Dianne E. Butts's Blog: Dianne E. Butts' Blog, page 8

Returning "Home" for an Author Event at the new Brew Unto Others

260 Pages ~ $14.99Returning "home." Well it's not where we're originally from, but if anyplace feels like home it's Lamar, Colorado. We lived there from 1992 to 2000, we got involved in a church there, and we continue to see friends from Lamar often (not to mention going there often).

But since my last three books came out over the past 15 months, I haven't made an opportunity to take my books to Lamar and do an Author Event. That's about to change.

On Saturday, November 30, 2013, from 8:00 to 1:00, I'm going to be at the new Brew Unto Others coffee house in Lamar, Colorado.

Since it's the beginning of Advent Season (Advent begins December 1), we will be featuring my Christmas book,  Prophecies Fulfilled in the Birth of Jesus  (2012, PNP, $14.99). This book makes a great family devotional or group study to bless your Christmas season.

But I will also have my other books on hand:
Deliver Me: Hope, Help, & Healing through True Stories of Unplanned Pregnancy (Connections, 2011). This book actually started in Lamar, and features several stories from Lamar. In fact, the first of more than 50 true stories in the book is from Lamar. $14.99 This book was named "Book of the Year" (Family / Relationships) by Christian Small Publisher's Association in 2012.Dear America: A Letter of Comfort and Hope to a Grieving Nation (2002, Ampelos). My first book, I wrote this shortly after we moved from Lamar, in the days after the events of September 11, 2001. It includes "10 Things I've Learned While Sifting through Grief" and the story of the Bible in five acts. $6.95 Grandparenting Through Obstacles: Overcoming Family Challenges to Reach Your Grandchildren for Christ . Released in August 2012 by Pix-N-Pens Publishing and co-authored with Renee Gray-Wilburn, this practical book features twenty true stories to inspire and give hope to Christian grandparents. $15.99 This book was named "Book of the Year" (Family / Relationships) by Christian Small Publisher's Association in 2013. Prophecies Fulfilled in the Death & Resurrection of Jesus (April 2013, PNP) is the second in my "Prophecies Fulfilled" series and makes a great devotional to follows the Christmas book during the Lent Season preceding Easter. $14.99 Please stop by Lamar's new coffee house, enjoy a cup, and visit with me.


Brew Unto Others Coffee Shop119 S. Main StreetLamar, Colorado 81052 
 

Discovering Goodreads

www.Goodreads.com
logo used with permissionIf you haven't discovered Goodreads yet, you're missing out on a golden opportunity. Whether you're an author with books to promote or a reader who loves to read, Goodreads is the premier place for book lovers to gather and discuss the books they are reading, writing, reviewing, and loving.
Goodreads currently has 20 million members. They have added 570 million books to their site and members have generated 24 million book reviews. Its a book-lover's paradise.

Goodreads used to be privately owned but in a surprise move it was bought by Amazon.com on March 28, 2013. The acquisition of Goodreads by Amazon shocked many business people who had previously seen Goodreads as giving some competition to Amazon's Shelfari (and winning that competition. Seriously, is anybody on Shelfari?). Perhaps some also saw it as a conflict of interest with Amazon getting rid of the competition by buying them out. But that's a fair move in business. Either way, Goodreads is alive and thriving.

I've been a Goodreads member for a few years now, but honestly I'm still learning a lot about it and how to use it. For example, just a few weeks ago, via their newsletter, I learned I could send a "status update" to all my followers and fans. Who knew?! I sure didn't know I could do that.

Whether you've been on Goodreads for a while yourself or you're new to Goodreads, let me share what I've learned and discovered about what we can do there. There is so much, surely there's something here that's new for you.
www.Goodreads.com
logo used with permissionJoin for freeGoodreads is free to join, and you can sign in with your Facebook which makes it easy.

Connect with FriendsSimilar to Facebook, you send Friend Requests and the person on the other end can accept your request or not. I found a lot of friends by reviewing the Friend lists of others and sending requests from there. But beware, Goodreads frowns on sending mass Friend requests and you can reach a daily limit.

Since I joined in January 2008, I had accumulated 466 friends...until a few weeks ago when I realized I had never used their link to send Friend invitations to my Twitter Followers. I clicked that and the Friends started coming! In less than two weeks, I added over 200 new Friends to my list.

I have yet to send invitations to my Facebook friends or e-mail lists, although those options are there, too. Find them on your Friends page. (Click the little people icon at the top right by your photo and you'll see it on the right: "Find Friends From.")
 What you can do as a Reader
Here are just some of the activities Readers find and can take part in on Goodreads that I've discovered. But I don't think I've listed everything:

Friend others.

Follow people and get followers.
The difference between Friends and Followers is that you send or receive a Friend request and accept it or not. It's a two-way relationship. A Follower doesn't need your permission to follow you and read your reviews. (I think I got that right. It's confusing.) You can be Friend, a Follower, or both.

See which books our Friends are reading.

Read reviews. Write reviews.

Challenge yourself to read a certain number of books and keep track.

Shelve books, including books you want to read, books you are reading, books you own, and more.

Track the books you are reading, want to read, etc.

Enter a Goodreads Giveaway. There are tons of them and you might win a free book. These are often newly released books. If you win a giveaway, a review is appreciated but not required.

Join a group. There are tons of these too -- for every genre you can think of, for reviewers, for Christian books, and so much more. There are discussions and networking opportunities and more.

Get book recommendations. Based on what you've read and reviewed, Goodreads will recommend other books you might like.

What you can do as an Author
Sign up for the free Author Program Goodreads has an author program where you can set up your own Author Page. You can add a photo, a bio, links to your other sites, and more. Fans can follow you.

Goodreads says, "The Goodreads Author Program is a completely free feature designed to help authors reach their target audience — passionate readers. This is the perfect place for new and established authors to promote their books."

There are guidelines for authors you should read when you set up your page. If you don't find your book(s) already on their site, they will add them for you. Self-published books are welcome here. (Although I think they need to be available online somewhere, not just from your garage. But if that's your situation, check it out.)

Connect your blog, so it appears on your author page.

Add a video or trailer for your book.

Host a Goodreads Giveaway. You set it up and choose the dates it will run (maximum 90 days),  how many books to give away, and where in the world the giveaway will be available. You'll add a description of the book. People can enter to win a copy of your book. Goodreads will randomly choose the winners and send you the list with addresses. You are responsible for getting the book to the winners in a timely manner. (If you choose to make your giveaway available outside the U.S., such as in Canada and the U.K., you can deliver the book by buying it as a gift and having it delivered through Amazon.) Goodreads Giveaway are for print books only, not e-books.

Goodreads Giveaways generate fantastic exposure for your book. Not only can members enter to win, many more of them mark it as "want to read," which generates more exposure for you, getting your book title and cover in front of more potential readers and book buyers.

