Publicists: Conventions

I'm interrupting my posts about filling out the Author Questionnaire for my publicist, Josh, to give you an update on what else is happening as we're working on preparing for the launch in June of my newest children's book, Frederick Douglass for Kids.

I've been busy working with my marketing manager, Mary, to set up details about attending ALA 2012.

One of the things that happens each year is that there are several huge big conventions that take place where a publisher showcases their new books that are being release that year. The big three conventions include:

ALA (American Library Association)

BEA (BookExpo America)

IRA (International Reading Association)

There are also other big conventions such as CBA (The Association for Christian Booksellers) that target a specific type of bookseller. There are also conventions oversees, too, that are giants in the industry such as the Frankfurt Book Fair.

So when you have a new book coming out, be sure to take a minute and check out where each of these conventions is taking place in the year your book will be released. If the convention is near your home or in a vacation spot, it's great to make plans to attend.

Just the other day, my husband Jeff reminded me to check out the conventions. And guess what! ALA 2012 is happening right in my very back door…at Anaheim Convention Center.

So I alerted my publisher and my marketing manager, Mary, and the gears started working! First things first…Mary had to work to get tickets for Jeff and me to attend. (Thanks a billion, Mary!)

Not anyone can attend these conventions. You have to get tickets and tickets are very expensive.

So when I alerted my publisher about the fact I'd like to attend ALA this year, the first thing Mary did was work out the details with my publisher to pay for two tickets for Jeff and me to attend.