neal Stephenson and Greg Bear. All of these books will be available to English readers in Kindle, print and audio formats at http://www.amazon.com, as well as at national and independent booksellers. 47North will publish original and previously published works, as well as out-of-print books."Amazon customers have a huge appetite for science fiction, fantasy and horror books, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to introduce readers to new and established voices in these genres," said Victoria Griffith, Publisher, Amazon Publishing, West Coast Group. "We are especially happy to have a diverse list at launch, and look forward to publishing across a wide range of subgenres." 47North will launch with the following books & series:

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Southern Festival of Books--Amazing Authors!

News Southern Festival of Books!



Amanda Stephan







June Hall McCash

Phyllis Gobbell

Doug Jones

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My Bad! The Southern Festival of Books is THIS weekend!! in Nashville!

Live Love and Write!: Deb's Article in MB Post--Amy Parker!

Live Love and Write!: Deb's Article in MB Post--Amy Parker!: Changing the world, one word at a time Related Articles No Related Articles By: DEB SIMPSON, editor@murfreesboropost.com Posted...

Deb's Article in MB Post--Amy Parker!

Changing the world, one word at a time




 Related Articles


No Related Articles


By: DEB SIMPSON, editor@murfreesboropost.com
Posted: Sunday, October 9, 2011 6:28 am
 Email  Print



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AMY PARKER


Amy Parker, a diminutive brunette with sparkling eyes and an ever-present smile, does not look like a hard-charging woman whose goal is to change the world.



But, Parker's small stature is not an indicator of her size as an author.



She has written or co-written more than 20 books for a variety of readers, but she is most widely known for her cherished collection of Christian children's books.



Parker said things haven't changed much in her life since she published her first book, Night Night Prayers, in 2008. It has now sold more than 115,000 books in markets reaching across the United States.



"I am still a mom and wife, and the same person I always was," she said. "When I do book readings, I am still surprised and completely thrilled to hear other moms talk about their children's reaction to the books."



Parker smiled as her husband, Dan, looked on with obvious pride and joy.



"I love hearing that very young children memorize the lines in my books, and ask to have them read to them again and again," she added. "One mom told me that her son's first sentence was a line from my book Night Night Prayers, and that warms my heart. But, I think the greatest achievement of my children's books has been in the way they fostered the practice of prayer in the home."



Parker said the Murfreesboro community has been warm and welcoming to her, as she did readings and events.



She said many friends have helped her along her journey, including Kim Hasselbrink, who called schools and churches in the areas and told them they needed to have Parker do a book reading.



As a result of her friend's calls, Parker was busy for weeks afterward.



Parker then talked about how much support and encouragement she has received from the Murfreesboro booksellers, especially the Barnes & Noble at The Avenue.



"They have been so welcoming, and have treated me like someone important, even though I'm not. I'm just me," she said. "They even set up a shelf just for Amy Parker books. I can't say enough about how supportive they have been. They really support their local authors here."



Shawna Wadley Jackson, assistant manager for Barnes & Noble, said working with Parker is a dream.



"She is just about as sweet as they come," Shawna said. "Anything we do she appreciates, and that makes me want to help her any way I can."



When asked about how things have changed for him with the publication of Parker's books, Dan said he gets excited by seeing Parker's books on the bookstore shelves, and says it is encouraging for the entire family, to see her having success doing what she really wants to do.



Parker describes Dan as the person who grounds her, who brings her back to reality, while still supporting her and encouraging her to do the work that they both believe she is destined to do.



Parker is now encouraging Dan as he starts his own small business, Parker Professional Land Survey.



After 14 years of marriage, the bond between Parker and Dan remains strong.



They are the proud parents of two sons, Michael and Ethan.



Parker credits much of her strong Christian values and her drive to change the world, to the reinforcement she received from the teachers in her hometown of Watertown.



 An historic town only 30 miles from the heart of Rutherford County, Watertown is a world away in lifestyle from bustling, busy Murfreesboro.



Parker learned to read at a young age, and did her first book reading in kindergarten at Watertown Elementary, when she read The Night Before Christmas.



"The teachers in Watertown nurtured me and turned my 'wanna' do one day' into a 'gotta do today,'" she said.



Parker moved to Murfreesboro in 1997 to attend MTSU, obtaining a bachelor's degree in English, in 2000.



Parker found that while she liked the conveniences of living in the 'Boro, she also enjoyed the various neighborhoods and communities, which seemed to her like small towns in the midst of a metropolis.



While Parker loves the children's books she has written, she plans to expand her reach as she continues to use her words in changing the world.



Parker plans to write inspirational stories of phenomenal people who have overcome challenges, in an effort to demonstrate that people can live a life of purpose if they have faith and focus.



She believes using her writing and words are God's purpose for her life.



In fact, Parker has sometimes felt that God is handing out copies of her first book, Night Night Prayers, because the sales volume has been so unusual for a Christian children's book.



Parker and her family are active members of World Outreach Church in Murfreesboro, which believes its mission is to discover, develop and use each person's special talents in ministry. That fits in with Parker's personal mission of "changing the world, one word at a time."



Amy Parker's books are available in Barnes & Noble and other bookstores, and online from most major booksellers.



Parker frequently gives book readings in the local community. For more information about upcoming appearances and future publications, visit www.AmyParkerBooks.com.





To contact Deb Simpson, visit DebSimpsonBooks.com.