List your Events. Similar to Facebook, Goodreads has an "Events” function. I use it to list every upcoming author event and appearance I'm planning. To list an Event, click on the “Explore” menu, then on “Events,” then on “Add an Event.”

List some Quotes. On my Author Page I can add both "Dianne's Quotes" and "Quotes from Dianne." I guess the first would be my favorites from other sources and the latter from myself? I want to find some interesting quotes from my books and add them here.

Click "quotes" on the Explore menu, then click "Add A Quote."

Send a General Update. I just learned about this! As an author, I'm now trying to send an update about once a week. Here's quoting from the Goodreads newsletter:

Want to let people know that giveaway winners have been selected or that you're in the process of reviewing the edits on your manuscript? Tell them in a status update!

Status updates are a quick way to broadcast a short message -- up to 420 characters -- to your followers on Goodreads. Updates appear in the news feed, where you friends and followers can like them and comment on them.

Create a status update from the "Currently Reading" section of your home page when logged into Goodreads.

You'll find it in the upper right corner of the "Currently Reading" box. It's a link called "add a general update."

Put a Goodreads widget on your blogs and sites. They give you the code to copy and paste into your html so people can Friend you or enter your Goodreads Giveaway. To see mine, look in the right hand column (you may have to scroll up to see it), or click this link: "Giveaway" or click on the "Giveaway" tab at the top of this page. But come right back because we're not quite done!

What Authors and Readers can do
At least I think both Authors and general members can do these next three things. It's hard for me to tell because as a Goodreads Author, certain things show up on my pages that general members don't see and I can't tell whether some of these things are available to general members or not. If you discover they're not available to everyone, please leave a comment and let us all know.

Find these next three under the Explore menu.
I've also seen links to these next three on other pages, but I can't tell you where because I can't find them again! (Which is one of the drawbacks of Goodreads. I've seen interesting things but then later have no idea how to find them again. But I'm learning...)

Listopia. Great fun for general members.But Authors can also make good use of these to add their own books, so make a list of your favorite books or genre then include your own books!

Trivia. If you're a general member (meaning not a Goodreads Author), can you see this one? I'm working on finding some interesting trivia in my Prophecies Fulfilled books to post here. 

Click "trivia" on the Explore menu, then click "Add a question" on the Trivia Question bar.

Quizzes.  Again, if you're a general member I believe you can see this one. I'm working to figure out some good but challenging questions from both the Christmas story in the Bible and the Easter story. It will be fun to see if my quizzes bring more attention to my Prophecies Fulfilled books.

Click "quizzes" on the Explore menu, then click "create a quiz." Also take a few of the quizzes. They are fun and they'll spark some ideas for creating your own.

Please enter my Goodreads Giveaway
If you're already a member of Goodreads, you're all set to enter my Goodreads Giveaway. You can click to enter from this page.

If you're not yet a Goodreads member, now that you're familiar with it, why not give it a go? Once you join or login, look me up here: https://www.goodreads.com/DianneEButts

Send me a Friend request and I'll be your first friend. Or Follow my author page as a Fan if you want.

After you join, don't forget to enter my Goodreads Giveaway. You can come back here to enter, or you can find my Giveaway in the many other Giveaways. Go to the Giveaways from the Explore menu. Then find "Browse by Tag" on the right-hand side. Click "More..." at the bottom and then choose "Christian" and you'll find my book in there somewhere. I think they put the newest on top, so you'll have to scroll down to find mine and maybe even go to the next page. I hope you win!

Related Goodreads Article
Thinking you don't need one more social network to keep up with? This article by literary agent Janet Kobobel Grant gives great advice for authors to make the most of Goodreads in only one visit per week: 5 Ways To Increase Visibility Through Goodreads

Here's a short video with Otis Chandler, CEO and Co-founder of Goodreads:


 December: Something fun and different coming next month For December, we're going to do something a little different. Call it a special Christmas treat, my Christmas gift to you.

You're going to get treated to a free sample of my fiction ... as well as free chapters by other Pix-N-Pens / Write Integrity Press authors. Then we're going to put all these chapters together to make one e-book and, if you're paying attention, you'll be able to get the whole e-book for free for a limited time. So please tune in on the first of December for all the details. You'll know:
where to find the free chapterswhen and where my chapter will appearand when and how to get the whole book for free (and later for a great discount)It's going to be fun. Instead of being all business, we're going to take some time to relax and enjoy the holiday season. It will be a great way to kick off your Christmas season. We hope you'll be blessed!

Tweetables: Discovering #Goodreads http://ow.ly/qcQm7 @DianneEButts   Click to Tweet

How to promote your #book through Goodreads http://ow.ly/qcQm7   @DianneEButts   Click to Tweet

#Authors discover all the ways to #promoteyourbook at #Goodreads! http://ow.ly/qcQm7  @DianneEButts Click to Tweet


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October 4 Author of Prophecy book Event at The Lighthouse in La Junta, Colorado

It's not yet Halloween, so dare I mention Christmas? I know how we dislike Christmas coming earlier and earlier each year to stores and retailers. However if you are in leadership -- whether in a church, a Bible study, or simply your family -- and need to think ahead to figure out how to make Christmas special, and how to keep Christ in Christmas, then now is the perfect time to discover a book that will do just that. That's because you'll have time to read it early and determine if it's the right book for a pre-Christmas Bible study with friends or a daily family devotion throughout the Advent season to keep you centered on Christ.

I will be at The Lighthouse in La Junta, Colorado, tomorrow (Friday, October 4, 2013) from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm featuring my Christmas book, Prophecies Fulfilled in the Birth of Jesus.

Featured book at this Author Event
$14.99Eachof the 35 short chapter addresses a prophecy that was fulfilled in the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. In each chapter you'll find  where in the Bible the prophecy was first written or spoken. You'll also discover  when the prophecy was given, including the date if possible, then who spoke it, and the context of the prophecy.Each prophecy is then matched with the record of where in the Bible, when , and how  that prophecy was fulfilled in the events surrounding the birth of Jesus.Here's how the book is organized:

At the beginning of each chapter you'll find: a Key Verse for the chapter that highlights the prophecy.Facts about that prophecy: including where it is found, who wrote or spoke it, the date if possible, and the context it was written or spoken in, meaning  what was happening at the time this was written and why was it written?A Bible reading telling you where to go in your own Bible to read the verses we’re talking about in this chapter.
The body of each chapter discusses what I’ve discovered and learned about that prophecy.At the end of every chapter you'll find: Three or more discussion questions to help you or your group apply it to their lives.A Final Thought. A suggested prayer. And For more, read – additional Bible verses on related topics for further, optional study.
Travel back in time and rediscover the prophecies fulfilled in the birth of Jesus. Your future Christmases will never be the same.

SPECIAL NOTE: Our prayers are with the Dale and Susie Muth family at this time. Praying for Dale's recovery from his serious injuries. Praying for their children and family and friends.

Susie was the children's leader at Bible Study Fellowship International (BSF) in La Junta, Colorado, for many years. I met her when we were in the leaders' group together. I have to smile as I try to imagine all the little lives she impacted during those years as she taught so many little ones about Jesus. Surely heaven will be different because of her dedicated work through BSF. And we will miss her here.

Should the funeral for Susie Muth take place on Friday October 4 (which at the time of this writing it appears it will not), please know we will close The Lighthouse store and the Author Event to attend those services. Thank you for your understanding.


 The Lighthouse Christian bookstore215 Colorado AvenueLa Junta, Colorado 81050719-384-9660   

How I Changed My Facebook Book's Page to an Author Page

© Johnlric| Dreamstime Stock Photos Sometimes I'm amazed at the things I just "happen" to catch on Facebook. Not long ago I saw a post on Facebook that helped me solve a dilemma I'd been wrestling with. An author posted on Facebook that she was changing her book's Facebook page to an author page--the exact thing that I'd been wanting to do but didn't think was possible! Here's the story:

I was playing with Twitter and I Followed another author under my Twitter handle for my Grandparenting Through Obstacles book, @GParentObstacle. The Twitter handle I followed is @ppmint777. Well, @ppmint777 sent me a thank you for Following her with this message:

@pprmint777:  Appreciate the follow! Find me on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/GivetheLadyaRide 

I clicked the link to check out her Facebook page, and there I just happened to see her latest post informing her fans that her page would be changing its name soon and they should see that change taking effect in a few weeks. Her name is Linda W. Yezak and her book is Give the Lady a Ride.

Her post caught my eye because this was the same thing I had been wanting to do but didn't think it could be done. I opened a Facebook Page a few years ago specifically for my book (about 2011, I think, when I was publishing my book Deliver Me ). The best advice I was hearing back then was that we writers/authors should create Facebook Pages to connect with our readers.

Well... I remember thinking at the time that I didn't know exactly what would be the best way to do this. Name the page for my book? Create an author page? I already had a personal account under my name, so should I open another one under my name as an author? That didn't make sense. I wasn't sure, but I knew I needed to do something. So I decided to create a page for my most recent book. (My first book, Dear America , had been published ten years earlier and I wasn't quite sure what to do with that either. Create a page for it too?)

And then last August my book with co-author Renee Gray-Wilburn released and, together, we opened a Facebook page for it here: Grandparenting Through Obstacles on Facebook.

Since then I've had two more new books come out. And I have more on the way! What am I supposed to do? Open a new page for each new book?

That's just too overwhelming to keep up with. Plus, it's not a wise use of those contacts because they are all on separate pages. Doesn't it make more sense to cross-market all these books in one place, on one page? Sure it does.

Meanwhile I noticed a lot of my author friends were opening "Author Pages." I'd already started building "Likes" on my Deliver Me Book page and had over a hundred Likes. I hated to loose all that work and start over with a new Author page. But what else could I do?

That's why Linda Yezak's comment on her Facebook page so caught my attention. Turns out she had the same dilemma. Her Facebook page was for her book Give the Lady a Ride but she also has new books coming. She, too, wanted to convert her book's Facebook Page to an Author page.

So after I "Liked" her Facebook page, I returned to Twitter and wrote her this note. (Hope u can read my Twitter shorthand.):

@GParentObstacle: Liked your fb page. If u want to like mine it’s Deliver Me Book. Noticed ur changing to ur author name. Didn’t know we cud. Iwant 2 do same!

She responded to my note.

@pprmint777:  TY! Go here to change your name: https://www.facebook.com/help/271607792873806 Be sure to follow up with the email they send you.  

So I said:

@GParentObstacle:  THANK YOU!!! That is fantastic. Had no idea that was possible. I want to make it my author’s page instead of one book’s page!

And she said:

@pprmint777:  Me too. They wanted proof of business, and I told them an author page instead of a book page and didn't have proof. They let me change it.

After I did a little research on Facebook's Help page, I learned:
You can edit your Page's name by clicking on "Edit Page," then "Update Page Info."If you have more than 200 Likes, you have to request the change (on the same "Edit Page").I didn't get an e-mail like Linda did because I had fewer than 200 Likes and could make the change myself. I didn't get asked to prove I was a business.If you have over 200 Likes, you can only request a change once , so think it through and make sure you choose a new name wisely because once you change it, it's set in stone.
The new name of my now-Author Page is https://www.facebook.com/DianneButtsAuthor

For once I left out my middle initial.

I recently heard a tip for doing radio interviews: be sure to give a website that is easy to remember. That's because a lot of people are driving or doing other things while listening to the radio and they can't write down your URL. So make it easy to remember! Boy that makes sense, doesn't it?

The problem is, when you have an usually spelled name and your website is your name, that can be hard. Frankly I'm just a bit weary of always having to explain that my name is spelled with two n's and an e. And then my middle initial is e. So this time I went with what I hope is an easier URL to give out and for people to remember. Because I want them to find me! And if they find me once, then they can find my websites and blogs, too.

But remember: if you change the URL to your Facebook Page, then any links you've put elsewhere won't work anymore. Which reminds me, I think I have a link at the right of this page for you to connect to my Facebook Page. I guess I'd better change that!

I've also posted a link to my (old) Facebook page in some Facebook Groups. I can't go back and change those since they're posts on the wall. So I hope savvy Facebookers will know what happened there. Just think, now you're a savvy-er Facebooker too!

If you don't have a Facebook Author Page yet, it's easy to set up. First you must have a personal Facebook account, so if you don't yet have one you have to do that first. Then you can create a Page here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php

Pages are different than your personal account (called your Timeline). Your personal timeline is for individuals and each person can have only one. Then you can have multiple Pages on that account. Pages are not separate accounts but are connected to your personal account and use the same login information. On Personal Timelines you get Friends and you Friend other people. On Pages you get Likes. There are other differences. See Facebook's Help section (click on the "gear" icon in the upper right of your homepage and you'll see "Help" on the dropdown menu). Then ask Help, "How are Pages different from personal timelines?" and you'll learn more.

If you're interested in seeing my "new" Facebook Author Page, please stop by here: https://www.facebook.com/DianneButtsAuthor.  I also put a new header on my Page which was fun. Tell me what you think of it in a comment either here on the blog or on the FB Page. I'd love it if you'd give me a "Like" too! Thanks.

Just this week I talked with another author who asked me what I planned to write about on the e-zine blog this month. When I told her what I had planned, she said she was excited because she, too, had been wanting to change her Facebook Page and didn't know how. So I hope this month's blog is helpful to you too in changing or creating your Facebook Author Page.


[CORRECTION: October 2, 2013 at 11:29: I mistakenly put the link to my regular Facebook account instead of my new Author Page so that link has been corrected. Thank you to reader Susan who informed me of my mistake!]

Tweetables:

@DianneEButts - How I Changed My Facebook Book Page to an Author Page  Click to Tweet

@DianneEButts - How to Create a Facebook Author Page  Click to Tweet


Related Articles:
5 Ways to Get the Word Out About Your Author Event - Learn how to create a Facebook event.


Hey guess what! I've joined Pinterest. (I'm still trying to figure out how to use that one.) If you're on Pinterest, you can now Pin my posts! (I hope this Pin It button works! If it doesn't work, please let me know in a comment.)
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Deliver Me attends the CareNet National Pregnancy Center Conference

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This week I'm very excited to be an exhibitor at CareNet's National Pregnancy Center Conference at The Sheraton Downtown in Denver, Colorado.

I'll be exhibiting my book, Deliver Me: Hope, Help, & Healing through True Stories of Unplanned Pregnancy.

If you're attending, please stop by the Connections Press booth #73. Mention you saw this notice on my blog for a special gift (while supplies last!).

Also, we're going to have some drawings! Enter (in person only) to win a bag of books (and more!) to bless you and your ministry.

I hope to talk with many people who staff and run these wonderful pregnancy centers about how Deliver Me can help them in their ministry. For one thing, Deliver Me is just like having their former clients sit down and chat with their current clients. The 54 stories in Deliver Me tell the true stories of women and men in similar situations as their pregnancy center clients, but have the added benefit of hindsight. Those who shared their stories in Deliver Me can now talk about the choices they made and how it affected their lives, what the outcome was and what happened next. What a valuable tool for those making decisions today!

Also, Deliver Me can help with fund-raisers! As a donation incentive, an "included value" bonus to a banquet ticket purchase or a "value added" bonus to a dessert reception. It can serve as a reward for a donation of a certain level or a thank you gift to major donors. There are so many ideas! I'm excited to be able to talk with pregnancy center resource directors and volunteers this week about all the ways Deliver Me can bless their ministries.

 Deliver Me won Christian
Small Publisher Association's
Book of the Year award in 2012If you know someone who's attending the show, or if your favorite pregnancy center is planning to come, please pass this information along to them and tell them I invite them to stop by my book and say hi.

Even if you're not attending, please keep this entire, important event covered in your prayers. Thank you so much!


 Deliver Me was a finalist in AWSA's Golden Scroll
Awards in 2012 

What To Do at Your In-Store Author Event (AKA "Author Book Signing") and How To Make It a Success - Part 2

Me at my "Author Event" at my church in June 2013.
Want a cookie?Last month we talked about how to get an in-store author event (also known as an "author book signing") set up in a bookstore, whether it is independently owned or a chain store. Now that we have an event set up with a store, let's talk about what to do when you get there, while you're there, and how to make your author event/book signing a success.

1.) Being ready for anythingWhen you arrive at the store for your event, view it as an adventure. It's going to be exciting and fun, and truly anything can happen. Again, put on your very best business manners and determine that no matter what happens, you're going to meet the challenge with a smile, patience, abundant grace, and good humor when appropriate.

Be ready for customers to ask you anything, including "Where's the bathroom?" (you should know the answer to this one) or "Do you carry those little thingies I see people clipping to their car's sun visors?" (No kidding. I got that question. Luckily a store employee was nearby, heard the question, and knew exactly what the customer was talking about. Go figure.)

Also be ready for anything while working with the manager and the store staff. Not too long ago I arrived at a store and, when the manager saw me pulling my crate on wheels filled with my books, table decorations, and cookies in the door, she asked if she could help me as if I were a customer. I had stopped in and talked with her a few weeks earlier to make these arrangements. I realized right away she had completely forgotten I was coming. After a few minutes, she recognized me and began to remember. But she apparently had not only forgotten I had scheduled an event, she didn't remember that she was supplying me with a table and that we had discussed a location near the door.

Needless to say there was no table set up ready and waiting for me. I had to exercise patience as I watched customers come in and walk right past me while she got an employee to find a table, bring it to the front, and set it up for me.

2.) Setting up Your Space Here are some tips I've learned for setting up your author event space:

Table LocationYou need to be near the entrance to the store where people can see you when they come in and where you can greet customers as they enter the store. This usually isn't a problem.

However... Remember that event when the manager forgot I was coming? She had wanted to set up my table at the back of her (very large) store. We had talked about that when I was in and had agreed I could be at the front of the store. But she had forgotten that discussion and again said she would set up the table at the back of the store. I immediately said, "I need to be at the front of the store or else no one will know I'm here."

Remember when I said you need to be ready for anything? This manager actually got a little testy and sarcastic. She asked if I really expected her to move an entire display to make room for me? I was actually surprised. And I could have responded with equal testiness and sarcasm, but since I had put on my very best business manners before I came in the store, I simply and softly said, "No ma'am. I don't expect you to move one of your displays to make room for me." And then I kept my mouth shut.

After a long moment, she softened and said, "What about over there?" The spot was in the center aisle behind a tall display (so no one coming in the door could see the table, or even me standing up) and was squished between the back of another display and a large post support post. I said okay (because I knew what I could do with that spot near the front of the store).

Do you think I stayed behind that display? After I set up my table, with cookies, I took one of my books to the front entrance of the store and endeavored to greet every single customer that came in that door for the rest of the day--and it was a very busy day. I ended up selling more than twenty books and I impressed the manager. At the end of the day, she said so. What could have been a disaster turned into a great event and sales day.

If you're ever put at the back of the store, you don't have to stay at your table. (Don't leave any valuables on it unattended.) Honestly, if she had put the table at the back of the store, I still would have been standing with my book at the front of the store. (Regardless of where you are, you need to walk around the store and talk to people.) For me, that just would have meant more walking back and forth to get another book from the table. Be polite. Don't go against what the manager tells you that you may do in her store. Don't burn any bridges. But do what you need to do to make your event a success.

Create an eye-appealing displayBring a pretty table cloth and a table, but leave them in your car until you know if you need them.

You can bring decorations, like a vase of flowers (I use fake ones to eliminate an accidental spilling of vase water on my books, ruining them) or a bouquet of balloons. You can get a stand-up acrylic flyer holder to display a poster showing the award(s) your book has won. If you're artistic, you might get a small chalk board with colored chalks to give a message such as "Meet the Author" or which book you're featuring that day. To create an eye-appealing display, think of height as well as color that compliment your book.

Display your book(s)Bring one or more book easels for your book(s). People see a book better and more are likely to buy when it is sitting up and visible rather than laying flat on the table. Don't lean your display book on a stack of books. And definitely don't display a book on top of a stack of books because it make it hard for someone to pick one up to look at it.

More you can put on your tableA plate of cookies, a bowl of chocolates, or some other goodie attracts people to your table.

You might want to offer your business cards, especially if you're a speaker or have another ministry where you would like people to contact you.

Offer small fliers or bookmarks with information on your other books. Tuck one into each book you sell. I often make these myself, four across on regular sized paper turn out about the size of a bookmark. Use both sides to list your book titles, web sites, blogs, Twitter, or a helpful list or informative quote from your book. Make two-sided copies on colorful paper at an office supply store and use their paper cutter to cut them. In your fliers and bookmarks be careful not to mention that customers can purchase your books at the store's biggest competitor, Amazon.com, or that your books are available on e-readers such as Kindle or Nook (unless you're at a Barnes & Noble store). In other words don't advertise for the store's competition while you're a guest in this store.

Also be careful not to make your table too full or busy-looking. As we discussed last month about "choice fatigue," too many different books can be overwhelming to customers. You don't want too many titles competing against each other. As mentioned before, it's better to hold more events featuring different books at each than to have your titles competing against each other.

3.) What to do now that your Author Event has begun... What is the first and most important thing do during your author event? Get up! Don't sit on your butt behind a table. Maybe if you're famous and the line for your book is stretching out the door and around the block, you need to sit behind the table and sign. But I don't tend to have that problem.

The days of an author sitting behind a table waiting for people to come are over, if they ever existed anywhere but in the movies or on TV, are over and long gone.

You must get up, get out from behind that table, and go greet your guests.

Most people will not approach you. Some are shy and intimidated. Most are busy and come in with a list of what they need and no time to spare.

A table between you and the store's guests creates a barrier. This barrier subconsciously communicates that you are unapproachable. If you sit behind a table, don't expect anyone to come up to you except possibly the kids who only really want a cookie.

Listen to me: you are working. You are like an employee in the store (though you are not an employee). You are serving your guests, your readers and potential readers. In my opinion, it is rude for you to expect them to come to you. They don't know you have that expectation. You need to go to them. For those of you who are Christians, this is like taking the Gospel to the people. You can sit in a church and hope or expect they'll to come to you, but in reality that ain't happenin'. Or you can get off your butt and take it to them. Servants take it to the people. Servants don't expect the people to come to them. Got it?

So what do you do ? How do you "take it to the people"? Answer: you "work the crowd."

4.) Working the crowdLike it or not,  you must "work the crowd." How? You take a copy of your book and go talk to the people.

You develop your spiel. Have you ever heard about an "elevator pitch," that short pitch authors are told they need to develop to tell agents and publishers about their book in a short time, like on an elevator ride? Do you know how you develop one of those? Don't worry, I'll tell you how right now: You tell someone about your book. The first time you do it, you stumble and talk all around the topic and finally, maybe, get it said. You do that a dozen times and you start figuring out how to get it said. You do that another dozen times and you find it's getting shorter, you're honing it down. After another dozen or so, you've finally got it down to perfection. So get out there and get started!

"Hi! I'm Dianne and we're doing an in-store author event today. We're featuring this book right here: Prophecies Fulfilled in the Birth of Jesus. As I read through the Christmas story in the Bible, I discovered 35 prophecies that were written in the Old Testament and then were fulfilled in every detail in the birth of Jesus. I wrote 35 short chapters, one on each of those 35 prophecies."

At this point, you can tell whether or not they are interested in hearing more...or not. If they are looking past you and still moving, in a hurry, they are not interested. Let them go. Simply say, "Thanks for your time. Please take a cookie before you leave the store." Smile and move your eyes to the next customer coming in the door.

If they stop, look in your eyes waiting for more, or look at your book, maybe take it from your hands to thumb through, they are interested. Give them more. "In each of those 35 chapters," I say, opening the book, "I gave a key verse with the prophecy. Then I tell you where this prophecy was first given in the Bible, who said it, when, and in what context. Then we talk about how it was fulfilled in the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. At the end of every chapter there are three application questions, a Final Thought from me, a prayer, and where you can read more in the Bible on similar topics if you want to."

By now they are either taking the book from my hands to look at it or saying "No thank you," and moving on. If they want more, keep going...

"This is a great resource for individual study, family devotions, a small group Bible study, or a book club."

If they're still standing there listening, they want more. So keep going: "One of my favorite chapters in the book is about the Star of Bethlehem. You know, that prophecy that the Magi found that caused them to follow the star to Jesus..."

Your Author Event is not so much about selling books as it is about meeting your readers or potential readers, getting to know them, and helping them get to know you and your books. It's about serving them by showing them you have something that will help them or entertain them or add joy to their busy, tired, troubled life. Remember that principle and you'll do fine.

Also remember that every person you talk to, even those who say they are not interested, have heard about your book and may seek it out later. The seed has been planted. None of your efforts are wasted.

5.) Use a sharpie.Now guess what? You've made a sale! Someone wants your book. Now what do you do?!
First, ask if they want the book signed. Most people will. A few will not.Then ask if you want it signed to them personally? Some people definitely want their name in the book. If they don't, you can sign it "generically," just putting your cute saying and your signature. Some people want to read the book and then pass it on to a friend, and so they don't want their name in it. A few are buying it for someone else and want you to sign it to that person, so be sure to ask. Also ask for the spelling of the name and get it right. Write it first on a scratch paper if you need to.Do not sign with a ball point pen. I'm told they fade. Instead, bring a Sharpie. They come in colors and I like to choose a color that goes well with my book's cover.You might like to make up a saying to write before you sign your name, but it's not required. You can say something like, "I'll meet you in the pages" or a statement tied to the message of your book. Sign the Title page. I've noticed a lot of authors these days sign arbitrary pages. Some insist on signing the inside of the cover. Traditionally, the author signs the Title page. If the book is a compilation I've contributed to, and if I'm not rushed, I will also sign the page(s) where my contribution appears. I put my cute message and signature on the Title page, then just sign my name on my story in the book.
6.) Expectations of sales and how a store paysMost of the time it is true that we don't sell many books at a book signing. By using the techniques I've listed above like working the room and developing a spiel, I've increased my sales. But still, don't expect to sell hundreds or even dozens of books unless you're famous. Still, hosting in-store Author Events is valuable for your career, a lot of fun, and a great way to get out of your writing office for a day. So I encourage you to do it. Go out and bless the stores that sell our books.

Most of the time I bring the books. If the store carries my books on their shelves, I sell theirs first (because I've already been paid when the store purchased them). This isn't an issue with my new books, but might be if they still have previous books on their shelves. At my most recent event, I brought my new book and we agreed the owner would pull my other books off her shelves and put them on the table. We sold some of my books that had been on her shelves (one for ten years) and sold all but one of my most recent book (which she had already paid me for). After the event she ended up buying four more of those from me to put back on her shelves, plus her usual half dozen of my newest book. See? You don't lose out by helping them sell what is on their shelves. Always keep track of your inventory--what you bring into the store.

Rarely the store will order the books in advance and then you would get only the usual royalties from your publisher, but you're increasing your sales/royalties and gaining more readers. Some stores will not allow you to bring in books if they already carry it.

Stores pay you in different ways, and you should have discussed what you'll be paid and how you'll be paid before your event. Some of them pay me on the spot at the end of the event. Some stores can tell how many sales there were from their electronic cash registers and they will check your number. You will share the sales with the store--usually a percentage. Some pay me 60% of cover price. Some have me figure the profits, meaning subtracting my cost of the book, and then we split the remaining profits 50/50. Some pay me in cash while others write me a check. Some stores have me fill out a form, figuring what I will be paid. The form is then sent to corporate headquarters and I receive a check in four to six weeks.

A few stores take books on consignment. I've grown reluctant to sell on consignment except for special cases such as stores nearby my home. My reason is that I've seen few sales from consignments, which means my books are sitting on a shelf in a store in another state and I never hear from them again. So I no longer have the books in my inventory and I don't have the money either. I've just decided I need to have either the books or the money.


I hope these two posts on in-store author events have been helpful to you. Make yourself a checklist for your event prep as well as what to take with you for the event. Take some snacks and water. While I told you to get out from behind the table, do take time to sit and rest. Take care of yourself. Some stores have me in for a few hours, some for all day. Either way you'll be tired at the end. But it's a good tired.

Have you held author events? Do you have other tips? Or do you have questions? Post them in the comments section. And let us know about your events when you set them up!


Tweetables:

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Saturday, August 31, I will be at The Greatest Gift &...

Saturday, August 31, I will be at The Greatest Gift & Scripture Supply Store showing off my newest book Prophecies Fulfilled in the Death & Resurrection of Jesus .

This is the sequel to my book that released last Christmas, Prophecies Fulfilled in the Birth of Jesus .

If you're in the area, please stop by! I'll be there from 12:00 noon to 5:00.

If you're looking for a great resource to lead a Bible study, or family devotions, a discussion for a nonfiction book club, or your own individual study, this book will give you plenty of good, solid information and questions that apply the information to our lives today.

In Prophecies Fulfilled in the Death & Resurrection of Jesus, you'll rediscover 52 prophecies that were foretold -- sometimes hundreds of years earlier -- and then fulfilled in the events surrounding Jesus' arrest, crucifixion, death, and resurrection.

Each of the 52 short chapters in the book explores one prophecy fulfilled, including:
Why Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkeyThe significance of the fact Judas was paid thirty silver coinsThe prophecy of the Potter’s FieldThe prediction of Peter’s three denialsCaiaphas’ words “it is better for one man to die than a whole nation perish” The meaning of the crown of thornsThe prophecy in the scapegoatWhy Jesus was led outside of the city to be crucifiedThe prophecy in the snake on the poleThe prophecy that the soldiers would divide up His clothes The prophecy that not one of Jesus' bones would be brokenWhere it was prophesied hundreds of years earlier that He would be piercedThe significance of the myrrh given at His birth.The two signs of JonahWhy Jesus claimed He could rebuild the Temple in three daysWhere it was prophesied that Jesus' body would not see decay And many more...Discover where these prophecies were first given, in what context, how they came to be fulfilled in every detail, and much more. Each chapter includes application and discussion questions, Bible readings, suggested prayers, and so much more.

This book will strengthen your faith. When we see God's promises and then see them fulfilled perfectly, we gain confidence that He is in complete control -- no matter what we see going on in the world. And we know that He will also bring to perfect completion the remaining prophecies that are yet to be fulfilled...but will be fulfilled very soon, and some are already being fulfilled right before our very eyes.

In our troubled times, what do we need most? We need our faith in God strong enough to carry us through. That's what you'll gain from this book: it will strengthen your faith for the future.

Looking for a great read or study to get you ready for Christmas? Consider the first book in this series:  Prophecies Fulfilled in the Birth of Jesus . Also great for individual study, small group Bible studies, family devotions, and nonfiction book clubs.

 
Tweetables:

@DianneEButts Discover 52 prophecies fulfilled in the death & resurrection of Jesus Click to Tweet

@DianneEButts Discover 35 prophecies fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Click to Tweet

Author Event: Signing "Prophecies Fulfilled in the Death & Resurrection of Jesus" Tomorrow!

Saturday, August 31, I will be at The Greatest Gift & Scripture Supply Store showing off my newest book Prophecies Fulfilled in the Death & Resurrection of Jesus .

This is the sequel to my book that released last Christmas, Prophecies Fulfilled in the Birth of Jesus .

If you're in the area, please stop by! I'll be there from 12:00 noon to 5:00.

If you're looking for a great resource to lead a Bible study, or family devotions, a discussion for a nonfiction book club, or your own individual study, this book will give you plenty of good, solid information and questions that apply the information to our lives today.

In Prophecies Fulfilled in the Death & Resurrection of Jesus, you'll rediscover 52 prophecies that were foretold -- sometimes hundreds of years earlier -- and then fulfilled in the events surrounding Jesus' arrest, crucifixion, death, and resurrection.

Each of the 52 short chapters in the book explores one prophecy fulfilled, including:
Why Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkeyThe significance of the fact Judas was paid thirty silver coinsThe prophecy of the Potter’s FieldThe prediction of Peter’s three denialsCaiaphas’ words “it is better for one man to die than a whole nation perish” The meaning of the crown of thornsThe prophecy in the scapegoatWhy Jesus was led outside of the city to be crucifiedThe prophecy in the snake on the poleThe prophecy that the soldiers would divide up His clothes The prophecy that not one of Jesus' bones would be brokenWhere it was prophesied hundreds of years earlier that He would be piercedThe significance of the myrrh given at His birth.The two signs of JonahWhy Jesus claimed He could rebuild the Temple in three daysWhere it was prophesied that Jesus' body would not see decay And many more...Discover where these prophecies were first given, in what context, how they came to be fulfilled in every detail, and much more. Each chapter includes application and discussion questions, Bible readings, suggested prayers, and so much more.

This book will strengthen your faith. When we see God's promises and then see them fulfilled perfectly, we gain confidence that He is in complete control -- no matter what we see going on in the world. And we know that He will also bring to perfect completion the remaining prophecies that are yet to be fulfilled...but will be fulfilled very soon, and some are already being fulfilled right before our very eyes.

In our troubled times, what do we need most? We need our faith in God strong enough to carry us through. That's what you'll gain from this book: it will strengthen your faith for the future.

Looking for a great read or study to get you ready for Christmas? Consider the first book in this series:  Prophecies Fulfilled in the Birth of Jesus . Also great for individual study, small group Bible studies, family devotions, and nonfiction book clubs.

 
Tweetables:

@DianneEButts Discover 52 prophecies fulfilled in the death & resurrection of Jesus Click to Tweet

@DianneEButts Discover 35 prophecies fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Click to Tweet

How to Set Up an In-Store Author Event (AKA "Author Book Signing") - Part 1

Dianne with store owner, Ginny, at The Lighthouse, La Junta, CO
Featuring my new Christmas book,
Prophecies Fulfilled in the Birth of Jesus, and other books.Some authors have asked me how to go about setting up an author's book signing in a bookstore. I've set up many of these--both in independently-owned bookstores and in national chains. I've learned a ton through my personal experiences about the how-tos and the what-to-dos and what-NOT-to-dos. So let me share what I've learned with you.

I have so much information to share that I'm going to spend two posts on this topic--this month's and next month's. This month we'll talk about how to set it up. Next month we'll talk about what to do when you get there for and during your book signing.

By the way, I'm terribly conscious that I've been talking mostly to book writers in this blog lately. That simply reflects where my career is right now. But my e-zine (which turned into this blog) started out talking mostly to article writers. (That reflected where my career was then.) My desire is to write for both and make this blog useful for both. The problem is, when I have my head to into writing books (like I do right now since I have book contracts I'm writing to fulfill), I can't think of article-writing topics or what you article-writers might need to know. So if you are an article writer and have a question or topic you'd like me to address, please put it in a comment to this blog and I'll see it. Plus, I've discovered some new writing opportunities so click on the menu tab above to check those out.

Now, let's talk about how an author can set up an "in-store author event" (also known as an "Author Book Signing"). I've stopped calling my events a "book signing" because that term seems not only to not excite anybody anymore, but actually seems to turn people off--both bookstore managers and potential customers. Think about it. A book signing pictures an author sitting behind a table signing books. It's all sedentary. There's no action. Boooorrrring. Make your signing an Event. Practice calling it that and put it on your posters and fliers, and you'll do much better.

1.) How to approach a store managerFirst, make a list of the bookstores in your area. You can add to your list by moving outwardly to nearby towns and cities. Or if you're planning a trip, you might want to see if you can hold an author event in distant cities when you're traveling.

I get far better results if I stop in and talk to the store manager in person than if I call on the phone. But for those stores that are not nearby, you can contact them by phone.

If you're working by phone I strongly suggest you check out the store before you call. I once asked a friend if there was a bookstore in her small town. She said there was one, but she gave me a very skeptical look. She told me where it was. The next time I passed through that town, I checked it out. It was in an old house in the middle of the block. I parked in front and climbed the steps to the front door. I could see shelves of books through the front window. When I stepped inside there was no one in the front room, but a musty smell met me. I could hear voices coming from a back room but no one came. Books were stacked in dusty piles everywhere along with old boxes of magazines. It was awful. I would have been embarrassed to hold an author event there, but I wouldn't have known that if I had only called on the phone and had never seen the place before arriving for my event. I turned and left and as far as I know the owner of that store never knew I was there.

So when you stop by a store (or call), what should you do and say? First, you should be dressed for a business meeting, probably office-casual. (No frumpy t-shirts, ragged blue jeans, or ugly shorts or sandals.) Make a good first impression.

When you arrive, tell a store employee you'd like to ask about hosting an author event and ask who you should talk to. Usually it's the store manager. Sometimes there is an event coordinator.

Take a copy of your book(s) with you. Tell manager you're an author and you'd like to talk to her (or him) about hosting an author event in her store. Ask, "Do you have time to talk now or should I schedule a time to come back?" Be flexible, professional, and respectful of her time. Store managers will drop anything to talk to a customer, but you are not a customer--you are a fellow business person and she is on the clock. If she needs to schedule time later to talk to you, do so. If the store is not close to you and it would be hard for you to wait around or come back, ask if you can call her and have that meeting by phone. She has already seen you, sized you up, and has seen you are a professional, so doing the rest of your business by phone is not a problem.

Whether you have the discussion right then or later, here's what to do...

2.) What to expect and what you needThe first thing you need to know is that, from my experience, the store manager will most likely not be happy that you are approaching her about an in-store author event. Most managers I've met with see author signings as an imposition rather than a way to gain more sales or draw in more customers. No doubt this attitude comes from their past experiences with authors: they've done this before and it did nothing positive for their store. I'm out to change that. I hope you're with me.

When you tell her face to face that you'll like to host an author event, you'll be able to judge her attitude toward author signings in her reaction. Do her eyes light up with excitement? Or...not? She may come out and tell you that author book signings don't sell many books or don't draw in many customers. Many times I've heard, "They don't do any good." Don't let that discourage you.

You can acknowledge her concerns and past experiences. Tell her it is your aim to make your presence in her store as much of a blessing to the store as the event will be to you as an author. Tell her you will take care of everything and it won't cost her anything, other than arranging for her cashiers to be able to sell your book(s) through her check-out system. (This won't be a problem. She'll enter your book's bar code info in her system and you're set.) The one thing you need from her is a location near the front of the store where you can greet customers as they come in. Tell her you can even bring your own table if need be.

Talk with her. Work with her. By the time you finish reading this and next month's posts, you'll know what to plan and what to do, so you can speak to her with confidence that you have a plan to make your event successful.* You can talk with her about the details of what you plan--what you'll have on your table, which book(s) you'll feature, what hours you can be there. Make adjustments if she doesn't like an idea or has a better one. See what you can work out. Put on your very best office/professional manners (but don't be gushy and don't over-promise what you can't or don't want to provide). Be respectful. Remember that you are asking to be a guest in her store.

*You can even discuss what "success" would look like. Maybe it's not selling a lot of books. Maybe "success" that day will be for you to make a few more potential readers aware of your book(s) and, through your pre-event publicity and inviting your friends, draw a few new potential customers into her store. And then if you happen to sell a few books too, that's icing on the cake.

I've approached both independently-owned stores and large chains, and I've received permission to hold an event every time I've asked except for once. (And I decided that one turn-down was probably a good thing after all.)

3.) What about those large chain stores like Barnes & Noble, Mardel, and Family Christian?Yes, it's possible for you to hold a signing in a large chain. I've heard other authors say that the chain bookstores don't let little-known authors hold author events/book signings. That's not my experience. I have held author events in all the chains listed above as well as Borders before they went out of business. How did I get in? Just like I explained above in #1.

I've never gone through the national headquarters of a chain to set up an event. I've learned most stores have leeway for each manager to make their own decisions about what goes on in a store, to a certain extent. I've even heard statements like, "Well, headquarters doesn't like us to, but I do it anyway."

I will admit that my first time in one of these stores a fellow author got me in the door. More about that next...

4.) Strategic PlanningThe adage "a crowd draws a crowd" is true for book signings. If you can draw (or create) a crowd at your book table, other people will come to see what's going on. That's a great reason to ask your friends to come to your signing, and a terrific reason to welcome them even if they don't buy a book. However if you have friends stopping by just to chat, guide them to the side of your table and chat there. Often friends stand right in front of the table and stay there. Other prospective customers will not elbow their way past them to get to your book; they'll crane their neck to see what's up, but then will pass on by. You need to keep the way to your book clear unless there is actually a line. Then people will know to get in line.

Another way to create a crowd is to have an event with multiple authors. I've done several events where multiple authors were in attendance. There are pros and cons. There is a time for group signings. And there are times when you do not want to invite your author friends. Let's talk about it:
When to hold a group event:When you've all contributed to the same compilation book. I've held author events with contributors to the same book on several occasions. It's fun to meet other authors and customers usually enjoy meeting them too. Plus you're only marketing one book and the same book. The crowd of authors helps draw a crowd of customers.Sometimes special occasion make great opportunities for a group signing. If you have a Father's Day book and so does another local author, you might use that occasion to do an event together.Other authors have invited me to join them at a store for a signing. As mentioned above, this has helped me get into a store for the first time and I'm very appreciative to the authors who have done this for me. Since I've now met the manager and shown them I am a professional to work with and do a good job at my author events, I feel confident I can go back ask to have a signing of my own. One signing has also led to another event in another store in the same chain. I have also invited authors to join me in a signing. If you plan to add authors to your event, be sure to make sure this is okay with the store manager! (See below.)   When NOT to hold a group event:When I was scheduling an event for one of my own compilation books, I thought it would be great to invite the local contributors to join me. A crowd draws a crowd, right? I was thinking of the extended reach of each of them inviting their friends and family. I was also thinking it would be a good experience for them, since most of them had never done such an event. But when I ask the store manager if this would be okay, she said, "More than three authors at the same time makes it too crazy." I had more local contributors than that, so I decided I couldn't invite them. I did invite them to come to the signing as customers, however. Make sure you ask the store manager before you extend invitations for other authors to join you as part of your event.Earlier I mentioned authors with books on similar themes might get together for a group signing. There are times, however, when I simply don't want the competition. I want the customers' attention focused on my book. Do the math. You have a certain number of customers walking in the door on any given day. A certain percentage of them will buy a book. You can split that number between two or more authors, or not. Doesn't it make more sense to set up your own even, and let the other author set up another event at another time? You're reaching twice the customers and marketing a different book to 100% of the customers who come in that day.Another time when I may not want the competition is when I'm selling a seasonal book. Last year when my Christmas book launched, I didn't even put my other books on the table. It was Christmas season and I wanted all the attention on my new Christmas book. I did well with sales. And that's another point...Too many books equals too much confusion. I call it "choice fatigue." Have you ever stood at the pickle section or the cereal aisle in the grocery store and just stared because there are so many different kinds you can't figure out which to choose? Too many books (and authors) creates too many choices and too much eye-confusion on your table. Take it down a notch and you'll make more sales. (Schedule another event for other books.)Finally, another time I do not invite my author friends to join me is when I'm in a store for the first time. Face it, what other authors do reflects on you. When I don't know a store manager well, I want to do an event by myself. I want to establish myself as a professional and build a relationship with that store manager. I've had some challenges working with managers. I have also had some challenges working with other authors. If I'm setting up the event, anything the other authors do (even unintentionally) reflects on me also. I remember one particular occasion when I had a challenging situation with a manager I was working with for the first time and I was so glad I hadn't invited another author to join me because if they had responded even slightly negatively, even with a facial expression, it would have escalated the situation. By myself, I was able to handle the situation to a satisfactory outcome. The bottom line is, I refuse to put myself in a position where my business reputation might be damaged by someone else. (You should too.) 
5.) How to get the word out about your Author EventNow that you have an event scheduled at a store, you need to get the word out. How? Here are some ideas:
Ask the store if you can supply some "bag stuffers," which are small fliers the employees put in each customer's bag in the days and weeks previous to your event. Ask how many you should provide. I usually get these to the store two weeks before the event. Check back a week later to see if the store needs more.Ask if the manager will make a poster to put in her store or if she'd like you to do that. A simple poster in MS Word can be printed and delivered or mailed or e-mailed if you've already asked if the manager would be willing to print and hang it. Put your book cover on it and the standard who, what, when, and where information. Save it on your computer as a template and next time you'll just need to change the details and you'll have it  done.Of course you can hand fliers to your friends.Hang fliers in other business also, with their permission.Find out if the store has an events calendar on their web site or Facebook page and make sure you'll get posted there.Finally, post the event online. I listed five places you can do that in my January 2013 post "5 Ways to Get the Word Out About Your Author Event."Now that you have your event set up, next time we'll talk about what to do while you're there and how to make it a success.

If you're anxious to get going on setting up your in-store author event (AKA "author book signing) and are impatient for next month's post, don't worry. I recently learned the hard way (the way I usually learn things) that summer is not the best time to hold an author event. The store is slow! Sales, like customers, are few. Better to wait for a busier sales season, like the fall or Christmas season (starts in October) to schedule your event.

Tweetables:

@DianneEButts How to set up an #author's #book signing in a bookstore. http://ow.ly/nvqF5  Click to Tweet

@DianneEButts How to set up an in-store #author event. http://ow.ly/nvqF5 Click to Tweet

@DianneEButts Tips for making your #author event a success! http://ow.ly/nvqF5 Click to Tweet

@DianneEButts Should you invite your #author friends to join your #book signing? http://ow.ly/nvqF5 Click to Tweet

PS: Don't forget to click on the "Writing Opportunities" menu tab above to check out some new opportunities.

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Make Plans Now to Attend the Colorado Christian Writers Conference

 Elk near the Colorado Christian Writers Conference
 It's not too late! The Colorado Christian Writers Conference starts one week from today, and it's not too late for you to make plans to attend.

If you've ever wanted to write books for the Christian market, or write Christian-themed books for the general market, or write for Christian magazines, you can learn what you need to know at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference. Launch your career, or further your career. Or simply fulfill your ministry on the side of your current career. It's all here.

This year there will be continuing sessions on all these topics:
Reaching the Hearts of Your Readers by Ken GireHow to Get Published by Tim ShoemakerSuspense Novels & Screenplays by Bill MyersFiction for Women by Gayle RoperObscure No More by Thomas Umstattd Jr.Inspiration and Perspiration by Dina SleimanNonfiction Books by Kim BangsPixels to Profits by Brian SchwartzIn addition to all those, there are stand-alone workshops on many other topics, including the writer's life, the writing craft, writing fiction, writing nonfiction, publishing, and marketing.

I will be teaching two earlybird workshops on Wednesday, May 15. My workshops are:
Beginning ScreenwritingHow to Shape Your Story for the ScreenI will also be representing my publisher Pix-N-Pens and Write Integrity Press, looking for manscripts for this publisher to consider.

Are you, or do you have, a teenager? Be sure to check out Teens Write, a special segment on Saturday especially for young people. I'll be sitting on the panel Saturday afternoon to talk about screenwriting.

You can network with other writers and authors, and make appointments with editors and publishers.

Still, in my opinion, the best value for your dollar. So sign up now! Register here.

Your lodging includes your meals. Make your reservation here.

Please share this with your contacts by using the Share buttons below to Tweet, Facebook, and Google+ this. Thank you!

I hope to see you next week at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference!